Better on the Other Side

"Better on the Other Side" is a tribute song from American recording artists The Game, Chris Brown, Diddy, DJ Khalil, Polow da Don, Mario Winans, Usher and Boyz II Men dedicated to Michael Jackson. The song was recorded on June 25, 2009, after being notified that Jackson had died that day, and subsequently released the following day on Diddy's Twitter account. The song gained airplay on radio show "Big Boy's Neighborhood" as well as on Game affiliate DJ Skee's satellite radio show, "Skeetox". The song's lyrics are about Jackson's influence and effect on people worldwide, as well as the recording artist reflecting on their memories of Jackson. Musically, "Better on the Other Side" is a hip hop, R&B, pop ballad. The song's music video was recorded in ten hours and was released on June 30, 2009. The video was intercut with clips of Jackson's fans mourning and celebrating Jackson outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where Jackson was pronounced dead, as well as clips of the musicians recording the song. The song was well received by music critics. Background On June 25, 2009, American recording artist, Michael Jackson, died from cardiac arrest at the age of 50, later revealed to be from a drug intoxication of the anesthetic drug Propofol (also known as "Diprivan"). Jackson was friends with musicians Chris Brown, Diddy, Boyz II Men and The Game. Aside from being friends with some of the musicians involved on the song, others involved had also respected and admired Jackson. According to The Game, prior to Jackson's death Jackson, Diddy and Eminem had tried to end the feuding and tension between rapper 50 Cent and The Game in 2005. The Game stated that in 2005, Jackson called him and offered to help end the feud, remembering "I was on tour in Canada, sitting in my room, cutting my hair [...] I was messing my hair up. Then my road manager knocks on my door. Boom, boom, boom. He told me, I got MJ on the phone. I ran and snatched up the phone." The Game said Jackson started the conversation by talking about music and complimenting him on his records like "Hate It or Love It" and "How We Do" and, "[Jackson] said, 'I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, but I want to ask you something. I don't want you to judge me, but I don't really know everything that's going on between you and 50 [Cent].