I really think Michael already did this with Beat It. Obviously the actual rap section in BoW is new (if we're talking rock songs). Tbh, I'm not very good at talking about music. I don't want to sound as though I'm being dismissive of what Michael did on the Dangerous album or with BoW specifically. But, y'know, he had the Bloods in his Beat It video (red jacket), he had the Crips in TWYMMF (blue shirt). So BoW just kinda feels like a logical progression. I'm not saying anyone else would have done this. I mean that it's a logical progression for Michael.
I don't disagree with this but Michael has always been all about fusion, for me. Plus, fusion ... Faith No More inserted a section of '911 Is A Joke' into 'The Real Thing' in all of their shows in 1990. Fusion was a fluid and ever-evolving thing.
Crossover appeal - again, I think Michael had already nailed this in 1983 and then put a candle on top with the Bad album in 1987.
I might be misunderstanding your point, though. I do that sometimes, lol.