Michael Jackson cast Crips and Bloods gang members to foster peace between them!
"Beat It" is one of MJs most iconic songs. The video itself also helped establish Jackson as an international pop icon.
Jackson paid $150,000 for the video, because he couldn't get CBS to finance it. The video is Jackson's first treatment of black youth and the streets.
To add realism to the video, he cast about 80 real members of rival LA street gangs Crips and Bloods. The video was also notorious for opening up jobs for dancers in the US.
Another fun fact about Beat It? Eddie Van Halen performed the famous guitar solo for the song, and he didn't ask any royalties for it. He did it as a favor!