Claim: Michael Jackson released an album.

`` Beat It '' is a song written and performed by American singer Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones -LRB- with co-production by Jackson -RRB- . It is the third single from the singer 's sixth solo album , Thriller -LRB- 1982 -RRB- . Following the successful chart performances of the Thriller singles `` The Girl Is Mine '' and `` Billie Jean '' , `` Beat It '' was released on February 14 , 1983 as the album 's third single . The song is also notable for its famous video , which featured Jackson bringing two gangs together through the power of music and dance .   `` Beat It '' received the 1984 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance , as well as two American Music Awards . It was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame . The single , along with its music video , helped propel Thriller into becoming the best-selling album of all time . The single was certified platinum in the United States in 1989 . Rolling Stone placed `` Beat It '' on the 344th spot of its list of `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' . The song was also ranked number 81 on Rolling Stones `` 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time '' .   In the decades since its release , `` Beat It '' has been covered , parodied , and sampled by numerous artists including Pierce the Veil , Fall Out Boy , Pomplamoose , Justin Bieber , Alvin and the Chipmunks , Fergie , John 5 , `` Weird Al '' Yankovic and Eminem . The song was also featured in the National Highway Safety Commission 's anti-drunk driving campaign .