LL COOL J has previously spoken about once collaborating with Michael Jackson, and even recently explained why the songs never came out – and now a physical copy of one of their tracks has been discovered.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, former California Highway Patrol officer Gregg Musgrove found multiple DAT tapes featuring unreleased MJ songs in a storage unit he recently bought in Van Nuys, California.
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The unit previously belonged to music producer Bryan Loren, who Musgrove says he’s unable to locate.
The tapes were recorded from 1989 to 1991, and contain 12 songs in total. One of them, called “Truth on Youth,” was labeled “duet rap with LL COOL J” by Musgrove.
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Musgrove plans to auction the tapes off, but the songs will not be released and likely not be heard by many others, as MJ’s estate has made it clear they own the copyright.
“The Estate of Michael Jackson was presented with DAT copies NOT master recordings of Michael’s music, and we confirmed that the actual master recordings were in fact already located in the Estate’s vaults,” a rep for the Estate told THR. “It should be clear to all that ownership and rights of exploitation to the recordings remain vested in MJJP Records and that nothing commercial or otherwise can be done with the DAT copies.”
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You can view pictures of the tapes below.
Back in October, LL COOL J was asked about the songs he made with Michael Jackson and got candid about why the songs will never see the light of day.
LL explained: “They weren’t good enough. We definitely made songs together. We made music together. One of them leaked a while ago, it was called ‘Serious Effect.’ That was one. But there was some other stuff and it just didn’t get there. Sometimes the art don’t get there. It just doesn’t get there … Being able to hang out with Mike and work with Mike and be in the studio with him, it was dope.”
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He was asked to tell a story about being in the studio with the “Billie Jean” singer.
He shared: “There are so many stories. It’s so hilarious, bro.”
The host then spoke about the time Jackson threw cake on him while at Neverland Ranch, and after laughing about the interaction, LL shared his story.
He said: “We in the studio and he’s sitting on top of the piano. I’m sitting at the piano and we’re talking. I’m like, ‘How’d y’all do that thing with ‘Smooth Criminal’ where you lean in like that? How’d you do that, how’d you lean forward?’ He said, ‘Well, we brought in a shaman and had a big ceremony and we burned candles and incense and did a whole big ritual.’ I said, ‘Really, Mike?’ He said, ‘No, silly.’”
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LL also spoke about his relationship with MJ in a September interview with Complex.
He explained: “Me and Michael Jackson went to the studio man. Mike showed a lot of love to me in general, and definitely to Hip Hop. Let’s be clear: For me, he’s the king. I’m a Michael Jackson fan, b. His talent speaks for itself.”
