Music
Pharrell Says Justin Timberlake’s ‘Justified’ Album Was Originally Written For Michael Jackson
The Virginia producer shared the news on a recent ‘Drink Champs’ episode and also shared MJ’s reaction to the original songs. …
Pharrell almost had a shot at working with Michael Jackson in the early 2000s. The Virginia producer reflected on that moment during a recent interview on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s Drink Champs podcast. Jackson came up after Pharrell revealed that Prince rejected one of the songs he sent to the legendary singer. It was here that Pharrell shared that almost all of Justin Timberlake’s debut solo album, Justified, was originally written for the King Of Pop.
“John McClain was his manager at the time,” Pharrell said. “We sent him pretty much all the stuff y’all are hearing on the Justified album. That’s all the Michael stuff.” He added, “All but one song, they were all written for Michael.”
Unfortunately for Pharrell, Michael Jackson and his team were not too fond of the music that was sent to him. “John McClain was like, ‘Man Michael don’t want that sh*t,’” Pharrell recalled. “‘He want that sh*t you’re giving Noreaga….he want that ‘Superthug,’” referencing Pharrell and N.O.R.E.’s iconic 1998 track from the latter’s self-titled debut album.
Elsewhere in the podcast, Pharrell shared his feelings on Drake and Pusha T’s beef. “It still breaks my heart to this day, because I would’ve loved to have heard those guys on a song together or heard a joint project together. I would’ve loved to twist that,” he said.
You can watch the full Drink Champs interview with Pharrell in the video above.
Artist Spotlight
“Days Like These” sees Matt Law turn college memories into a powerful rock anthem
Matt Law’s new single “Days Like These” is a breath of fresh air. The track is centered on the energy of summer memories, college friendships, and the thrill of making music with people who really believe in the moment, and it feels like a snapshot of youth at full volume.
Built on a rock foundation of melody and momentum, “Days Like These” is an uplifting rush from start to finish. The single, recorded with fellow students and collaborators at Riverside Music College, captures the excitement of a band finding its sound as it happens.
Matt Law displays himself as an artist with a good instinct for atmosphere and emotional connection. This song’s lively personality is boosted by drummer Taylor Whyte, bassist Alex Duncan, rhythm guitarist Kian Carrol, and lead guitarist Morgan Flanagan.
“Days Like These” is memorable for its ability to get at a universal feeling. It’s about those moments of freedom, uncertainty, and excitement that mark the early years of adulthood, and it still sounds fresh enough to resonate with people well beyond that. Matt Law’s effort is the first shot in the career of an artist who knows how to turn memories into anthems, giving us one perfect for open roads, late nights, and unforgettable summers.
Album Review
Mary Knoblock’s “Peach” album is a tender journey through love, loss, and rebirth
Mary Knoblock’s new album, “Peach,” is a deeply emotional and cinematic world of sound, blending Americana folk, neo-classical dream pop, and storytelling into something intimate. The album is nine songs and just under forty-six minutes, with the feeling of a performance where every scene holds tenderness, heartbreak, longing, and quiet transformation.
“Peach” is inspired by the idea of emotional rebirth and welcomes you with warmth and honesty. Each track is a tender clutch of textures, poetic emotion, and experimental beauty. Her voice and compositions are finely tuned for a strength that makes every moment intimate and alive.
“Mustang Clover” is a free, contemplative track, while “Metal Neon Sky” is a luminous, mysterious, and desirable emotional landscape. The title track, “Peach,” is warm, tender, and exposed, and in a deeply heartfelt way, captures the emotional heart of the album. “Mother’s Eyes” is a piece of emotional depth and memory, and one of the most intimate moments of the project. The album continues with the quiet emotional weight of lead single “I Knew You,” graceful and restrained, balancing love and loss.
“Of The Alpine” evokes a drifting, cinematic sense of lonely isolation that is beautiful and lonely. “Maybe Tomorrow” is a lively, ambiguous song, while “Peach – Blue Grass” is a reimagination of the emotional heart of the album from a more rootsy perspective. “Mustang Clover – Deluxe” continues the reflective spirit of the opening track and adds emotional texture. “Peach” reveals Mary Knoblock as an artist not afraid to expose truth through sound, emotion, and imagination.
Connect with Mary Knoblock on Website | Facebook | X | Spotify | Instagram | TikTok |
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