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“Serious Effect”

Date assessed from the facts that musician/guitarist Tim Pierce said that “All the time I kept telling Michael that we had to have a rap, and he brought in rappers like LL Cool J who were performing on other songs. Somehow, I didn’t have access to them for ‘Black or White’, and it was getting later and later and I wanted the song to be done.” (Mike Smallcombe, Making Michael) and Summer 1990 is the confirmed recording date for “Black or White”, confirmed by Mike Smallcombe’s “Making Michael”

LL Cool J, rap verse, “Lopez Tonight” (September 28, 2010)

One time we were in the studio and you know, I said, “Mike, you know, in the Smooth Criminal, how did you lean forward like that?”

I was sitting at a baby grand piano, you know, in the chair and he was sitting up on the piano like this [cross legged], you know what I mean?

And he said, “Well you know, we had a Swami come in and you know, we did a special thing, he did a ritual, and he leaned forward and we all leaned forward together.”

I was like “Really?”

“Nooo, silly!” [laughter]

I’ve never told nobody this, and excuse the vulgarity of if, but it’s late, so it’s cool.

One time, we was sitting there in his office and I said, “Mike, Mike, you know, I gotta pass gas”

He said, “What?”

I said, “Mike, I gotta fart.”

“You gotta what?”

I said, “I have to fart.”

He said, “Well, go ahead then.”

I went [farting noise]

He went [laughing hysterically, looking disgusted]

So he gets on phone right, and I say, “Oh man, I would love some ice cream.”

He says, “Really?” He says, “Okay, hold on a second. [dials phone] Hello? Yes, hey. Guess what LL just did? … He ordered some ice cream.” [laughter]

You know - you know, Mike was a trip. You know, let me tell you something. Working with Michael was the most amazing part of my life. I respect him so much, love him so much… He was incredible, incredible.