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Michael Jackson may be remembered as the 'King of Pop' ... but his pal Lionel Richie remembers him as being one stinky dude -- literally nicknamed 'Smelly'!

The "American Idol" judge talks all about it in his new memoir "Truly," which debuted Tuesday. He writes the late Quincy Jones is the one who offered up the unique nickname ... and MJ didn't take it too personally as he laughed along, "realizing that he was oblivious to the fact that he hadn’t changed or washed his clothes for a couple of days or so." Getty

Lionel says it wasn't the "Thriller" hitmaker's fault -- he was constantly on the road and he couldn't simply hire a dry cleaner, 'cause they would often steal his clothes as a souvenir! He also couldn't just drop by a department store for new clothes due to hi

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