"Blue Gangsta" is a previously unreleased song performed by Michael Jackson released as the seventh track on Jackson's second and final posthumous album, Xscape. Its demo was released on the deluxe edition of the LP.
Background[]
In 1998, Dr. Freeze, a producer known for having co-written hits such as "I Wanna Sex You Up", joined Michael's personnel, having met him through John McClain. The idea for "Blue Gangsta" came to the producer's mind in August 1998, having wanted to "make a new "Smooth Criminal", and "something more modern and rooted in the 2000s".[1] Brad Buxer (keyboards), Greg Phillinganes (minimoog), and Jerry Hey (horns) would be invited for the production as well. Meanwhile, Michael Prince, C.J. DeVillar, Jeff Burns, and Humberto Gatica engineered the song. The latter had previously worked on Thriller, Bad and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, and would later have involvement in the production of Invincible.[1]
| “ | The song was just awesome. Michael obviously loved "Blue Gangsta" because to bring in some of those musicians is very expensive. I mean, you’ve got Jerry Hey doing the horn arrangement – it’s no wonder the brass on "Blue Gangsta" was so incredible. | ” |
–Michael Prince for Damien Shields, Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories From The Vault[1] | ||
DeVillar also believes, that during the recording sessions for "Blue Gangsta", Jackson was "in his prime", praising the singer's vocals at the time.[1]
| “ | Michael was forty years old when he recorded ‘Blue Gangsta.’ His mental attitude combined with his physicality was at its height, in my opinion. The calisthenics he was pulling off and the way he worked the microphone… it was ridiculous! | ” |
–C.J. DeVillar for Damien Shields, Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories From The Vault[1] | ||
Through early 1999, the production would continue, having Jackson come up with new ideas for the song over time. He would call and sing what he had on mind to Buxer and Prince over the phone, while the call would be recorded right into Pro Tools. This way, the two could work with exactly what Jackson imagined.
Among any major changes were a fleeting Spanish guitar being switched with a country-and-western whistle sound, as well as the bridge getting extended for better effect.
Works on “Blue Gangsta” would continue until April 1999, in which it was ultimately abandoned, and because of it, would not make it on the album.[2]
In 2006, “Blue Gangsta” would be heard by fans for the first time through two unofficial remixes, under the title "Gangsta (No Friend of Mine)", made by an American rap artist, Tempamental, and uploaded on MySpace. One version would become more popular than the other, as it featured Pras (of The Fugees). It’s unknown how Tempamental received the track.[3] The release created confusion among Jackson's fans, who questioned if perhaps Michael himself had involvement in it. His manager, Raymone Bain stated Jackson didn’t participate nor was directly involved with Tempamental's songs. Dr. Freeze received calls about it as well.
| “ | Many people called me because of it. I don’t understand what happened. The concerning thing is that I don’t even know who released the song… Why did they do that? Where did this rap originate? In fact, we knew nothing about it – neither me nor Michael. We really don’t understand where this leak came from. [...] This highlights the ignorance of people who are causing the leaks on the Internet. They take the song and put it online without knowing its origin. The song was not presented to the public [the way it should have been]. A guy has just stolen the song, added a rap, and swung it on the internet. I was not even credited. It just landed here without any logical explanation. | ” |
–Dr. Freeze about the remixes[1] | ||
In 2010, after Jackson's passing, the song was considered for inclusion on the posthumous album Michael, it's unknown if it was reworked for it however.[4] Around this time, a older mix of "Blue Gangsta" would leak online.
In 2013, the track was completely reworked for the Xscape album. This featured major changes, most notably featuring a trap beat. Behind the production are Timbaland, King Solomon Logan, Daniel Jones, Perry Jimenez, and Brandon Jones. Additionally, the deluxe version of Xscape featured the original demo of "Blue Gangsta", although a much earlier take than the leak, missing the tambourine and longer bridge.
Music video[]
While "Blue Gangsta" didn't exactly gain an official music video, the song received a clip titled "Michael Jackson - Immortal Tour Celebrates MJ And XSCAPE!", released on May 15, 2014. As the title suggests, it features dancers from Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour performing the song. Interestingly enough, the recording featured is the original version, rather than Timbaland's rework.
