Justin Timberlake wants you to know that he didn’t need ‘N Sync. In a recent interview with ELLE, the wanna Prince singer/songwriter revealed that he would have been successful even without his former group.

Read what he had to say below:

“I don’t want this to come out the wrong way,” he said. “It was an amazing platform but even without it, I believe I would have been heard as a solo artist.”

Read more on Digital Spy.

This is yet another example of what happens when artists start believing their own hype. Although Timberlake has enjoyed success as a solo act, it is highly unlikely that he would have been nearly as fortunate without the ‘N Sync brand.

In fact, regardless of what Vh1′s Greatest Artists of All Time list stated, his work as a solo act is far from groundbreaking. Indeed, only by rehashing the work of Prince, Michael Jackson and Timberland while utilising the massive market cornered by ‘N Sync during the Bubblegum Pop era of the early 2000s was Timerlake able to score several hits.

If Timberlake is so confident that he carries so much weight in the game then why doesn’t he release a new album? Is it that he is afraid of the younger competition or could his massive ego only fit on a movie screen?

Perhaps he can’t convince another producer other than Timbaland or The Neptunes – both of whom have been struggling to find a hit themselves – to teach him the latest ebonics slang. Maybe when T.I comes out of prison in September he will be given a refresher course. Who knows.

http://thelavalizard.com/...-i-n-sync/

Nothing wrong with what he said. He was always talented and charismatic. I believe Justin could have made it w/o 'Nsync as well, but of course being in the group was a great platform for him to launch his solo career.

What market would he have started in first, pop or RnB ...

He's probably right.

I doubt that very much.

Timberlake is very talented, but he got where he is today as a solo artist because of working with the top producers in the industry.

And how did he get to be in a position to work with the top producers in the industry??

Exactly.

sexyfunkystrange said:

I doubt that very much.

Timberlake is very talented, but he got where he is today as a solo artist because of working with the top producers in the industry.

And how did he get to be in a position to work with the top producers in the industry??

Exactly.

He had a small but rabid following from his stint on MMC. He would've just been the male Britney (or Christina Aguilera).

He needed that band. If he tried to go up against the likes of Usher and some of the other guys who came out around that time on his own, he'd have bombed.

Justin and everybody else are fucking kidding themselves if they think he would've made it without that huge built-in fanbase, those industry connections (timbaland, Neptunes, etc), and the total backing of a record label.

There is no way in hell he would be where is today without Nsync. This fool makes good music, but he is such an asshole.

armpit said:

He needed that band. If he tried to go up against the likes of Usher and some of the other guys who came out around that time on his own, he'd have bombed.

Exactly. His ass would be in the same has been/never was boat with Jon B.

armpit said:

He needed that band. If he tried to go up against the likes of Usher and some of the other guys who came out around that time on his own, he'd have bombed.

Usher had already come out years earlier. At any rate, Justin as a solo act would've just done exactly what his band did - ride the wave already started by the Backstreet Boys. If you don't think that kid would've been all over TRL, you're crazy.

Layzie said:

armpit said:

He needed that band. If he tried to go up against the likes of Usher and some of the other guys who came out around that time on his own, he'd have bombed.

Exactly. His ass would be in the same has been/never was boat with Jon B.

Besides the fact that they're both white, why are you comparing Justin to Jon B? While Justin's solo work has certainly had R&B flavor, back then he would've been working with the Max Martins of the world and nowhere near crossing over to the R&B charts. Jon B. was an R&B artist from the jump.

he could've possibly just been a Robin Thicke-type w/o N'Sync...

AlexdeParis said:

armpit said:

He needed that band. If he tried to go up against the likes of Usher and some of the other guys who came out around that time on his own, he'd have bombed.

Usher had already come out years earlier. At any rate, Justin as a solo act would've just done exactly what his band did - ride the wave already started by the Backstreet Boys. If you don't think that kid would've been all over TRL, you're crazy.

