Michael Jackson did not want to seek the legal route over an Eminem diss but his strategy far outplayed the latter
Michael Jackson with his fans | Alan Light for Wikimedia Commons
An unfortunate diss brought the ire of Jackson over the Rap God singer. Thereafter, the former simply chose to let it slide on the public front but pulled off a completely unexpected and numbing move. The resulting fallout had deep implications for the rapper and laid the foundation for one of the most riveting feuds in the music industry.
Michael Jackson literally went on to own Eminem
Eminem performing in Germany | Mika Photography for Wikimedia Commons
Enjoying a significant amount of fame in the arena of music, Eminem decided to take his influence to the test. In 2004, the singer dropped a music video for his Just Lose It song that parodied Michael Jackson. Featuring a look-alike, the clip depicted scenes such as the Rock With You singer’s hair catching fire, a reference to his Pepsi ad, and another featuring his nose dropping off, understandably angering him.
In talks with Strike It Big, Matt Fiddes, a close friend and bodyguard to the late musical genius, shared how the latter showed almost no reaction upon watching the clip and even declined to seek legal action against him.
I watched that with Michael and he didn’t have much of a reaction to it, And I thought he would be angry but he said ‘I really respect Eminem. And it is what it is and that’s that’.
However, down the line, thanks to his financial clutch and the help of his friend, Mike Lester, he took the perfect revenge by buying the publishing rights to Eminem’s back catalog, tying him to his whims. Fiddes recalled an iconic interaction as,
Next time I was with Michael, I was with him the following week, I said ‘Michael have you bought Eminem’s music?’ He said, ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. You know what? I thought about it, the video, and it was wrong. I’m sick of lawsuits. I’ve had them all my life. I just bought all his songs so now every time he wants to play, he has to ask me permission, and I get paid’.
Thus, a pivotal and iconic moment in pop history unfolded and Jackson had his share of the beef and came out as the bigger fish, except that there lay another layer to this story.
Eminem finally managed to win back his music
Eminem raps with a live band during The Concert for Valor in Washington, D.C. Nov. 11, 2014 | DOD News photo by EJ Hersom for Wikimedia Commons
The actual reality, however, lay slightly different from the account provided by Matt Fiddes. Michael Jackson originally held a 50 percent stake in Sony/ATV, which in turn, he had originally sealed as part of a transaction that had many of The Beatles’ original songs transferred to him.
Now, when the joint venture music company acquired the publishing rights to Eminem’s back catalog, the King of Pop, through his majority stake, indirectly wielded immense control over the Venom singer’s music.
After earning loyalties from the ownership stake, the situation turned different following the mega-star’s passing in 2009. A $750 million deal between Sony and Michael Jackson’s estate transferred his 50% stake back to the company, making it the sole owner. Eminem moved in to negotiate a deal and earned back the rights to his music in 2016, marking an end to the saga.
News
SUITE SURPRISE Bachelorette fans think Jenn Tran slipped up and revealed ‘secret fling’ with Pete Davidson after Devin’s Fantasy Suite
Plus, Bachelorette fans rage over yet another schedule change ahead of the finale BACHELORETTE fans have been convinced Jenn Tran and Pete Davidson had a secret fling after Monday’s Fantasy Suite episode. During the show, Jenn and finalist Devin, a…
DEEP WOUND Mariah Carey admitted it was ‘safer’ to have no contact with her brother and sister before Alison’s tragic death
Alison Carey, 63, died on the same day as Mariah’s mother Patricia, 87, the singer confirmed MARIAH Carey reflected on her complicated relationships with her siblings years before sister Alison Carey’s tragic death. On Monday, Mariah, 55, announced that her mother Patricia Carey,…
MARIAH’S PAIN From being offered cocaine & ‘pimped out’ by sister aged 12 to sick arson attacks – Mariah Carey’s traumatic family life
The star hit rock bottom in 2001, saying she was ‘broken down by the very people who were supposed to keep me whole’ WHEN Mariah Carey’s mom and sister both died this weekend the pop legend had to be careful…
MOVING ON Ben Affleck looks happier than ever during fast food run after he was spotted with Kick Kennedy following split from JLo
BEN Affleck has been spotted showing off his smile during an outing after his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. The actor stopped for fast food in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday. 6 Ben Affleck smiling ear to ear while ordering fast…
SUPER BUMP Nicki Minaj shares pregnancy photos in new Gag City Reloaded album announcement leaving fans confused
And why some fans weren’t too thrilled to see Nicki posing with her husband NICKI Minaj has been promoting the upcoming release of her Pink Friday 2: Gag City Reloaded deluxe album with a mix of current and former pregnancy photos. The…
IT’S A WASH Channing Tatum slammed for his ‘disgusting’ and ‘wasteful’ laundry habit in failed ‘attempt to seem relatable’
Fans recently expressed concern for Channing after he shared several bizarre selfies online CHANNING Tatum has been slammed for his wasteful laundry habit in what critics have called a failed attempt to seem relatable. The Don’t Blink star opened up…
End of content
No more pages to load