TIMBALAND

Biography

Born Timothy Z. Mosley on March 10, 1972, the Norfolk, Virginia native hooked up with high-school friends Missy Elliott and MC Magoo and moved north to Suffern, New York. When Elliott’s band, Sista, was signed to DeVante Swing’s Swing Mob label, Mosley began working as a producer for DeVante, who dubbed him Timbaland after the boots that were so popular in the ’90s. Before many of the artists on Swing Mob severed their ties with the label, the talented young producer had the good fortune to work with many of them, including Ginuwine, Playa and Elliott.

timbaland, missy and aaliyah

After cutting his teeth in the studio with DeVante and Pharrell Williams in S.B.I (Surrounded By Idiots), Mosley continued to establish long-term working relationships. As Missy Elliott’s reputation as a songwriter grew, Mosley’s ongoing collaboration with her served him well and resulted in his first major production credit for the remix of “Steelo,” written by Elliott and performed by 702.

In 1996, he made another breakthrough by producing Ginuwine's album Ginuwine… The Bachelor. The album’s first single, “Pony,” actually had an earlier genesis that dated back to when Mosley was mucking around with an old Casio keyboard. With its innovative rhythms and drum tracks coupled with unique samples, “Pony” is considered the first example of the Timbaland sound. And before Ginuwine… The Bachelor was even in the can, Aaliyah approached Missy Elliott and Mosley to write and produce her second record.

Aaliyah’s album One In A Million sold more than two million copies, which helped make the Elliott-Mosley production team one of the most sought-after duos of the late ‘90s. Before the end of the decade, Timbaland would have an impressive list of production credits.

the timbaland sound
The “Pony” track reveals the strength of the Timbaland sound; the vocoded vocal-bass line and voice pads, the chorus hook and accompaniments that seamlessly bleed into one another, and the unique groove that incorporates both vocal and percussion elements all combine to make the sweetest of ear candy. After that success, he continued to refine his approach with artists like Aaliyah; without ever losing sight of the songs, Timbaland used vocal textures as fills, riffs, primary melodies, and as an instrumental backdrop.

Timbaland’s sound also helped to define such soundtracks as Doctor Dolittle (1998), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998) and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999).

As he continued to make records with Missy Elliott and Ginuwine, he also made the first Timbaland & Magoo effort, Welcome To Our World (1997), and his first solo record, Tim's Bio: Life From Da Bassment (1998).

timbaland expands
As Timbaland’s reputation grew, he began to work with other artists, such as Jay-Z, Beck, Nas, and Nicole Wray. At the same time, he continued to explore other styles and genres to incorporate into his music. Typically, critics were split by the direction of Timbaland’s sound and his explorations. Some hip-hop purists reacted negatively to the producer’s eclectic style, but his profile and popularity continued to skyrocket nonetheless.

After the millennium, he was busier than ever with return customers and new blood that recognized his talent. Among the surprising list of newcomers were Limp Bizkit, Bubba Sparxxx, Destiny’s Child, and Ludacris. Songs like Beck's cover of David Bowie's “Diamond Dogs,” Ludacris' "Rollout (My Business)" and Jay-Z's "Hola' Hovito," were also cut and released during this time. Three singles -- “We Need a Resolution,” "More Than a Woman," and "I Care 4 U" -- from Aaliyah’s third effort were all Timbaland. There were more soundtracks as well, including Romeo Must Die (2000) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

timbaland forms beat club records
Timbaland then formed Beat Club Records, which saw its first release with Bubba Sparxxx’s debut, Dark Days, Bright Nights, in 2001. The second Timbaland & Magoo record, Indecent Proposal, was originally scheduled for release in November 2000, but it was delayed until the following year. It was to feature Beck, as well as other artists that Timbaland developed and signed to Beat Club Records. The album wasn’t as commercially successful as he had hoped, but far bigger and more personal concerns plagued Timbaland’s mind; in particular, the death of Aaliyah in a 2001 plane crash.

timbaland resurrects timberlake and furtado
Timbaland continued collaborating with his regulars, as well as laying the foundation for future successes. He produced singles for artists like Lil’ Kim and Pastor Troy, and he produced Missy Elliott’s fourth and fifth albums. He also contributed to Justin Timberlake’s transition from boy-band fame with *NSYNC to successful solo artist on Justified. He also worked his magic on tracks and records by LL Cool J, Xzibit, Brandy, Tweet, and The Game.

In 2006, Timbaland formed Mosley Music Group, and more than ever, he dominated the charts for months at a time. Though Timbaland’s solo records and the 2003 Timbaland & Magoo effort, Under Construction, Part II, are often met with mixed reviews, the bulk and strength of his material demonstrates an innate talent, one that continues to be relevant regardless of who he’s working with. His work elevates the potential of any track, such as The Pussycat Dolls’ “Wait A Minute.”

His hooks, grooves and samples always stand out, but they're never tired. His deft use of samples and vocals adds substantially to the rhythmic depth of a track, lending an almost orchestral feel to his arrangements. When he does use more traditional sounds, he applies the same tendency to throw convention out the window, which has made him one of the most versatile and talented producers around. Between the success of Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” and “My Love,” and Nelly Furtado “Promiscuous” and “Maneater,” you’re guaranteed to hear Timbaland’s work on heavy rotation just about anywhere you go.

new projects
In addition to Timbaland’s hopes to collaborate with such artists as Duran Duran and Britney Spears, he also intends to release an album that features Missy Elliott, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Chris Martin, Bjork, Nelly Furtado, and Justin Timberlake.

What else do you need to know?