That just makes it even worse, because Usher is more talented and was already well-established by that point, and I have the feeling there's a few other artists who were big around that time that I'm forgetting who would've mopped the floor with him if Usher didn't. Justin's completely deluding himself if he thinks that if he'd come out solo from the beginning, he'd have taken the world by storm. Like I said before, it's not like now where most of the male artists coming out are the Trey Songz types or some equally shitty equivalent, that makes JT look like Mozart by comparison...

Yeah sure Justin, you would have made it as a spokesmodel for "Ugly Stick" cause you sho'nuff got beat with it on your insides and outsides, buddy!

*Puh-freakin-leez*

Justin Timberlake is full of it for thinking he would have made it without ever becoming a member of *NSYNC.

This is like saying.........

1. Michael Jackson would have made it without The Jackson 5.

2. George Michael would have made it without Wham!.

3. Michael McDonald would have made it without The Doobie Brothers.

4. Stevie Nicks would have made it without Fleetwood Mac.

5. Diana Ross would have made it without The Surpeme.

6. Dr. Dre would have made it without The World Class Wreckin' Crew and/or NWA.

7. Beyonce would have made it without Destiny's Child.

8. Flavor Flav would have made it without Public Enemy.

9. Donny Osmond & Marie Osmond would have made it without The Osmonds.

10. Bobby Brown would have made it without New Edition.

11. Larry Graham would have made it without Sly & The Family Stone.

12. Ricky Martin would have made it without Menudo.

13. Busta Rhyme would have made it without Leaders Of The New School.

14. Q-Tip would have made it without A Tribe Called Quest.

15. Mick Jagger would have made it without The Rolling Stones.

16. Grace Slick would have made it without Jefferson Airplane and/or Jefferson Starship.

17. Eric Clapton would have made it without The Yardbirds and/or Cream.

18. Freddie Mercury would have made it without Queen.

19. Joan Jett & Lita Ford would have made it without The Runaways.

20. Paul McCartney would have made it without The Beatles.

also to be fair he said he'd have been "heard as a solo artist".... never said anything about going double plat.

Mdizzles said:

he could've possibly just been a Robin Thicke-type w/o N'Sync...

Nah, JT doesn't have the pipes to be a 'Robin Thicke type'.

Which isn't to say he can't sing, but compared to Robin he can't.

TonyVanDam said:

Justin Timberlake is full of it for thinking he would have made it without ever becoming a member of *NSYNC.

This is like saying.........

1. Michael Jackson would have made it without The Jackson 5.

2. George Michael would have made it without Wham!.

3. Michael McDonald would have made it without The Doobie Brothers.

4. Stevie Nicks would have made it without Fleetwood Mac.

5. Diana Ross would have made it without The Surpeme.

6. Dr. Dre would have made it without The World Class Wreckin' Crew and/or NWA.

7. Beyonce would have made it without Destiny's Child.

8. Flavor Flav would have made it without Public Enemy.

9. Donny Osmond & Marie Osmond would have made it without The Osmonds.

10. Bobby Brown would have made it without New Edition.

11. Larry Graham would have made it without Sly & The Family Stone.

12. Ricky Martin would have made it without Menudo.

13. Busta Rhyme would have made it without Leaders Of The New School.

14. Q-Tip would have made it without A Tribe Called Quest.

15. Mick Jagger would have made it without The Rolling Stones.

16. Grace Slick would have made it without Jefferson Airplane and/or Jefferson Starship.

17. Eric Clapton would have made it without The Yardbirds and/or Cream.

18. Freddie Mercury would have made it without Queen.

19. Joan Jett & Lita Ford would have made it without The Runaways.

20. Paul McCartney would have made it without The Beatles.

some of those people really might have made it w/o their previous groups or bands.... but flava flav though? really? does he really belong with the others?

[Edited 8/7/11 19:30pm]

armpit said:

Mdizzles said:

he could've possibly just been a Robin Thicke-type w/o N'Sync...

