Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland have thrilled fans with their recent reunion and collaboration on a highly anticipated new single set to be released on September 1. Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of this new project, bringing back the nostalgic era of their previous chart-topping hits. A Long-Awaited Reunion On Monday, August 28, […]
Last fall, multihyphenate Coco Jones released “ICU,” which proved to be a breakthrough song for her. On the song, she grapples with the idea of leaving a man whom she loves, as she feels she can no longer live with him. Painting painfully relatable imagery through her music, Jones is caught between a rock and a hard place, struggling with the idea of having to let go of someone she loves.
All of these emotions become even more complex on the new remix of the R&B hit, on which Justin Timberlake adds a new verse.
“Since you’ve been gone, everything been a mess / You’ve got a hold on this thing in my chest, babe / But I won’t settle for anything less but you / You know that our chemistry make up the set / So let’s make up, put it to the bed / In the morning, we wake up and do it again,” he sings on his verse.
Fans of Jones, the singer and Bel Air actress, have often praised her ability to craft timeless songs, delivering fresh-sounding vocals on instrument-driven tracks. With the addition of Timberlake, the song maintains a special je ne sais quoi similar to that of early aughts pop-R&B.
Coco Jones is having one hell of a year. It started with the deluxe release of her EP, What I Didn’t Tell You, a project that originally arrived to close 2022. Months later, Jones would go on to win the Best New Artist award at the 2023 BET Awards, an honor that solidified the hard work and journey she endured in her music career over the years. Next up will be the What I Didn’t Tell You Tour which kicks off next month, but before that, Jones has a surprise for her fans.
The singer hopped on Twitter to announce that a remix of “ICU” with a special guest would arrive on Friday, July 14. Instead of revealing the guest artist, Jones shared three images as a clue for who the remix would feature. The first was a crying emoji over a hand-drawn river, the second was a screengrab from The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, and the third was a montage of various boy bands like *NSYNC, 5ive, Boyzone, and Boyz II Men.
With all the clues at hand, many users concluded that the guest artist on the song is none other than Justin Timberlake. The “Cry Me A River” singer (hint #1) was an actor on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993-1994 and he was also a member of *NSYNC from 1995 to 2002.
Jones has yet to confirm that Timberlake is the guest artist on the “ICU” remix, but fans were quick to share their reaction to the possibility of it happening. You can check those out below.
Jay-Z’s twelfth studio album Magna Carta.. Holy Grail turns 10 years old today. The project was released to fans via an app before its official commercial release a few days later. It went on to be a massive success topping the Billboard 200 albums chart and getting certified three times platinum. The albums second and third singles “Tom Ford” and “Part II (On The Run)” both found their way to success. Deep cuts like “f*ckwithmeyouknowigotit” and “Oceans” have become major fan favorites in the decade since their early release.
But when people think about Magna Carta… Holy Grail they almost always return to its lead single and opening track. The song sees Jay-Z teaming up with Justin Timberlake for a fantastical, multi-phased five-and-a-half minutes of icy hip-hop. The song was an instant smash, debuting at number 8 on the hot 100 and ultimately climbing all the way up to number 4. In the decade since it has racked up nearly 300 million streams on Spotify and been certified 4x platinum. The music video released to accompany the song also has over 5 million views on Youtube.
Jay-Z And Justin’s Classic
In the decade since “Holy Grail” Jay-Z’s star hasn’t faded a bit. Just this morning he was in attendance at Michael Rubin’s 4th of July party alongside rappers like Travis Scott, Jack Harlow, and Lil Baby. The party had an all-white dress code that had many celebs stepping up their outfit game.
Jay-Z hasn’t released a new album since 2017 when he dropped 4:44 the follow up to Magna Carta… Holy Grail. The album contained Jay-Z’s public responses to accusations made by Beyonce on Lemonade as well as a number of other self-reflections. What do you think of “Holy Grail” 10 years after it was originally dropped? Let us know in the comment section below.
Godd*mn it, I like it Bright lights is enticin’ But look what it did to Tyson All that money in one night Thirty mil’ for one fight But soon as all that money blows All the pigeons take flight
Be prepared to get your “one, two, step” on as we reflect on how Ciara dominated the charts in the 2000s. The Atlanta artist stormed the industry with “Goodies,” a track that fused Pop & R&B to perfection. The track arrived on her debut album of the same name—a record that spawned several fan favorites. Undoubtedly, CiCi’s contributions to the 2000s shaped her into a formidable R&B-Pop-Hip Hop force, and we’re looking back at those jams we still can’t get enough of.
