Will.i.am credits Michael Jackson with pioneering ad-libs on the background vocals of songs – something that has become popular in today’s Hip Hop music.
In a clip from Showtime’s Thriller 40 documentary that premiered on Wednesday (December 6), the Black Eyed Peas frontman played the background vocals MJ recorded for 1982’s “Beat It” to prove his point.
“For all the new school cats that are going on record and ad-libbing, I’m sorry. Michael did that first,” he said before playing the ad-libs. “Why was he yawning on a record though? It shows the freedom and how comfortable he felt in the studio without worrying about people’s judgement or like, ‘Yo what’s that?’ Because you know he was bringing the freaking skills.
He continued: “You knew he was bringing ultra talent and imagination for him to be like, ‘You know what? I feel like yawning right here.’ And I listen to his ad-libs, he’s doing all that [beat boxes]. He’s doing all this rhythmic stuff.”
https://t.co/zH0WfxbHwC says Michael Jackson did it first while discussing the current generation of rappers adlibs.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) December 5, 2023
(🎥 @Showtime ) pic.twitter.com/3Ai2E9n3lP
One rapper who frequently pays homage to Michael Jackson as a pioneering influence is Offset.
