A Brief History Of Timbaland’s Protégés

Timbaland‘s latest protégé TINK made us think of the slew of talent that he has had a hand in mentoring and producing. What’s his track record? Whatever happened to so-and-so? Who’s still pursuing the dream? And whom did I forget about until they turned up on a reality show? Get ready for all those questions and more to be answered right now.

Here is a list of Timbo's protégés, along with a little info one where they’ve been and how far they’ve come.

Keri Hilson

   




















                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Introduced: 2004

Albums: In a Perfect World (2009), No Boys Allowed (2011)

Hit Singles: “Turnin Me On,” “Pretty Girl Rock”

While the world hashtags #PoorMichelle, it has no such compassion for Keri Hilson. The infamous Ms. Keri Baby got her start as a writer and background singer for producer Anthony Dent. Later, she wrote songs for Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige as part of production and songwriting team The Clutch and worked with Polow da Don.Keri soon caught the attention of Timbaland and was signed to his Mosley Music Group label, continuing to write and sing hooks. After achieving solo success with the Lil' Wayne-assisted single “Turnin Me On,” Keri got a little beside herself with fame and called out a certain R&B diva on the remix, which wasn’t well received. Since then, she’s been working hard to overcome the backlash. While Keri released a second album, No Boys Allowed, it failed to live up to expectations and we’re still waiting on a third. However, some would say no matter how her career goes, she calls basketball player Serge Ibaka bae, so maybe she doesn’t deserve anyone’s pity after all


Bubba Sparxxx

Introduced: 2001

Albums: Dark Days, Bright Nights (2001), Deliverance (2003), The Charm (2006), Pain Management (2013), Made on McCosh Mill Road (2014)

Hit Singles: "Ugly," "Deliverance," "Ms. New Booty "

Noteworthy Factoid: After hitting the weights and losing weight, Bubba looks younger now than he did in 2001.

While a number of bands, most famously REM, got their start in Athens, GA, you’d be hard pressed to name any hip-hop acts coming from this corner of the dirty south. Except, that is, Bubba Sparxxx. A Georgia Boy by birth, Bubba learned about rap music through mixtapes his neighbor received from NYC. After creating a buzz for himself at the University of Georgia, Timbaland scooped him up for his Beat Club label.

His first album, Dark Days, Bright Nights, was certified gold, and Bubba seemed to be on the fast track to superstar status, showing up on Saturday Night Live, late night talk shows, being featured in the Def Jam: Fight for NY and Madden NFL 2004 video games and even collaborating with the production team behind Girls Gone Wild to shoot two DVDs detailing the life of a big rap star. However, his second album, Deliverance, which was critically acclaimed, failed to sell. After leaving Timbo, Sparxxx found his greatest musical success with the down south ass-shaking anthem “Ms. New Booty,” featuring such memorable lines as, “booty booty booty booty rockin’ everywhere!”

We later learned that Mr. Sparxxx, while getting the musical high of his career, was also getting high on opiates. Severely addicted at the time, Bubba spent years in and out of rehab. Sparxxx couldn’t balance the life of celebrity with sobriety and decided the best thing to do was to go live on a farm and take a step back from it all. Since then, he’s returned doing music and has also been hitting the weight room.

Ms. Jade

Introduced: 2002

Albums: Girl Interrupted (2002)

Hit Singles: “Ching Ching”

Noteworthy Factoid:  Surprised Jay Z was on Ms. Jade’s first album? So was she. Timbaland didn’t let her know about the features on her own album.

Ms. Jade lucked up on a chance meeting with Missy through her management and rapped for Timbaland over speakerphone. The next thing the Philly rapstress knew, she was trading lyrics with Da Brat and Missy on “Slap! Slap! Slap!” off the Miss E...So Addictivealbum, soon followed up with her own 2002 album, Girl Interrupted. Jade had an album full of phenomenal beats (that a number of other rappers used for mixtapes), guest spots from Jay Z, Missy and Nate Dogg and a hit single with Nelly Furtado. However, like most of the artists on Tim’s fledgling Beat Club label, the album failed to succeed commercially, both from a lack of promotion and the growing pains of a new artist finding their voice.

