Released: December 26, 1995

Featuring: The Notorious B.I.G.

Songwriter: Michael Jackson The Notorious B.I.G. Dallas Austin

Producer: Dallas Austin Michael Jackson

[Verse 1]
(Michael:)
This time around I never get bit
Though you really want to fix me
This time around you're making me sick
Though you really want to get me
Somebody's out, somebody's out to get me
You really want to fix me, hit me
But this time around I'm taking no
Though you really want to get me, you really want to get me

[Chorus]
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they thought they really had control of me
He really thought he really had a hold of mе
He really thought, they thought thеy really had control of me

[Verse 2]
This time around I'm not going to get bit
Though you really want to get me
But this time around I'm taking no
Though you really want to fix me
Somebody's out, somebody's out to use me
You really want to use me and falsely accuse me
This time around don't treat me like spit
Though you really can't control me, you really can't control me

[Chorus]
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they thought they really had control of me
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they thought they really had control of me
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they thought they really had control of me
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they thought they really had control of me

[Verse 3]
(The Notorious B.I.G:)
Listen, I got problems of my own
Flashing cameras, taps on my phone
Even in my home, I ain’t safe as I should be
Things always missing, maybe it could be my friends

But they ain’t friends if they robbing me
Stopping me, from making a profit, see
Apology shallow like the ocean
I guess I'll resort to gun-totin'

If I was dead broke and smoking
I'd probably be by my lonesome
I'm a killer I ain’t joking
Indo smoke got me choking, I'm hoping
A fool come slipping, so I can blow him open

This time around I changed up my flow
Got rid of the rots, got Pits by the door
I reeled a set of people to watch my back
Stay away from strangers so I won't slack
And I know my Mike like that (Michael: This time around, yeah!)
Baby

[Chorus]
(Michael:)
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they thought they really had control of me
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they thought they really had control of me

[Ad-libs:]
Get me, infect me
You really try to get me
Use me
Accuse me
Nobody should abuse me
(Control this!)

He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they really had control of me
(Control this, here ya!)
He really thought he really had a hold of me
He really thought, they really...
This time around, yeah!

(He really thought)

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. Jackson began his career when he was seven years old as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, breaking into stardom in 1969 after signing into Motown. The Jackson 5’s first four singles all peaked at number one on the Billboard 100, and soon after Michael pursued a solo career.

His breakthrough fifth album, 1979’s Off The Wall produced four top ten hits (including “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”) and sold 20 million copies, establishing him as a household name. The album was followed with 1982’s Thriller, which became the best selling album of all time, and was the first album to feature seven top 10 singles, including “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.”

In 1985, Michael contributed to the collaboration single “We Are The World”, which remains one of the best-selling singles of all time and raised nearly $65 million for famine relief.

From the album