2014: Michael Jackson Xscape -deluxe Edition-

To achieve this, Reid enlisted a dream team of producers. Leading the charge was , who served as an executive producer and oversaw the reworking of the majority of the album. He brought on his frequent collaborator Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon . The legendary Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins , a veteran who had worked with Jackson on his 2001 album Invincible , returned to contemporize the title track—a song he originally created with the King of Pop in 1999. The Norwegian duo Stargate and veteran executive John McClain rounded out the production team.

Reid, who considered Epic to be "the House That Thriller Built," personally selected the project’s lead architect [13†L29-L30]. "I didn’t want to go to anyone else to lead this project… only Timbaland," Reid recalled. "He’s like Muhammad Ali production-wise… he’s been the champion at least three times". Working alongside Timbaland were a hand-picked group of world-class producers, including Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, Stargate, longtime Jackson collaborator Rodney Jerkins, and John McClain. Their mission was clear: treat Jackson's work not as a relic to be preserved under glass, but as a foundation on which to build a contemporary pop masterpiece.

: A bonus DVD or video content detailing the making of the album. Key Tracks & Highlights

Key versions/tracks (Deluxe Edition)

The deluxe edition of "Xscape" received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album holds a Metacritic score of 64 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Critics praised the additional tracks on the deluxe edition, which offered a deeper look into Michael Jackson's creative process.

However, the title track (produced by Darkchild) suffers from the loudness war. The original 1999 demo is a lean, aggressive masterpiece of percussion and attitude. The 2014 version buries Jackson’s snarled ad-libs under a barrage of orchestral stabs and clap machines. It’s powerful, but exhausting. "Slave to the Rhythm" is the album's most controversial choice—Timbaland turns a raw, industrial funk demo into a glittering, robotic pop track. The hook is still lethal, but the soul is traded for precision.

Driven by an aggressive, industrial synth-bassline and bright 80s horns, standing as a testament to Jackson's commitment to socially conscious songwriting. 7. "Blue Gangsta" Michael Jackson Xscape -Deluxe Edition- 2014

A duet version of "Love Never Felt So Good" featuring Justin Timberlake.

Notable editions/formats

The story of Michael Jackson's , released in 2014 , is a journey of "contemporizing" long-lost treasures from the King of Pop’s private archives. 1. Digging into the Vault To achieve this, Reid enlisted a dream team of producers

The smash-hit duet with Justin Timberlake, initially written with Paul Anka in 1983.

3.5/5

The included in the Deluxe Edition How the Justin Timberlake collaboration came together The legendary Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins , a veteran

The master plan for Xscape was led by Epic Records chairman and CEO, L.A. Reid. Unlike the often-fractured creation of the 2010 album Michael , Reid approached this project with a singular and respectful vision. Rather than trying to fabricate new songs, he proposed a "contemporization" of raw material—taking a selection of Jackson’s original vocal and instrumental recordings and sensitively updating the musical backdrops.