While Ms. Jade kept her comments about Missy and Timbaland pretty friendly after the break up, a few years later she had less than kind words to say about her former mentors, especially Missy, who she feels jacked her 'round the way girl look. Today, Ms. Jade is still rapping, releasing mixtapes and an EP called Beautiful Mess and working with fellow Philly MC Nina Ross, forming the rap duo Thelma & Louise.

Kiley Dean

Introduced: 2003

Albums:  Simple Girl (unreleased), Changes (2010)

Hit Singles: None

Noteworthy Factoid: Originally from Arkansas, Kiley followed the Mickey Mouse path to stardom, moving to Orlando and catching the attention of Britney Spears.

Who remembers this blue-eyed soul songstress? Kiley Dean got her start singing backup for Britney Spears on her first two tours. After meeting Tim during a GRAMMY telecast, the singer was signed to Timbaland’s Beat Club Record label. But while the LA Timesproclaimed that Kiley had conquered urban radio, the truth was far less exciting for her. After two singles and no success, her “debut” album, Simple Girl, was shelved.

Undeterred, Kiley signed with Mathew Knowles’ Music World Entertainment in 2007, but she left after six months. Dean finally released an album, Changes, digitally on ReverbNation, and continues to sing back up for stars like New Kids On The Block, Matthew Morrison and Madonna.

D.O.E.

Introduced: 2005

Albums: None

Hit Singles: None

Notable Acts: D.O.E. changed his rap name from John Doe after his label, Interscope, judged it too generic.

Pop Quiz! What does D.O.E. stand for? If you said “Dominant Over Everyone,” you’d be right. Originally know as John Doe, the Queens rapper was signed to Timbaland’s Beat Club label. However, when the imprint folded, he was sent back to the locker room with the rest of Timbaland’s ghostwriters until Tim started his new label, the Mosley Music Group. Still, D.O.E. remained on the bench as Tim focused on projects by other artists.

While D.O.E. wrote for Tim and was a regular feature on album tracks, he finally got his big break on the hit “The Way I Are” off of Timbaland’s Shock Value album, and even got to perform the song on an episode of ABC’s One Life to Live. While D.O.E. has worked with everyone from Robin Thicke to Brandy and has consistently dropped mixtapes, he still has yet to drop an actual LP.


Attitude

Introduced: 2005

Albums: None

Hit Singles: None

Noteworthy Factoid: Known primarily for rap, Attitude also co-wrote Keri Hilson’s single, “Breaking Point.”

Attitude’s name is probably familiar with fans of Timbaland. He’s been part of Tim’s Beat Club crew of ghostwriters for years, writing verses on “Say Something,” “Give It to Me” and Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous,” and he is prominently featured on the Shock Value albums.

The Alabama MC made a name for himself on the independent scene and bounced between various rap cliques such as DJ Drama’s Aphilliates Music Group and Bubba Sparxxx's 11th Hour Entertainment, which led to his meeting Tim, which then led to a new hustle writing songs for both Tim and Sean “Diddy” Combs. However, besides releasing a few mixtapes, he’s failed to achieve solo stardom. Recently, Attitude formed a group with actor Jason Weaver and fellow musician Sky Keeton called the Triangle Sound Project and released their first single, “We Like Em All,” in spring 2014.

Sebastian 

Introduced: 2000

Albums: None

Hit Singles: None

Noteworthy Factoid: Timbaland once suffered a debilitating gunshot wound to the chest while working at Red Lobster. Sebastian helped nurse his big bro back to health.