Nah, JT doesn't have the pipes to be a 'Robin Thicke type'.

Which isn't to say he can't sing, but compared to Robin he can't.

i don't agree... i'd put them pretty even vocally.

armpit said:

AlexdeParis said:

Usher had already come out years earlier. At any rate, Justin as a solo act would've just done exactly what his band did - ride the wave already started by the Backstreet Boys. If you don't think that kid would've been all over TRL, you're crazy.

That just makes it even worse, because Usher is more talented and was already well-established by that point, and I have the feeling there's a few other artists who were big around that time that I'm forgetting who would've mopped the floor with him if Usher didn't. Justin's completely deluding himself if he thinks that if he'd come out solo from the beginning, he'd have taken the world by storm. Like I said before, it's not like now where most of the male artists coming out are the Trey Songz types or some equally shitty equivalent, that makes JT look like Mozart by comparison...

You're forgetting a lot more than that. There was a huge machine around these acts. The Max Martin sound, the TRL phenomenon, and lots of money made stars out of people like Jessica Simpson and 98 Degrees! How anyone thinks Justin wouldn't have gotten the same treatment (or better) is beyond me. As for Usher, he was an established R&B artist (but not a huge name) who was just beginning to have crossover success when N Sync launched. And again, what does that even matter? The musical climate back then had room for as many young singers as they could find. Am I the only one who remembers all that?

Mdizzles said:

armpit said:

Nah, JT doesn't have the pipes to be a 'Robin Thicke type'.

Which isn't to say he can't sing, but compared to Robin he can't.

i don't agree... i'd put them pretty even vocally.

Listen to some of Robin's early stuff before he sold out, then listen to anything JT has done and get back to me.

armpit said:

Mdizzles said:

he could've possibly just been a Robin Thicke-type w/o N'Sync...

Nah, JT doesn't have the pipes to be a 'Robin Thicke type'.

Which isn't to say he can't sing, but compared to Robin he can't.

Robin Thicke seems like he's more of a natural blue-eyed soul singer, JT seems very forced and contrived. It's almost like JT "plays black" but Robin Thicke is only white by technicality of his skin, LOL cause he's all black inside! JT never had that same "spark" that Teena Marie or say Michael McDonald have, and that's a big reason they're appreciated a lot in the black community in general, compared to a JT.

Mdizzles said:

also to be fair he said he'd have been "heard as a solo artist".... never said anything about going double plat.

Exactly. But again, Jessica Simpson went double platinum with her debut.

AlexdeParis said:

armpit said:

That just makes it even worse, because Usher is more talented and was already well-established by that point, and I have the feeling there's a few other artists who were big around that time that I'm forgetting who would've mopped the floor with him if Usher didn't. Justin's completely deluding himself if he thinks that if he'd come out solo from the beginning, he'd have taken the world by storm. Like I said before, it's not like now where most of the male artists coming out are the Trey Songz types or some equally shitty equivalent, that makes JT look like Mozart by comparison...

You're forgetting a lot more than that. There was a huge machine around these acts. The Max Martin sound, the TRL phenomenon, and lots of money made stars out of people like Jessica Simpson and 98 Degrees! How anyone thinks Justin wouldn't have gotten the same treatment (or better) is beyond me. As for Usher, he was an established R&B artist (but not a huge name) who was just beginning to have crossover success when N Sync launched. And again, what does that even matter? The musical climate back then had room for as many young singers as they could find. Am I the only one who remembers all that?

...I didn't say he wouldn't get the same treatment. I'm saying he wouldn't have been a big success. Because there were plenty of other guys out at that time who were either : hotter; better singers and dancers; or all three, who would've wiped the floor with him, honestly - no matter how many Max Martin songs he had on his cd.

