1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - 9. The Lady In My Life You already know! See review here - https://rate.house/album/thriller 10. Starlight ★★★★ This is always going to sound weird, as the production is almost exactly 'Thriller', minus a few missing extra touches. The more you play it though, the less odd it sounds. From someone who has never loved the lyrical horror theme of 'Thriller', I can't dislike this. The production still bangs. It's not labelled as a demo, but Michael's vocals on the chorus sounds like a draft. 11. Got the Hots (Demo) ★★★★☆ Funky. Dope transitions from chorus to verse. 12. Who Do You Know (Demo) ★★★★ Slow and vibey. One that I wish he finished off completely. 13. Carousel ★★★☆ A bonus track on previous rereleases of Thriller, this is another good one but I prefer a number of the demos here than this finished track. It's not as funky, catchy, or original in the production. 14. Behind the Mask (Mike's Mix, Demo) ★★★★ I wish the amazing outro rolled on for longer. Someone needs to make a hip hop beat out of it. I've always liked the 'Michael' version of this song. This is a rough mix but it doesn't take away from it too much and gives us more synth-pop vibes. 15. Can't Get Outta the Rain ★★★ This feels like one hook repeated. How is it not labelled a demo? The song is very disco and bangs, but it's just too repetitive. I do like the scream like vocals. 16. The Toy (Demo) ★★★★ "An early demo version of "Best of Joy" (released in the Michael album), entitled "The Toy" (intended for the 1982 Richard Pryor film of the same name)". Like 'Who Do You Know' and 'What a Lovely Way to Go' this just puts you in a good mood. 17. Sunset Driver (Demo) ★★★★★ For a demo, this is amazing. This would have made Off the Wall or Thriller better if included. The "Pah-dah-da-da-dah-dah-dah" part coming off the chorus is incredibly damn catchy! My favourite of the 'new' songs. 18. What a Lovely Way to Go (Demo) ★★★☆ A nice stripped back song with the chance to enjoy MJ's smoothing vocals including what sounds like some beatboxing. 19. She's Trouble (Demo) ★★★☆ This is still great, but not near the quality of his album tracks. It isn't varied as other funky songs like 'Got the Hots' and 'Sunset Driver', but like I said, still excellent. 20. Billie Jean (Home Demo from 1981) 21. Billie Jean (Long Version) 22. Billie Jean 2008 (Kanye West Mix) 23. Beat It (Demo) 24. Beat It 2008 25. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Demo) 26. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Tommy D's Main Mix) 27. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 28. Human Nature (7" Remix) 29. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (Demo Version) 30. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008 31. The Girl Is Mine 2008 32. Thriller (7" Special Edit) 33. Thriller (Def Thriller Mix) 34. Thriller Megamix I would have preferred a reissue anniversary edition of Dangerous or HIStory, but hoping for things from MJ's estate is a waste of energy. We have heard most of these songs through leaks or on previous compilations but it has given me a chance to enjoy some of the songs I have underappreciated. Best Tracks: Got the Hots (Demo), Behind the Mask (Mike's Mix, Demo), The Toy (Demo), Sunset Driver (Demo)

The first two songs are okay, with 'Break This Bitch Up' featuring an energetic beat and 'Slap' taking us back to a previous era being produced by Marley Marl and featuring BDK, although the song gets boring. From there it gets worse. 'Hot Sex Pt. 2' isn't interesting. The feature on 'Bulletproof Skin' is almost laughable. 'Run It Up' is the best since 'Slap', but still isn't worth keeping. I don't like the chorus. After dropping his best project for a long time with 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God', he returns with this... Not good. Best Tracks: Break This Bitch Up, Slap

If this was the first time I heard an Apollo Brown production, I think I may love it, but having listened to him for a long time now, from the first song, with those slow drums and stringy melody, you know what you're getting, and have for a while. Philmore Greene is a good enough MC, with a commanding voice and fine flow, but he is the same type of conscious rapper Apollo has been working with as well. It's nice and consistent boom bap but isn't much new meaning it probably won't be revisited. Best Tracks: Keep Goin', Steep Life, Just Imagine, Where's the Love

"Still got the same flame behind me from the Hate Me Now video" Nas has been rapping as well as ever on these Hit-Boy collaborations but none of their four projects have wowed me. I've been trying to put my finger on why that is and there is a common theme in my reviews of the KD series and Magic - The lack of catchy hooks. Where are the hooks like 'Small World'? 'Hate Me Now'? 'Nas Is Like'? 'Bye Baby'? 'Made You Look'? They don't exist. The verses are fire, and again, the production is another improvement overall on 'KDII', and to a lesser degree 'Magic', but I want some better hook writing! Some of the hooks are just talking, other songs don't seem to have one, some have them but aren't catchy and/or don't have anything different from Hit-Boy in the production department to make the chorus standout from the verses. One of the more memorable hooks is the one with the uncredited Mario vocals on 'Serious Interlude', along with the 'I'm on Fire' vocals/sample(?). On 'Serious Interlude', about 50 seconds in, you can clearly hear Nas jump in and out of the verse that isn't something I've noticed before. Nevertheless, this is still an extremely consistent album and one that has grown on me as I've spun it half a dozen times. The least likeable moments for me are 'WTF SMH', that has lazy Kanye like repetitive sampling(?) in the second half, and then the final bonus track doesn't have great production either. Those aside though, as mentioned, apart from wanting some more memorable hooks, you can't fault this much. There are original song topics like 'First Time' that add to its creativity, the beats bang more overall that the previous Hit-Boy production and Nas continues to bring it as he has since '91. Beats: ★★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★★ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: Legit, Thun, Michael & Quincy, Hood2Hood, Reminisce, Serious Interlude, I’m on Fire, Get Light, First Time, Beef

This is Mr. Cheeks' first solo album away from his group, the Lost Boyz. What kind of a name is 'Mr. Cheeks' by the way?... Anyway, this is a decent project with lots of good music with a number of tracks toeing the line nicely between boom bap but still feeling somewhat poppy. There are lots of little funk touches throughout the album. As a rapper, Cheeks doesn't do anything to stand out from the crowd. After a number of plays, I can't say a bar, flow, presence, or anything has caught my ear. The lack of any great song also lets this down. Ratings albums like this is always difficult because I find its consistency very good, but there are no amazing high points. The only song I feel an urge to skip is the closer, 'Major'. A light 3.5/5 for its consistency. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Light Camera Action!, Worldwide Bouncin, What the Fuck Is This, Till Me Meet Again, I Remember