Garland Mosley, better known as Sebastian, the younger brother of Timbaland, has been a fixture of Tim’s career since the very beginning. Timbo took Sebastian under his wing while touring in the '90s. He later became part of Tim’s crew of ghostwriters, contributing to most of his brother's albums and being featured on some of his biggest hits, including “All Ya’ll” and “The Way I Are,” and even scoring writing credits for “On the Run (Part II)” for Jay Z and “Grown Woman” for Beyoncé. However, when it comes to launching his own career, things have been as “Wobbley” as his first single. While he’s been threatening to release his album, Cruel Intentions, we’re still waiting for him to finally make good on his promise

thanks to soulbounce.com

Lennon Stella & Timbaland in The Studio

Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress Lennon Stella has drafted American record producer Timbaland for a new collaboration, Timbo posted some pictures with her while they're working together in the Studio

http://thisislennonandmaisy.tumblr.com/post/170751913035

http://thisislennonandmaisy.tumblr.com/post/173078992637

Meek Mill Feat. Joyner Lucas - RuN it (Prod By Timbaland)

new song from Meek Mill and Joyner Lucas called ‘Run It’ has been leaked online out  Of Nowhere produced by Timbaland, Listen Below:

#FreeMeekMill

Who tf leaked this shit? Smh https://t.co/1n54ZWmkdS

— Joyner Lucas (@JoynerLucas) January 25, 2018

Justin Timberlake feat. Chris Stapleton - Say Something (Official Video)

Justin Timberlake’s long-anticipated original song with Country Star Chris Stapleton “Say Something” from his upcoming album 'Man of the Woods' has finally arrived, Produced By Timbaland & Danja

 check out the Official Music Video Below directed by La Blogothèque: 

Justin Timberlake ft Chris Stapleton - Say Something

Amazing!

Not Bad

Not feeling it

made here

Justin Timberlake - BTS: ''Man of the Woods'' (The Album)

Justin Timberlake offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of his upcoming album, Man of the Woods, and teases a handful of previously unheard songs in a new short documentary. 

The clip opens with Timberlake recording a track with a deep R&B groove, though as he points out, the vocals have a distinct country melody, Timberlake previews the different forms this mix takes throughout the clip as he crafts songs on piano and guitar, working works with super-producers Pharrell and Timbaland. Among the snippets previewed in the clip are a slinky but snappy ballad, a mid-tempo dance tune tinged with disco guitar and a honky-tonk rave-up cut with futuristic funk.

Timberlake has released "Filthy," & "Supplies" the two singles from Man of the Woods tracks. The album is set to arrive February 2nd, two days before Timberlake performs at the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. 

via Rolling Stone

Justin Timberlake - Supplies (Official Video)

Justin Timberlake‘s 2nd Single from Man of the Woods, titled “Supplies,” has just debuted!, The music video features Mexican Actress Eiza González and Pharrell Williams.

JT reuniting with The Neptunes on production, and follows the lead single “Filthy.” Man of the Woods drops February 2nd.

Timbaland Previews New Track 2018 [VIDEO]

Timbaland broadcast live on Instagram and give us a full preview of his new song, Timbo teases his fans this time from his studio while freestyling and dancing over A HOT Beat , check out the new preview below:



                                              

Timbaland in the Studio with Joe Jonas

Joe Jonas posted a picture where it appears in a recording studio with renowned rapper... Timbaland! They were both together and everything indicates that there will be a new song, do you Remember that Timbaland talked about he wants to a collabrate with Joe Jonas Back in 2011 but that didn't happen, now after 7 years timbo reconnect with the The former member of the Jonas Brothers 

 

Justin Timberlake Previews New Song "Supplies" #MOTW

Justin Timberlake has delighted fans by finally unveiling the name of his forthcoming new album "Man Of The Woods" Last week, In a new video teaser Timberlake Played to the  fans a new sneak preview in 'New York Ballad Nightclub' of what to expect from the album, listen below it sounds like a Timbaland Production all over it 

Okay i love the song already!!!! #justintimberlake

A post shared by Justin Timberlake 🔵 (@itsgonnabejt) on Jan 14, 2018 at 2:58am PST

A post shared by Justin Timberlake BR 🇧🇷 #MOTW (@brasiljt) on Jan 14, 2018 at 7:59am PST

SUPPLIES. Tomorrow at 8am EST. 🎥: @dave_meyers @eizagonzalez @pharrell

A post shared by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) on Jan 17, 2018 at 12:10pm PST

This song is called "Supplies" it will be released as the 2nd Single Next Thursday

Justin Timberlake - Filthy (Behind The Scenes)

Justin Timberlake is taking you behind the scenes of his brand new single ‘Filthy’ in The Studio with Timbaland & Danja 

Danja Explains Justin Timberlake's "Filthy"

in the spirit of reunion implied by JT's gram, Danja is back in the fold now and he, along with Timbaland, is behind the boards for our first slice of Man of the Woods, the decidedly non-woodsy "Filthy." Despite an album trailer that seemed to promise a straight up country collection, the song sounds much more like a FutureSex-indebted choice for a lead single.

