A major legal dispute has surfaced involving the estate of Michael Jackson and rapper Sexyy Red over an unauthorized rework of one of pop music’s most iconic tracks. The estate confirmed this week that it is taking steps to block the release of a raunchy “flip” of Jackson’s 1983 hit “Beat It.”
The controversy began when footage surfaced of the rapper in the studio performing explicit new lyrics over the song’s unmistakable instrumental. Representatives for the Jackson estate quickly issued a statement on February 12 clarifying that they were “totally unaware” of the recording and that the use of the music is entirely unauthorized. The estate argues that such use undermines the legacy of the Thriller era and could mislead the public, especially as they prepare for the global rollout of the Michael biopic later this spring.
This escalating tension serves as a reminder of how aggressively major estates protect legendary catalogs in the digital age. While Sexyy Red has previously cited Jackson as an influence, the estate has maintained a “zero tolerance” policy on unlicensed samples. The situation highlights the ongoing battle between modern “viral” sampling culture and the strict intellectual property protections held by the industry’s most valuable heritage brands.