I basically think that he would've ended up being the equivalent of Jesse McCartney at the absolute most - several rungs below Usher both saleswise and in terms of the public's radar; one or two hit songs, and a few pre-teen girls squealing his name for a year or two, then more or less forgotten.

armpit said:

Mdizzles said:

i don't agree... i'd put them pretty even vocally.

Listen to some of Robin's early stuff before he sold out, then listen to anything JT has done and get back to me.

i've heard it... and my opinion still stands :shrugs:

Still peoples, it all depends on what direction he would have taken. Is he goin the pop route where Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys were, or does he begin in the urban market with new comers li,e Ginuwine and Dru Hill?

armpit said:

AlexdeParis said:

You're forgetting a lot more than that. There was a huge machine around these acts. The Max Martin sound, the TRL phenomenon, and lots of money made stars out of people like Jessica Simpson and 98 Degrees! How anyone thinks Justin wouldn't have gotten the same treatment (or better) is beyond me. As for Usher, he was an established R&B artist (but not a huge name) who was just beginning to have crossover success when N Sync launched. And again, what does that even matter? The musical climate back then had room for as many young singers as they could find. Am I the only one who remembers all that?

...I didn't say he wouldn't get the same treatment. I'm saying he wouldn't have been a big success. Because there were plenty of other guys out at that time who were either : hotter; better singers and dancers; or all three, who would've wiped the floor with him, honestly - no matter how many Max Martin songs he had on his cd.

I basically think that he would've ended up being the equivalent of Jesse McCartney at the absolute most - several rungs below Usher both saleswise and in terms of the public's radar; one or two hit songs, and a few pre-teen girls squealing his name for a year or two, then more or less forgotten.

Clearly your dislike for Justin is clouding your judgment. Think what you want about him, but he's talented and there are plenty of people who would've been paying attention to him as a solo act. Let's be real, N Sync was basically 2 singers and Justin has always been the most popular member. With all that support, his career would've been just fine - certainly not on the level of Jesse McCartney. That's just ridiculous.

And even Jesse's album went platinum! And that was in 2004, way after the big boom and subsequent bust of 1999-2001.

Mdizzles said:

armpit said:

Listen to some of Robin's early stuff before he sold out, then listen to anything JT has done and get back to me.

i've heard it... and my opinion still stands :shrugs:

...You do know "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" isn't his first disc, right?

And he went by just "Thicke", before the Neptunes got to him.

Just thought I'd fill you in because I suspect that anyone who seriously thinks JT is anywhere near Robin Thicke vocally, doesn't know jackshit about what Robin can REALLY do when he isn't pandering to the masses and half-assing his falsetto.

SeventeenDayze said:

armpit said:

Nah, JT doesn't have the pipes to be a 'Robin Thicke type'.

Which isn't to say he can't sing, but compared to Robin he can't.

Robin Thicke seems like he's more of a natural blue-eyed soul singer, JT seems very forced and contrived. It's almost like JT "plays black" but Robin Thicke is only white by technicality of his skin, LOL cause he's all black inside! JT never had that same "spark" that Teena Marie or say Michael McDonald have, and that's a big reason they're appreciated a lot in the black community in general, compared to a JT.

Which is kind of funny,considering Robin's parents were pretty well known celebs back in the 80s and "soulful" is not the first thing that comes to mind when discussing Gloria Loring or Alan Thicke.

dalsh327 said:

SeventeenDayze said:

Robin Thicke seems like he's more of a natural blue-eyed soul singer, JT seems very forced and contrived. It's almost like JT "plays black" but Robin Thicke is only white by technicality of his skin, LOL cause he's all black inside! JT never had that same "spark" that Teena Marie or say Michael McDonald have, and that's a big reason they're appreciated a lot in the black community in general, compared to a JT.

Which is kind of funny,considering Robin's parents were pretty well known celebs back in the 80s and "soulful" is not the first thing that comes to mind when discussing Gloria Loring or Alan Thicke.

I don't know, the Growing Pains theme is kinda soulful.