Quincy Jones Accuses Michael Jackson Of Stealing Most Of His Hit Songs

Music producer Quincy Jones and singer Michael Jackson had a good relationship that began in the late ’70s when they first collaborated on the late musician’s first solo album, Off the Wall, which was released in 1979. The album marked a turning point in the King of Pop’s career, showcasing his transition from a child star to a mature solo artist with Jones playing a crucial role in the album’s success, as he co-produced it and helped shape its sound.

The duo continued to work together on other albums, such as the 1982 Thriller, which went on to become the best-selling album of all time as well as Bad and Dangerous, both of which also achieved tremendous commercial success. However, their professional relationship came to an end in the late ’80s as Jackson believed the producer was outdated and disconnected from current trends.

Quincy Jones accuses Micheal Jackson of plagiarism

In an interview with Vulture in 2018, Quincy accused his former collaborator of Plagiarism. He explained that Jackson appropriated other artists’ beats claiming that “Billie Jean” was one such, and it originated from Donna Summer’s 1982 track “State of Independence,” originally recorded by Jon and Vangelis.

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“I hate to get into this publicly, but Michael stole a lot of stuff,” he told the news outlet. “He stole a lot of songs. The notes don’t lie, man, [Jackson] was as Machiavellian as they come. Greedy, man. Greedy.”

Micheal Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, responds to Quincy Jones’ allegations

In response to Jones’s statements questioning his son’s legacy, Joe Jackson, who passed away in June 2018, referred to the producer as “jealous” of his son’s talent in an interview with Page Six. The Rhythm and Blues Hall of Famer further explained that if there is a resemblance between Michael Jackson’s and Donna Summer’s songs, the responsibility lies with Jones as he is the producer of his songs.

“He says my son stole it, but he was the producer on both [‘Billie Jean’ and ‘State of Independence’],” he explained to the news outlet, “so if anybody is wrong, it would be Quincy.”