MICHAEL JACKSON & KANYE WEST

Hi Gary,

Regarding Michael Jackson, what an incredible musical legacy! The first pop and R&B tunes I ever knew were those of the Jackson 5, as well as Stevie Wonder.??(In fact, I recently purchased a CD called "Stevie Wrote It." It features tunes that Wonder had written for others or that were covered by others, and Jackson was on the roster. Nice that Wonder, too, is currently on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs thanks to his harmonica solo on Raphael Saadiq's "Never Give You Up").??This isn't so much of an "Ask Billboard" question, but more a fun trivia missive.??Four weeks ago, "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo rose to the top of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. When that happened, it became the third No. 1 on that chart by Kanye West that references Michael Jackson:??"Slow Jamz" (2004) by Twista featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx, "She got a light-skinned friend, look like Michael Jackson / Got a dark-skinned friend, look like Michael Jackson"??"Gold Digger" (2005) by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, "She walking around looking like Michael with your money"??"Knock You Down," "This is 'Bad,' real 'Bad,' Michael Jackson"??Kanye West has other musical connections to Jackson:??- He co-wrote/produced Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" in 2001, which sampled the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back"??- He sampled Jackson's "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" on his collaboration with T-Pain, "Good Life"??- He remixed Jackson's "Billie Jean" for the 25th anniversary re-release of "Thriller"??

Thanks,

Pablo Nelson
Berkeley, California


Hi Pablo,

Very insightful of you to connect the dots to Jackson's influence on numerous R&B/hip-hop hits.

It may be of comfort to fans that, even before this week's record-breaking feats on various Billboard charts, Jackson went out on top of a current-based all-format chart, thanks to "Knock You Down." On the Hot 100 Airplay chart (dated July 4) compiled last Wednesday (June 24), the day before his passing, "Knock You Down" rose to the list's summit. Thus, at the time he left us, Jackson was a part of the most-heard song on radio in the U.S.

One last thrill for the thriller who made the Billboard charts home for 40 of his 50 years.

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