The Emperor of Sound by Timbaland

Author:Timbaland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

14

JIGGA WHAT?

Our work with Aaliyah led to more producing opportunities, but in the back of my mind, I started thinking about doing something more personal. I’ve never claimed to be a rapper’s rapper. But I can do a little something on the mic. I decided my solo album would actually be more like a compilation album of all of my favorite artists at the time. In 1998 I dropped my first solo album, Tim’s Bio: Live from da Bassment, a nod to my days with the Da Bassment crew. I was twenty-six years old and had just begun to develop my friendship with Jay Z, so I was thrilled when he agreed to do a track called “Lobster and Scrimp,” a playful ode to the good life. Static, who was my cowriter on “Pony,” appeared on a few tracks, and I brought in Kelly Price, a new vocalist with an amazing voice. And of course, I had my family with me: Missy, Aaliyah and Ginuwine all generously contributed tracks as well.

I had heard a young rapper on the radio in Atlanta so I invited him to rhyme on the album too. That youngun was Ludacris, and he would go on to have a multiplatinum career of his own. I’m proud to say that I was the first person to put him on a record.

I’ll be honest. I was disappointed when Tim’s Bio didn’t top the charts or rack up millions in sales. But I’m a creative person. My job is to make music—constantly. You can’t do everything for the money. You sure as hell can’t do it all for the fame or the praise. Sometimes you write a song or make a beat because it feels good and it makes you smile. Maybe the thing you wrote that didn’t sell sets the musical groundwork for an idea that you develop later. Sometimes it’s the later thing that explodes, and even though the critics rarely connect the dots, you start to understand: there was no way for you to get to point C without getting to point A and point B first. My journey is my own, and as long as I’m learning and doing new things, then I’m growing. And as long as I am growing, I’m good.

Once I got done with my solo project, it was time to get Missy ready for her sophomore album.

“I already know what I’m calling this album,” Missy said the minute we got into the studio.

“Lay it on me,” I said.

“She’s a Bitch,” Missy said.

“Are you serious?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’re not serious.”

Missy spun around in her chair. I could tell she was a ball of nervous energy. “I’m dead serious, Tim. I wrote the lyrics to a song called ‘She’s a Bitch’ and I want the album to have the same name. Cue up some beats so I can spit the song for you.”

I played a simple beat and Missy started rhyming for me. I could tell that she was going for a darker, more raunchy style than her first album.

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