With JT's intended direction more mysterious than ever now, Complex hopped on the phone with Danja after the release of "Filthy" to get some clarity and hints ahead of Man of the Woods. 

The album trailer dropped, and the scenery and certain lines of dialogue had everyone thinking that Justin made a country album. "Filthy" is most definitely not a country song. Is it an outlier? What can we really expect for the sound of the album?
I think the trailer is very accurate to the landscape of the project. I don't know who ever said he was making a country album [Laughs]. You know, he's always mixing a lot of different things together. It's always funk, R&B, soul, hip-hop, country—he definitely is very, like you said, personal in terms of subject matter and the feeling of itand the essence of the project will have some of those grassroots element.

"Filthy" actually starts the album. In what ways does it kind of set the tone for what's to come?
I like to think of "Filthy" as the disruption between the world we're living in and his world. The world that he's living in with his family, his friends that he came up with, his musical roots and everything. We're gonna go into, easily, the other type of feelings and vibes of his album that were kind of presented in the trailer. So, "Filthy" was just that kick in the door: "I'm here, and oh by the way, let me erase everything that you've been listening to, that you've been vibing to, all of this emotional, tropical island-y, vibe-y stuff that the world has gotten into, let me disrupt the order, the world order and kind of create a new world order" with this world that he grew up in.

That's interesting that you cite those sonic examples, because I was gonna ask later, what does JT think of pop's current landscape? You know, he's been gone a while, so what were the conversations and the sessions like between you guys about what's going on in music right now?
We didn't have any conversations about the current state of music and that's what we always do. We go in the studio and just do what we feel. This time around, I just feel like he had more of a direction. Like, when we did FutureSex/LoveSounds, we didn't have any conversations of direction or what's going on in the current state of music. We went in and had fun and made music. So, this time around, he definitely knew what he wanted to do. I had parameters, I had guidelines. Myself and Timb, we knew the world that we had to be in and we had to create within that world, but we didn't think about, oh yeah, this is what's going on out there and this is what we need.

Of course we're gonna think about it as producers, and know what to do to kind of bridge everything together, but I think the decision ultimately came down to, forget about what's happening now, we're gonna just answer up everything that's going on currently. It doesn't even matter. This is what we do.

What were some of those parameters that he gave you?
It's literally verbatim within the trailer. He wants to talk about these things or more— how can I put it? The word country was never used in the discussions. Just Memphis. That's what it really was. I remember walking into the studio, and I'm like, "So, what's the vibe?" He just raised his hands up like, "This is the vibe." And what he had on was a flannel, some Adidas, some jeans. He had his beard and a skully on. That was the vibe. When you look at his album cover, the other half of the cover of the artwork is him in a flannel and some jeans and exactly what he told me in the studio. And it was Memphis, and he put up a board in the studio that had influences from Memphis. And I was like, oh okay, so I'm gonna do a record pertaining to this. And, that's what it was.

When did the sessions for this album start up, pretty much?
Man, he was working on it for a while. I can't even say a start point.

Well, when did you turn up?
I came in, more-so, top of 2017, in January. And I was kinda in and out, up until he finished it sometime later in the year.

You mentioned how "Filthy" is kind of a disruptor, and it really does sound similar to “SexyBack” in that way. So, I look at that, and I look at him bringing you back, Timb back, the Neptunes back, and it seems like he's trying to recreate some of his most successful sounds for the modern era, is that fair to say?
Yeah, that's fair to say. I wouldn't say he's trying to recreate anything. He's just successful with everybody that you've just named, so why not go to the ones that you did your most groundbreaking music with? Justified, it did its thing. FutureSex and 20/20, they all were different. You know? It creates a body of work for his entire catalog. His catalog isn't going to sound the same, by any means.

