Timbaland - Go-to Guy
Written by Sasha Perera
Thursday, 05 October 2006

s one of music’s pre-eminent producers, Timbaland has been a shining light in the progression of urban music over the last decade. Working with the likes of Aaliyah and Missy Elliott, and now Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, Timbaland changed the sound of R&B and hip hop – and in turn the pop music landscape – with his triple-beats, Eastern-influenced backdrops, and sly futuristic textures. 3D’s Sasha Perera sits down with the beatmaker du jour.

What did you set out to do with Justin Timberlake’s FutureLove/SexSounds album in the studio?
I just want people to play this album for a long time. We just wanted to show you a great album that’s well done. It’s kinda like ‘80s Queen, Tears For Fears…it’s some junk! The first single sets you up for the rest – that’s just like a set-up for what’s about to begin. The rest of the record isn’t like that tempo – maybe a couple of songs are – but that record is different because he’s singing different, and it’s me and him singing back and forth. He was like, talking and rapping in a way, kinda like with a cigarette out the side of his mouth – that’s what it sounds like.

Did you want to move away with falsetto singing with Justin, as on the first single Sexyback?
Yeah, we wanted to do that with the first track coming off the album, just to change it up a bit.

Justin can go left because he has a fanbase. New artists don’t have that luxury, right?
Exactly. It’s like playing with your fanbase’s emotions. I think it’s harder for someone with a fanbase than it is with someone who don’t have a fanbase, ‘cause if you don’ have a fanbase you can do whatever you want to do to try and create a fanbase.

This takes the sound one step further…
Does it scare you? I think it catches people off guard, and comes back around and gets them. It’s just different coming out of the box. It’s another sound you gotta get used to.

How important to you is the Nelly Furtado album Loose, in terms of doing something different?
It’s very important because it gave me a whole other life in my career. It gives me a whole other shine. Everyone was like, “Yo, Tim’s the man, he flipped Nelly,” so it was a real good move.

What happened to the Chris Martin duet with Nelly Furtado that didn’t make the final tracklisting of her album?
His record company put a ban on it…but I’m gonna put it out regardless.

Your sound has been spiced with Eastern influences over the years; do you have any plans to explore that further?
Oh, I’m going to India. I’m going to Bombay baby, and cook it up! I got about 2000 Hindi movies, and I love listening to that stuff. That’s what it’s about. I saw one girl group in the paper out here in the UK that I wanna get called Rouge.

What are you listening to that may surprise your fans?
Indian music. I’m dead serious, that’s the only thing I’ve been listening to. I mean I love Coldplay, Radiohead, all that, but that’s not necessarily inspiring, that’s something I listen to.

Do you think in some ways you are looking for a muse to hopefully takeover from Aaliyah one day?
I’m not looking for anyone like that really. I mean, Nelly’s gonna sell a lot of records. Her album’s a great album, so I feel like my job is done.

What else have you got planned for this year?
I don’t know what’s gonna be going on, but just enjoy the ride. All my fans – just enjoy me and my music. That’s the best I can tell you. Enjoy everything I put out, and make sure it goes out with a bang, ‘cause it’s over!

No hints on this new Bjork album?
It’s crazy – I’m going tonight to go hear it. It’s hip hop. I can’t really describe it to you – if I had it right now I’d just play it to you. That’s the best way for you to understand, and I’d let you tell me what it is.

What are your ongoing plans for your career?
I just see it as being a successful business, that’s all. I want to take the same risks I took with Justin - working with somebody who’s ready to take it out of the box. I’m bringing sexy back – yeah!

What do you look for in an artist you want to work with?
I just do what I do (grinning). I’m so the greatest, and I’m on cloud nine. I just listen to your questions and think, “Yeah, I’m the king.”

Source: http://www.threedworld.co...w/2270/58/

weepingwall said:

It's not that bad?

Open ur mind!

MikeMatronik said:

i'll try to..only for you...

weepingwall said:

I try always to keep an open mind...never say never!

When a human being creates limitation, he'll never fly!

