Rapper and singer T-Pain is opening up about a song that once was and was set to feature two of the biggest stars in music: Usher and Michael Jackson.
In a now viral clip, the “Bartender” rapper recalled a time years ago when he was preparing a song with the “Confessions” and “Billie Jean” singers. But thanks to an over-eager participant, the song unfortunately never saw the light of day.
“We were about to listen to a song that I wrote and produced that was meant for me, Usher and Michael Jackson,” T-Pain explained in the video. “And then the person that was in charge of doing the references, the person that sang it got too excited and was like: ‘Nigga I’m on a song with Michael Jackson and Usher and T-Pain!’ And then they released it and Michael Jackson was like ‘naw, nevermind. I don’t want to do it anymore.’ Yeah, that pissed me off, not gon’ lie to you.”
For context, a reference singer is a singer who’s initially recorded on a song in an effort to help the final featured artist learn their part on the song,
You know what T-Pain? You’re not alone in your anger because we missed out on a MAJOR BOP?! Do you hear this beat, those vocals, that harmony? We were robbed of a good thing—no, a GREAT thing and now we’ll never know what this would’ve sounded like in it’s full production power. I also can’t help but wonder how early in his career this took place considering that MJ died in 2009 and T-Pain and Usher were reportedly not on the best terms between 2013 and 2017.
Regardless: T-Pain, if you’re reading and ever feel so inclined to push for that song’s release now—please do. The streets are ready!