Did Michael Jackson steal Rick James’ groove for ‘Billie Jean’?

Donna Summer isn’t the only person Michael Jackson allegedly stole from to create his hit “Billie Jean,” according to his sister La Toya’s ex-fiancé Jeffre Phillips.
Michael Jackson and Rick JamesGetty Images

“Rick [James] told me on many occasions that the song ‘Billie Jean’ was actually taken from his song ‘Ghetto Life’ from his ‘Street Songs’ album,” Phillips told Page Six after legendary “Thriller” producer Quincy Jones alleged in an interview last week that Jackson had jacked Summer’s bass line from her tune “State of Independence” for “Billie Jean.”

Phillips said that “Michael called [Rick] to tell him how great the album was. He was like, ‘I want to come to the studio to see how you do your thing.’ And then ‘Thriller’ came out. Rick knew right away [that he stole it]. He confronted Michael about it at an awards show — and Michael just laughed and said, ‘Good to see you, Rick.’ ”

But James “was never upset about it and didn’t go after him legally because he liked Michael and all of the brothers,” Phillips said.