LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Many fans will always remember where they were when they heard the "King of Pop" had died. The rapper The Game will always remember what he did afterward.



The Game created a tribute to Michael Jackson -- video and all -- within a day of Jackson's death.



That same day, Thursday, June 25, he rounded up some famous friends, recorded a song, shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm. Actually, he got the tattoo while he was in the studio recording the track. Some people know how to multitask.



The tune, "Better on the Other Side," isn't available for sale yet -- although he's hoping it will hit iTunes very soon. Because the record company was caught off guard, it is still playing catch-up. Game says all proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to Michael Jackson's family.



The companion music video is all over YouTube. In it, the 29-year-old shares the spotlight with Chris Brown, who sings the hook as a counterpoint to Game's rap. It's the first project Brown has appeared in since he pleaded guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend, Rihanna.



The video, in various forms, had received more than 750,000 views as of Thursday evening -- not bad for less than a week in release.



In the following interview, The Game (born Jayceon Taylor) recounts how the project came together -- with a little help from Lady Luck and the muse of Michael Jackson.



CNN: You may be the first well-known artist to have a Michael Jackson tribute out there.



The Game: I didn't want to wake up the next morning and have somebody spread a tribute all over the Internet, and I wasn't a part of it. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.



CNN: Did you already have the beats pre-recorded?



The Game: No. The first thing I did was call DJ Khalil ... and I told him, "Yo, I need you in the studio, and by the time I get there, I need a Michael Jackson tribute song made [the music bed]. I need violinists, I need pianists, I need everyone in there for a production."



And then I started reaching out to Diddy. He's on a set 18 hours a day, but he said he'd get it done some way, somehow. Talked to Chris Brown. He and [his manager] Tina Davis said they were on their way to the studio -- so they told me after I do my part, to bring it over and Chris will do the hook. Before I took the beat over to Chris, Boyz II Men walked into the studio randomly -- so they took it to their studio next door, laid down all the background vocals.



Then I took it to Mario [Winans], then I took it to Diddy. In the meantime, me and my boy Taydoe -- we running around to the hospital, to the Jacksons' house, to the star on Hollywood, getting all this [secondary] footage [for the video]. Crazy.



CNN: This was the day he died, on Thursday?



The Game: It was just the day. By Friday, everything was done -- video, everything. We did it in 15 hours.  Watch a report about Jackson's final days »



CNN: You made the music video for $500.



The Game: All in tapes, $500 went to tapes, HD high-definition tapes.



CNN: At the end of the video, you reveal a new tattoo.



The Game: Yeah, I'll show you. I thought if I was going to get a Michael Jackson tattoo, I would get a more menacing one. (The tattoo shows the "King of Pop" with a bandanna over the lower half of his face.)



CNN: Had you ever met Michael?



The Game: I never met him in person
LOS ANGELES , California ( CNN ) -- Many fans will always remember where they were when they heard the " King of Pop " had died . The rapper The Game will always remember what he did afterward . The Game created a tribute to Michael Jackson -- video and all -- within a day of Jackson 's death . That same day , Thursday , June 25 , he rounded up some famous friends , recorded a song , shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm . Actually , he got the tattoo while he was in the studio recording the track . Some people know how to multitask . The tune , " Better on the Other Side , " is n't available for sale yet -- although he 's hoping it will hit iTunes very soon . Because the record company was caught off guard , it is still playing catch - up . Game says all proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to Michael Jackson 's family . The companion music video is all over YouTube . In it , the 29-year - old shares the spotlight with Chris Brown , who sings the hook as a counterpoint to Game 's rap . It 's the first project Brown has appeared in since he pleaded guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend , Rihanna . The video , in various forms , had received more than 750,000 views as of Thursday evening -- not bad for less than a week in release . In the following interview , The Game ( born Jayceon Taylor ) recounts how the project came together -- with a little help from Lady Luck and the muse of Michael Jackson . CNN : You may be the first well - known artist to have a Michael Jackson tribute out there . The Game : I did n't want to wake up the next morning and have somebody spread a tribute all over the Internet , and I was n't a part of it . So I decided to take matters into my own hands . CNN : Did you already have the beats pre - recorded ? The Game : No . The first thing I did was call DJ Khalil ... and I told him , " Yo , I need you in the studio , and by the time I get there , I need a Michael Jackson tribute song made [ the music bed]. I need violinists , I need pianists , I need everyone in there for a production . " And then I started reaching out to Diddy . He 's on a set 18 hours a day , but he said he 'd get it done some way , somehow . Talked to Chris Brown . He and [ his manager ] Tina Davis said they were on their way to the studio -- so they told me after I do my part , to bring it over and Chris will do the hook . Before I took the beat over to Chris , Boyz II Men walked into the studio randomly -- so they took it to their studio next door , laid down all the background vocals . Then I took it to Mario [ Winans ] , then I took it to Diddy . In the meantime , me and my boy Taydoe -- we running around to the hospital , to the Jacksons ' house , to the star on Hollywood , getting all this [ secondary ] footage [ for the video]. Crazy . CNN : This was the day he died , on Thursday ? The Game : It was just the day . By Friday , everything was done -- video , everything . We did it in 15 hours . Watch a report about Jackson 's final days » CNN : You made the music video for $ 500 . The Game : All in tapes , $ 500 went to tapes , HD high - definition tapes . CNN : At the end of the video , you reveal a new tattoo . The Game : Yeah , I 'll show you . I thought if I was going to get a Michael Jackson tattoo , I would get a more menacing one . ( The tattoo shows the " King of Pop " with a bandanna over the lower half of his face . ) CNN : Had you ever met Michael ? The Game : I never met him in person
what did the game record
what did the game record
recorded a song, shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm.
recorded a song, shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm.