Michael Jackson was working on a secret hip-hop album with Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. Michael and Will holed up in a studio in Ireland for an entire year and produced several tracks, but according to Will nothing was ever good enough for Michael. “He was a perfectionist,” says the Black Eyed Peas frontman.

more photos of Will.i.am after the hop…

Will told The Mirror says Michael was very “protective” of his work:

“It was going to be out of this world. It’s something Michael has never done before – a dance music album. I was very proud of it. But he was very protective and kept it under lock and key. After we made it I had to hand back every demo. He was a perfectionist and didn’t want anyone to hear it until it was ready.”

Will.i.am says he’s still smarting from Michael’s death:

I tried calling him last week but he was always in rehearsals. It’s so sad. He was my friend and the biggest inspiration of my life. I’m going to miss him.”