of the jackson 5, belling out his abcs, and the ghostly middle-aged man chased by paparazzi, michael jacksks was evolving intoo the king of pop. >> reporter: he wrote "don't stop till you get enough," his first solo from the album "off the wall," his breakthrough as a grownup. >> reporter: michael jackson's journey from motown to off the wall, the subject of director spike lee's new documentary. >> thahas a rockyky transition. >> it's one not too many people are successful at. >> reporter: jackson's raw talent heard here on this original demo locked in the >> michael's not a trained musician. he cannot read music. but he told musicians, this is how i want the part to go. >> reporter: the album still inspiring today's hottest stars, from justin timberlake to pharell to the weekend. >> "off the wall" was definitely the one that made me feel i could sing. i found my falsetto because of "o"ohe wall." >> reporter: michael's popularity transcended music, blurring lines in american culture. >> i don't want it labeled black or white, i wantete l leled music. >> i feel "off the wall" was one of the f