Unreleased Michael Jackson Music Discovered in Storage Unit

Recently, twelve unheard tracks by Michael Jackson were discovered in an abandoned storage unit located in California. These recordings were made during the time Jackson was working on his "Dangerous" album.

The discovery was made by a self-identified treasure hunter named Gregg Musgrove, who acquired the unit that belonged to a music producer named Bryan Loren. After the storage unit's contents were auctioned off, Musgrove stumbled upon this valuable collection of music.

As he explored the recordings, Musgrove expressed great excitement, stating, "I’m listening to this stuff, and I would get goosebumps because nobody’s ever heard this stuff before. To hear Michael Jackson actually talk and kind of joke back and forth, it was really, really cool," as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

These newly found tracks present an intriguing glimpse into the artistry of the late King of Pop, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 50 amid various controversies, including serious allegations during his lifetime. Regardless of these issues, Jackson's musical legacy has remained powerful and influential.

However, the fate of these recordings is complicated. Despite the potential excitement it could generate among fans, the likelihood of the tracks being released as a complete album is low. Musgrove revealed that he reached out to the Jackson estate regarding the tapes, but they declined to buy them. Furthermore, legal advice indicated that the copyright of the recordings still resides with the estate, leaving the music in a state of legal uncertainty.

The collection includes items like a studio mix master tape of a song titled "Son of Thriller" and a rap duet featuring LL Cool J called "Truth on Youth." Overall, there are sixteen tapes, with multiple versions of some songs, and they are believed to have been recorded between 1989 and 1991.

This situation is particularly reflective of American culture, as U.S. law allows storage units to be deemed legally abandoned after 60 to 90 days of non-payment. They are then auctioned off, often leading to surprising discoveries.

Since Michael Jackson's passing, his estate has capitalized on his image and work through various commercial projects. These include releases like the album "Xscape" and the Broadway musical "MJ The Musical," which debuted in 2022. Additionally, a biopic titled "Michael" is set to be released in April 2025, starring Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson, who is Michael's nephew.

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