No problems with Pablo! Paris Jackson is totally OK that Kanye West surpassed her late dad, Michael Jackson, in number of Top 40 hits. In fact, she says that the King of Pop was a fan of the controversial rapper.
The 18-year-old opened up about West’s accomplishment via Instagram on Monday, August 15, when she responded to someone who wrote they were “f–king mad” about the situation underneath a photo on Paris’ Instagram account.
“The first time I ever heard Kanye’s Heartbreak album was from my dad, he played it for me all the time. He liked him,” Paris shared in the comments section, which was screenshot by a fan. “He never saw music as a competition or a game, never have a motive to talk s–t about other artists. It was always about the love and respect and appreciation of music.”
“So if someone breaks a new record, be happy for them. They worked hard for it and they earned it,” she continued. “Don’t be angry or jealous or biased. Music is music and if it’s good it deserves recognition.”
West, 39, was just as big a fan of the the iconic “Thriller” singer. “I have to be the Michael Jackson of apparel to break open the doors of everyone that will come after I’m gone,” he told Ellen DeGeneres of his fashion label in May.
Additionally, West name-dropped Jackson, among other artists, when he tweeted about his latest album, The Life of Pablo, in February. “So many musicians touch my life and made me who I am,” he wrote at the time. “I want to make something great to honor my idols…”
Last week, West passed Jackson’s and Frankie Valli‘s records when his “THat Part” collaboration with ScHoolboy Q reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. The rapper now has 40 top hits, while Jackson has 39, according to Billboard. Other musicians still hold higher records, however, such as Elvis Presley (80), Elton John (57), Drake (53), Chris Brown (42) and Stevie Wonder (46).
