Filed under: Music, News, Celeb Updates
With fans across the world anticipating Michael Jackson's forthcoming album -- set to hit stores in November -- one of Jackson's many collaborators is combating the idea.
Black Eyed Peas frontman, Will.i.am vented his frustration this week over the posthumous release calling it "disrespectful" to produce an album without the late King of Pop's blessing.
"I don't think that should ever come out. That's bad," he told the Associated Press. "He was a perfectionist and he wouldn't have wanted it that way. How you gonna release Michael Jackson when Michael Jackson ain't here to bless it?"
The Grammy Award-winning producer worked with the legendary icon on the 2008 re-release of 'Thriller' in which he remixed hits such as 'The Girl Is Mine' and 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)'. The hit maker took heed to the icon's meticulous work ethic, which also led him to further question the forthcoming opus.
"Now that he is not part of the process, what are they doing?" he continued. "Why would you put a record out like that? Because he was a friend of mine, I just think that's disrespectful. What's wrong with what he already contributed to the world?"
According to various reports, the as-yet-untitled project will feature 10 previously unreleased tracks and involve Jackson's brothers Jackie and Marlon as well as producer Rodney Jerkins.
The demand of Jackson's music has remained high since his untimely 2009 death, not to mention the numerous vaults of unreleased music. Rolling Stone magazine reported the vaults contain more than 100 completed and unreleased songs, including collaborations with Akon, Will.i.am and Ne-Yo.
"There are a couple of songs we recorded for the Bad album that we had to cut that are just sensational," his manager Frank DiLeo told the music m,agazine.
Although the November project will be the first of a 10 project, seven-year deal between Jackson's estate and Sony Music, Will.i.am is adamant against his material being released due to increasing demand.
"So what? You don't disrespect someone when they're gone," he said. "How much can you suck from his energy? ... Freaking parasites!"