Williams’ consistent track record of smash hits was just one of the topics discussed in HuffPost Black Voices latest episode of “The Tanning Effect.” The “Rump Shaker” producer opened up on trying to convince Michael Jackson’s manager to use a selection of beats tailored specifically for the “King of Pop.” According to Williams, the late singer preferred a sound similar to the producer’s 1998 hit Noreaga song, “Superthug.”

“I have been telling him, ‘Yo, I got these Michael records [that I did for Michael].’ And I’ll never forget Michael’s manager saying, ‘Yo, Michael wants some “Superthug!”‘ And I was like, ‘What?’” the producer-singer recalled. “I remember being so baffled and so crushed, ’cause he still is my idol.”

When the initial tracks produced for Jackson were scrapped, Williams sought out Justin Timberlake, who was working with the Neptunes on his debut album, Justified. The songs went on to commercial success, not to mention eliciting a phone call from Jackson.

“Funny story is, when we were working on it, Michael called … he just called me and he was eating popcorn in my ear [over the phone] and he was like, ‘Oh, so you’re working with Justin, how’s it going?’ And you know, it was Michael’s voice…it wasn’t the high pitched [voice] that everyone else knew. And he’s just eating the popcorn or whatever. And I remember just thinking to myself, ‘Man, I wish Michael could hear these songs,’” he said.

“And later on, after those songs came out and they were really huge thanks to Justin’s talent and what he had to offer, I’ll never forget the day that me and Michael met up. And he sang me those songs, sounding like Justin. And he said, ‘You should’ve gave those songs to me.’”

Huffington Post