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Will.i.am Has ‘a Hard Drive Full’ of Unreleased Songs by Artists Like Michael Jackson and Beyoncé

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 11: Host will.i.am speaks on stage during will.i.am's i.am.angel Foundation TRANS4M 2016 Gala at Milk Studios on February 11, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for i.am angel foundation)

Will.i.am apparently has “a hard drive full” of unheard songs by pop megastars, with folders supposedly full of material by Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Britney Spears, and Mariah Carey. No, he hasn’t been torrenting — the tracks are leftovers from recording sessions the Black Eyed Peas leader worked on as an independent producer.

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“I got a hard drive full of songs that just sit there and we could go through them,” will told Digital Spy. “When I work with artists, we record songs and write songs, and to get one song you have to record seven. So those other six are actually really good. Maybe there’s two of them that are good, maybe there’s one lingering one that just needs some touching up.”

It’s not entirely clear if will meant entirely new songs, or something a bit less exciting, like demo versions or alternate takes. The Voice UK coach said he would consider allowing show contestants to record their own versions of unreleased tracks, seemingly implying that the “songs” are new material. Otherwise, he said, “They’re just going to sit there on my hard drive. Somebody has to go through them.” Here’s hoping he’s got his files backed up.