誰是史努比狗狗、天命真女、蜜西艾莉特、Jay-Z、菲董成名的幕后推手？誰又是當今全球流行排行榜，最新冠軍排行制造機，跨界獲得眾家歌手爭相邀約的對象？這么一位重量級大師，非Timbaland莫屬。近期以來，讓才女妮莉費塔朵轉型成功、使型男賈斯汀音樂更有深度、活化辣妹團體小野貓更為騷浪聲波…Timbaland用他創意新奇的構思，替流行音樂界架構無限可能的延展性。 這位目標顯著的大塊頭Timbaland來自維吉尼亞州，原名Timothy Z. Mosley，在認識同為樂界女子“重”量級人物Missy Elliott與饒舌歌手兼工作伙伴Magoo后，三人開始合作搞音樂。當Missy與她的女子團體Sista被情色美聲四人組的團員兼制作人DeVante Swing賞識簽入自設廠牌Swing Mob旗下，Missy不忘帶著Timbaland與Magoo一起進入唱片公司。才華出眾的Timbaland開始參與多位歌手/團體的專輯制作與歌曲撰寫，同時認識尚未大紅的Pharrell Williams。 by Jason Birchmeier Timbaland ascended to the top of the rap industry in the late 90s, impressively balancing his in-demand hitmaking abilities with his outlandish production style. Few rap producers were capable of such a balance between commerce and craft. Timbaland produced an endless list of hits, primarily for a select group of affiliates (Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Ginuwine) though also for a number of other A-list artists (Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Justin Timberlake). Even so, he always infused a remarkable sense of individuality and creativity into his productions. When you hear a Timbaland production generally there is no mistaking it for anyone elses work: stuttering bass-heavy bounce beats offset resounding high-end synth stabs, all of this often complemented by his own signature-like quiet murmuring beneath the track; and no sampling. However, over time Timbaland began taking an increasingly assembly-line approach to production, working with a team of co-producers and songwriters including Nathaniel Danjahandz Hills, the Clutch, and Justin Timberlake. Plus, he began producing an increasingly wide array of acts, ranging from alternative icons Björk and M.I.A. to MOR pop/rockers the Fray and Ashlee Simpson. In the late 90s, when Timbaland was still relatively new on the scene, the Virginia native worked extensively with Missy (The Rain), Aaliyah (If Your Girl Only Knew), and Ginuwine (Pony). Later, once hed established himself with these three, he began working with the top rappers in the industry, namely Jay-Z (Big Pimpin), Nas (You Wont See Me Tonight), Snoop Dogg (Snoop Dogg [Whats My Name, Pt. 2]), and Ludacris (Rollout [My Business]). He also worked occasionally with lesser-known regional artists such as Petey Pablo (Raise Up), Pastor Troy (Are We Cuttin), and Tweet (Oops (Oh My)). As a result of his exceptional success as a producer, Timbaland eventually established his own record label, Beat Club, and began unveiling his own stable of artists (Bubba Sparxxx, Ms. Jade). His records, most co-billed with rapping friend Magoo, spotlighted his access to the top rappers in the business: Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Wyclef Jean. From 1997 through 2003, he released three Timbaland & Magoo albums, while 1998s Tims Bio and 2007s Timbaland Presents Shock Value — the latter featuring a restless mixture of vocalists, rappers, and rock bands — were solo albums in name.