Justin Bieber set for 'really special' Michael Jackson duet, Xscape producer confirms

Justin Bieber will still be collaborating with Michael Jackson, LA Reid confirms (Getty Images)

Music fans, you might want to sit down before reading further. Justin Bieber is still set to duet with Michael Jackson and, this time, it will be a “really special” project.

LA Reid, chief of Epic Records, confirmed the future plans in a recent interview, after the “Baby” singer’s vocals were scrapped from the late King of Pop’s new album, Xscape.

Bieber was due to feature on “Slave 2 the Rhythm” but his contribution was removed when the track leaked online.

“I signed Justin. I feel a loyalty and I feel I should protect him, that’s my relationship with him,” Reid told Access Hollywood.

“But “Slave to the Rhythm” didn’t include him per my direction, that was something done separate and apart from me, and it was leaked.”

Reid added that had the song remained secret, Bieber’s vocals would have remained intact. He promised to make up for the ‘disappointment’: “We’re going to revisit and do something really special with Justin Bieber…and Michael.”

Jackson’s posthumous record presents eight unheard tracks, including new single “Love Never Felt So Good” with Justin Timberlake. Acclaimed producers such as Timbaland have helped rework the songs to give them a fresh, contemporary twist.

The album is on course to hit number one on the UK Official Albums Chart this weekend after topping digital charts in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Not everyone has welcomed Xscape, however, with Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney describing it as “some f**king bullshit that sucks so bad that it took them three years after he died to make it listenable”.