New Michael Jackson album to be released posthumously

ASSOCIATED PRESS

11 years ago

U.S. Popstar Michael Jackson performing during his “HIStory Tour Part II” across Germany and Europe at the Weserstadion in Bremen, North Germany on May 31, 1997. The first posthumous release of Michael Jackson music is on the way. Epic Records and the late pop singer’s estate will release “Xscape,” an album of material that’s been updated by producers including Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Jerome “Jroc” Harmon and McClain, on May 13. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)

Michael Jackson performs “Dangerous” during the taping of the American Bandstand’s 50th anniversary show in Pasadena, Calif. April 20, 2002. The first posthumous release of Michael Jackson music is on the way. Epic Records and the late pop singer’s estate will release “Xscape,” an album of material that’s been updated by producers including Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Jerome “Jroc” Harmon and McClain, on May 13. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

NEW YORK — A new posthumous album of previously unreleased Michael Jackson music comes out May 13.

Epic Records and the late pop singer’s estate will release “Xscape,” an album of eight new tracks that have been updated musically by producers including Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Jerome “Jroc” Harmon and John McClain.

Executive producer L.A. Reid refers to the work as “contemporizing” in a Monday news release. A deluxe version will include the original recordings.

Few details were shared Monday, but Reid did say the album is named for a track produced by Jackson and Jerkins, then later updated by Jerkins. It’s the only song on the album where the original producer freshened the music.

Jackson died in June 2009 at 50 from a lethal dose of an anesthetic.