Quincy Jones Said Michael Jackson Was ‘Greedy’ and ‘Machiavellian’

Quincy Jones worked with Michael Jackson on three of his albums. The pair had an incredibly successful working relationship, and Jones described Jackson as his brother following the latter’s death. When reflecting on Jackson’s career, though, Jones said he was too greedy. While Jackson made good music, Jones believed he didn’t credit the people who helped him.

Quincy Jones described Michael Jackson as money-hungry

In 1978, Jones met Jackson while working on The Wiz. He went on to produce Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad for the artist. Years after their collaborations, Jones said he believed Jackson stole some from other artists.

“I hate to get into this publicly, but Michael stole a lot of stuff,” Jones told Vulture in 2018. “He stole a lot of songs. [Donna Summer’s] ‘State of Independence’ and ‘Billie Jean.’ The notes don’t lie, man. He was as Machiavellian as they come.”

Jones also thought Jackson didn’t credit the people who lifted him to success.

“[He was] greedy, man. Greedy,” he said. “‘Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough’ — Greg Phillinganes wrote the c section. Michael should’ve given him 10 percent of the song. Wouldn’t do it.”

He shared what he thought the singer’s biggest problems were

Jones said that during Jackson’s lifetime, he grew concerned about him.

“I used to kill him about the plastic surgery, man,” he said. “He’d always justify it and say it was because of some disease he had. Bulls***.”

Jones believed that Jackson’s upbringing and fame wore him down, but his biggest problem became drugs.

“[A]t the end Michael’s problem was Propofol, and that problem affects everyone — doesn’t matter if you’re famous,” he said. “Big Pharma making OxyContin and all that shit is a serious thing. I was around the White House for eight years with the Clintons, and I’d learn about how much influence Big Pharma has. It’s no joke.”

Quincy Jones said he produced one Michael Jackson album for the love of art, not money

Jones railed against modern music producers who seemed more interested in making money than creating art. He said financial gain never crossed his mind, even when creating an album like Thriller.

“When you go after Cîroc vodka and Phat Farm and all that s***, God walks out of the room,” he said. “I have never in my life made music for money or fame. Not even Thriller. No way.”

Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, but Jones said he couldn’t afford to think about it like that while in the studio.

“God walks out of the room when you’re thinking about money,” he said. “You could spend a million dollars on a piano part and it won’t make you a million dollars back. That’s just not how it works.”