Bjork is awesome. Can't wait to see what spin he put on her.

Though his chest is puffin' too much that his buttons are gonna pop (pun intended)

well they said Beck's "The Information" was gonna be hip hop
and in some ways it is, i guess, but it's incredibly good as
well. it has many different vibes, hip hop being one of them
and i'm sure the new Björk album is going to be special with
hip hop influences being totally molded into something that's
completely her own unique sound.

just no guest rappers, please



altho, Kelis on the "Oceania" remix was kinda cool.

you know timbaland has some pretty solid influences,
but why does he make such dribble!

EmbattledWarrior said:

I'd say that during his 10 plus years in the game Timbaland has produced some pretty solid, groundbreaking work...
[Edited 10/22/06 15:21pm]

murph said:

thats a bit much...
sure some of the stuff with missy was pretty hott...
i wouldn't say groundbreaking though
but hey its your opinion, i respect it

C'mon... Listen to some of the beats and samples on Bjork's past work. It's not as if she's ever been without some hip hop influence. And her collaborations with hip hoppers like Raazel and Kelis (to the extent we can call her hip hop) have been pretty solid. I'm fairly confident this'll be a meeting of minds, not the effective full-scale takeover by Timbaland that some folk are deluding.

It was only a matter of time. I mean, what hasn't she done?
[Edited 10/22/06 15:45pm]

EmbattledWarrior said:

It's an opinion I share. I can't think of anyone who has influenced the sound of music more in recent times. Hell, this is a man who has incorporated crying babies, chirping crickets, and the themes from "Knight Rider" and "Spider-Man" into his music.

EmbattledWarrior said:

The stuff with Missy was indeed groundbreaking...But it goes beyond that...


It's funny, but I think at times as music fans we get bogged down when a style or sound is recycled or copied to the point where it is no longer innovative or fresh...Over the past 15 to 20 years, there have been only two producers that changed R&B music to the point where people had to follow their lead...Teddy Riley and Timbaland...Bottom line with Timbaland is that no one in the R&B/hip-hop scene was thinking about doubling up their beat pogression...No one was thinking about taking a more techo vibe to the grooves and mixing it with hip-hop...So yes,it was innovative....Timbaland created a whole new sound that got used and abused by other artists to the point where it seemed old and stale...But before folks jacked his sound, it was a newer fresher style of music that basically was the changing of the guard from Teddy's New Jack Swing to the mid '90s...

I would advise you to pick up Aaliyah's second album One In a Million as well as the track "Are You That Somebody.." I would also advise you to pick up some other tracks he's produced over the years from Genuwine to Ceelo....And what makes him even more impressive is that he has been able to reinvent himself...People can say what they want about Justin Timberlake being a poser...But any music fan that can't atleast be impressed with Timbaland's production is either 60 years old or doesn't like the R&B/hip-hop genre all together...It is quite possible for artists from the R&B/hip-hop community to be innovative and Timbaland early on in his career proved this...
[Edited 10/22/06 15:59pm]

AlexdeParis said:

Funny....but again, it's shame that we have so many music snobs on this site....I thought I was bad...(LOL)
[Edited 10/22/06 16:00pm]

murph said:

r u calling me a music snob...
after i was all polite lol
wow
its cool i still love ya

Lammastide said:

Well Trip Hop is heavily influenced by hip hop, Bjork uses hip hop breakbeats in some songs, like the I Miss You Track,one of my favs
i just don't think it should be a full fledge Hip Hop Album...
and especially not someone like Timbaland
DJ Shadow, sure Massive Attack Cool
but timbaland, i dunno, Hell maybe even Q-Tip, Outkast or the neptunes,
but timbaland...
i dunno
but i well judge after i hear the album
maybe it works

EmbattledWarrior said:

Oh know doubt..It's all good...I just find it funny that folks put hip-hop based acts in one box...And then there's the fact that Timbaland has produced for every from Beck to Nelly Furtado...Dude is all over the place...
[Edited 10/22/06 17:15pm]