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
The Blue Gangsta
[Verse 1]
What you gonna do?
'Cause I'm gonna get you
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
All the things you said
And the things you done to me
You can no longer make me cry
[Pre-Chorus]
Look what you done to me, baby
I can no longer smile, baby
And I've waited so long just to carry on
I'm the Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (Nah)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
[Verse 2]
You tricked me nine to five, lovin' you's a crime
People tellin' me you've got another guy
I've been abused, watch me light the fuse
Said you'd be my wife, nothin' but big lies
[Pre-Chorus]
Don't know what I've done, everything you got
Things you've done to me are comin' back to you
You know just what I've done, the things you've done to me
I'm the Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (Oh, no)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (I'm the Blue Gangsta)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do? (What you gonna do?)
You ain't a friend of mine (What you gonna do?)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta
(Look what you put me through, girl)
What you gonna do? (Oh, no)
You ain't a friend of mine (I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
[Bridge]
See, I am so amused to the things you said
And the things you done done to me
There is nothin' in this world make me change
(You make me wanna change)
(Yeah, ahh)
(Yeah, ahh)
The Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (What you gonna do?)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta
(Look what you put me through, baby)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (I never wanna fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do? (What you gonna do?)
You ain't a friend of mine (What you gonna do?)
Look what you put me through (Look what you put me through, girl)
The Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do? (Oh, no)
You ain't a friend of mine
(I never wanna fall in love)
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (You ain't a friend of mine)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (You ain't a friend of mine)
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (I never wanna fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do? (What you gonna do?)
You ain't a friend of mine (Look what you puttin' me through)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (Yeah, ah)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (Oh, no, no)
The Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
The Blue Gangsta
[Verse 1]
What you gonna do?
Cause I'm gonna get to you
Nowhere ta run, nowhere ta hide
All the things you said
And the things you done to me
You can no longer make me cry
[Pre-Chorus]
Look what you done to me, baby
I can no longer smile baby
And I've waited so long, just to carry on
I'm the Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
(I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (na-ahaa-aaaah)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
(I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
[Verse 2]
You tricked me nine to five, lovin' you's a crime
People tellin' me, you've got another guy
I've been abused, watch me light the fuse
Said you'd be my wife, nothin' but big lies
[Pre-Chorus]
Don't know what I've done, everything they've done
Things you've done to me, are comin' back to you
You know just what I've done, the things you've done to me
I'm the Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (oh no)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (I'm the Blue Gangsta)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
(I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do? (what you gonna do?)
You ain't a friend of mine (what you gonna do?)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (na-ah-ah-aaah)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
(I can never fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
[Bridge]
I am so unused to the things you said
And the things you done done to me
There is nothin' in this world to make me change
Na-aah-aaaah
Na-aah-aaaah
Na-aah-aaaah
The Blue Gangsta
[Chorus]
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (what you gonna do?)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (look what you put me through, baby!)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
(An' I just wanna fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do? (what you gonna do?)
You ain't a friend of mine (what you gonna do?)
Look what you put me through (look what you put me through, girl)
What you gonna do? (oh no)
You ain't a friend of mine
(An' I just wanna fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine (you ain't a friend of mine)
Look what you put me through
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (you ain't a friend of mine)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
(An' I just wanna fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
What you gonna do? (what you gonna do?)
You ain't a friend of mine (look what you put me through)
Look what you put me through (what you gonna do?)
Now that I'm the Blue Gangsta (what you gonna do?)
What you gonna do?
You ain't a friend of mine
(An' I just wanna fall in love)
The Blue Gangsta
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Michael Prince criticized the release of the "Blue Gangsta" demo, as it's an earlier take than Jackson would've wanted, having made so many changes to the song since the late 1990's.[1]
- In 2024, Juliano Krue Valdi's acting coach for Young Michael Jackson confirmed that "Blue Gangsta" would appear in the upcoming biopic.