But it is going to sound very cohesive, and it's not going to sound like he's got sore thumbs all over the place. You know, it's like Michael and Thriller and Bad and Off the Wall. All of those done by Quincy Jones. The same brains working together and evolving over the years. That's what it is. I don't think he's trying to recreate. It wasn't trying to recreate “SexyBack” or 20/20, it was— you know, what's the chance of getting what you're looking for, musically, if you get in the room with the same brains you've been collaborating with? I think the chances are high.

I hear you have two more beats on the album. What can you preview about those songs?
One you're gonna hear soon. The other one is in the world of the man of the woods.[Laughs] Both of them, actually, are in that world.

I was running through some of his old songs, and he's got a couple really great, not quite country, but folksy type songs like "Drink You Away" and stuff like that.I love "Drink You Away." "Drink You Away" was, in a sense, a preview. If you want any idea, that would be the closest thing to what you might hear. I don't feel like that's accurate, either. It's not anything that you've heard from him. The album is just very, very— he explored a lot, and he put a lot of things together. He has those classic Memphis moments. Anything that you might hear from Memphis, whether it's country bop, blues, soul— he's put everything Memphis into that project. Tennessee.

Speaking of Tennessee, it's too bad that we couldn't get Three 6 Mafia on this album.
[Laughs] I know, I wish we did have a space for them. Juicy J is the man.

20/20 was full of songs that didn't really have any interest in convention. Their runtimes are very long, there were experimental sounds that weren't elsewhere on the radio. Are we going to see more of that here?
I'd say February 2nd is your chance to check it out. I can't let too many secrets out. To be honest— I haven't heard the whole thing put together.

Really?
Even at the end of "Filthy," that's something that I didn't hear after we finished the mix. I don't know know how we're going into the next song. I don't know some of the interludes. He really was in his own world putting the album together how he wanted to put it together. I'm getting surprises like everyone else. I didn't know what the video was gonna look like, I didn't know a lot of different things. So, I'm sitting on the side like a spectator and a fan like everybody else. I'm waiting to hear it all put together and hear the final product. I don't really know too much.

What was the collaboration process like this time, the same as past albums?
I would say so. Once you have a formula or a chemistry that’s just the way you work. Like I said, we had more guidelines and parameters this time, but that was it. But we’d go off and do our thing, come up with what we came up with and he’d come in and write to it and figure out how he wanted to approach it. And he’d hop on guitar or whatever—he’s very hands-on. Justin is a producer, he’s not just labeled as one because he’s the biggest name and it’s his album. He’s actually hands-on, he’ll hit some keys, play guitar, he plays on a lot of this album. He’s a musician. He didn’t just sit back and let us do our thing and figure it out. We figured it out together.

I’m excited to hear it. Shifting gears to your work elsewhere, you produced one of the highest profile tracks last year in “Shining” with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Recently, Jay’s kind of re-energized the rumor mill surrounding them having a joint album. So, with regards to “Shining,” I was wondering if you had any more work in the stash with them or if those sessions hinted at where they might end up going with a full project?
I’ve heard the same hints and in a sense I wait in the wings and make music until my number is called. I don’t have anything else in the pan with them. But “Shining” was DJ Khaled, it was a brainchild of his. We collaborated on the record and he sent me ideas and I made the track based on what he was looking for, then he went and did the DJ Khaled thing and put the song together. I would definitely love to be on a Jay-Beyoncé joint album if it’s coming, but I also know that Jay’s been touring and he’s pretty much just wrapping up, so I’m sure they’re in album mode. Then again, Beyonce could be in solo mode. But I’ve been busy with JT, but now I can really dip into some of the other things going on and present some music. But I've definitely been creating and I got some things that they would kill, I would love to be a part of that project. But “Shining” was a one-off situation.

What else do you have going on or in the works?
Man, a lot of things I just want to keep under wraps until it becomes real. But I’ve been very active in the studio writing a lot, creating a lot and doing what I do until it’s time to present to the world.

via Complex