Sources : My personal research, Wikipedia, Michael Jackson: For The Record by Chris Cadman & Craig Halstead, Twitter account of Damien Shields and the amazing archives of the MJCast.
ERA
1998-2004 : Invincible/Number Ones/The Ultimate Collection era
RECORDING DATE
The song was originally recorded between 1998 and 1999 for the Invincible album but failed to make the final cut. Dr. Freeze re-tooled the song without changing the original music to fit night clubs but this version was not featured on the Xscape album. In late 2010, a year after Jackson’s passing, the full version of “Blue Gangsta” was leaked onto the internet. The original version of “Blue Gangsta” included on Xscape is an earlier version: engineer Michael Prince felt the decision to include this version didn’t align with Jackson’s vision for the song.
Opening with a movie score-like wash of strings and the urgent refrain, “What cha gonna do/You ain’t no friend of mine/Look what you put me through/Now that I’m the blue gangsta,” the Timbaland-produced tune features a spare, skittering beat and Jackson singing over the multi-tracked chorus. Brazilian tribute artist and impersonator Rodrigo Teaser revealed in a podcast that LaVelle Smith Jr. (Jackson’s long-time personal friend, choreographer and dancer), who had worked with Teaser, told him that the song would be the last part of a gangster-themed trilogy to be presented in live performances, the two previous parts being Smooth Criminal and Dangerous.
STUDIO(S)
Los Angeles (California)
SONGWRITER(S)
Michael Jackson
Elliot “Dr. Freeze” Straite
PRODUCER(S)
Michael Jackson
Elliot “Dr. Freeze” Straite
RELEASE DATE :
Posthumously on May, 9 2014 (“Xscape” album).
LABEL
MJJ Music
Epic Records
Legacy Recording
Sony
LENGTH
4:24 (original version)
ALTERNATE VERSIONS RECORDED BY MJ (covers and remixes by other artists are not included)
No other version known to exist
MUSICIANS
PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :
Not released as a single in the US
SHORT FILM (filmed by MJ during his lifetime)
No short film
LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS
Never performed on a TV show
LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS
Never performed in concerts
Jackson Dynasty 