LL Cool J’s Unreleased Collaboration with Michael Jackson Discovered in Storage Unit by Former Officer
LL Cool J has often recounted his experiences working with the legendary Michael Jackson, and now a tangible piece of that history has come to light. A former California Highway Patrol officer, Gregg Musgrove, recently uncovered several DAT tapes containing unreleased tracks by MJ while cleaning out a storage unit he purchased in Van Nuys, California.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, these tapes, which were recorded between 1989 and 1991, include a total of 12 songs. Notably, one of the tracks is titled “Truth on Youth,” which Musgrove noted is labeled as a “duet rap with LL Cool J.”
Musgrove intends to auction the tapes, but it’s important to highlight that the songs are unlikely to see a public release. The estate of Michael Jackson has asserted ownership of the copyright, making it clear that any use of these recordings is restricted. A representative for the estate stated, “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 already secured in the Estate’s vaults. Ownership and rights to the recordings remain with MJJP Records, and nothing commercial can be done with the DAT copies.”
Earlier this year, LL Cool J opened up about the songs he created with Michael Jackson, explaining why they may never be released. He stated, “They weren’t good enough. We definitely made songs together… One of them leaked a while ago, it was called ‘Serious Effect.’ But some other stuff just didn’t make the cut. Sometimes the art doesn’t reach its full potential.”
In an October conversation, he shared memories of working in the studio with MJ, including a humorous anecdote about a cake-throwing incident at Neverland Ranch. LL recalled, “We were in the studio, and he was sitting on top of the piano. I asked him how they achieved that lean in ‘Smooth Criminal.’ He jokingly claimed they held a ceremony with a shaman and burned candles, but then he laughed and said, ‘No, silly.’”
In a September interview with Complex, LL Cool J expressed his admiration for Jackson, saying, “Mike showed a lot of love to me and Hip Hop. For me, he’s the king. I’m a Michael Jackson fan. His talent speaks for itself.”
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