From her chart-topping debut “Goodies” to the sultry collaboration “Love, Sex, Magic” with Justin Timberlake, Ciara has consistently demonstrated her versatility and talent throughout the decade. Not only will we delve into the success of hits like “1, 2, Step” and “Oh,” but we’ll also discuss the empowering messages behind songs such as “Like a Boy.” Additionally, we’ll celebrate Ciara’s growth as an artist, from her first album Goodies to her later work on Fantasy Ride. These memorable tracks cement why Ciara remains an undeniable hitmaker.
“Goodies” ft. Petey Pablo (2004)
“Goodies” featuring Petey Pablo, one of Ciara’s massive 2000 hits, skyrocketed the singer to fame in 2004. This catchy debut single topped charts and became an instant fan favorite. Released in June, “Goodies” dominated summer airwaves and earned a spot on Ciara’s debut album, Goodies, released later in September. Fans and critics praised Ciara’s fusion of R&B and Hip Hop, catapulting the song to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven consecutive weeks. The track has gone down in music history as a quintessential 2000s hit and a defining moment in Ciara’s career.
“1, 2, Step” featuring Missy Elliott also took the music world by storm in 2004. Following the massive success of “Goodies,” Ciara released this irresistible dance anthem in October, featuring Elliott’s iconic verse. Fans helped the record quickly climb the charts to peak at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. As the second single from Goodies, “1, 2, Step” continued to map out Ciara’s superstardom.
“Oh” ft. Ludacris (2005)
Ciara continued to impress with “Oh” featuring Ludacris, a chart-topper released in March 2005. This collaboration showcased Ciara’s sultry R&B stylings paired with Luda’s dynamic bars. This was the third single from Goodies, confirming that Ciara and her team were off to a meteoric climb. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The collaboration won over listeners, further solidifying Ciara’s place in the music industry.
“Like a Boy” (2006)
“Like a Boy” resonated with fans after its 2007 release. This thought-provoking single challenged gender stereotypes and offered a fresh perspective. As a standout track from Ciara’s sophomore album The Evolution, “Like a Boy” was also a fast favorite, peaking at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s empowering message and unforgettable music video earned Ciara rave reviews.
“Promise” (2006)
“Promise,” a sultry slow jam, earned critical acclaim upon its 2006 release. As the lead single from The Evolution, “Promise” showed Ciara’s maturation as a performer. The song made its way to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its seductive melody resonated with listeners. This also confirmed Ciara’s adaptable talent exceeded her signature dance anthems.
“Get Up,” an energetic collaboration between Ciara and Chamillionaire, arrived in 2006. This dance anthem was featured on both the Step Up movie soundtrack and Ciara’s The Evolution. Ciara’s dynamic performance, alongside Chamillionaire’s verse, drove the song to success, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ciara’s career is also known for the singer’s effortless ability to collaborate with notable rappers who aren’t often known for Pop-adjacent releases.
“Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone” stormed the industry in 2007. 50 Cent joined Ciara on the single—another from The Evolution. Fans embraced the chemistry between the two artists, propelling the song to chart success, where it peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. In more recent years, TikTok users revisited the collaboration, which had a brief and small viral moment online. Additionally, Fif and CiCi were rumored to have dated around the time that this song came out.
“Go Girl” ft. T-Pain (2008)
They’re two hitmakers at the top of their games in the 2000s, so it is no surprise that Ciara and T-Pain collided on a track. “Go Girl” added to Ciara’s 2000 hits with its 2008 release. This high-energy dance track, featured on Ciara’s third studio album Fantasy Ride, got bodies moving. This one wasn’t as successful on the charts, peaking at No. 78 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the charts can’t predict which songs will go down as a fan favorite in history.
“Love, Sex, Magic” ft. Justin Timberlake (2009)
“Love, Sex, Magic,” a sizzling collaboration between Ciara and Justin Timberlake, was released in 2009. This seductive track, also from Fantasy Ride, enthralled fans with its contagious rhythm. The chemistry between Ciara and Timberlake’s vocals created a charting hit, which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Seeing Ciara and the N’SYNC frontman come together made perfect sense as two Pop icons.
Timbaland has been hard at work recently. Ahead of being honored with the Pioneer Award at Variety’s second annual Miami Entertainment Town event, Timbo spoke with the publication and revealed that he has worked on new albums with Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake.
Timberlake hasn’t released an album since 2018’s Man of the Woods, but that drought will soon be over with music that Timbaland says mirrors Future Sex/Love Sounds.
“We just finished up and everything sounds great,” Timbaland said. “Now it’s really on him how and when he envisions it to come out, but it’s done and it’s coming.”
He added, “It’s like ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’ but nothing too heavy, just giving you what you expect from us.”
Regarding Missy Elliott, Timbaland stated the album is being aimed for a summer release. “We’ve got a lot of songs we’re gonna start recording soon, and my dream is to have it out around her birthday in July. I want it to sound how she looks — she looks incredible right now.”
Timbaland is recognized as one of the most influential producers to ever do it. You could name off the laundry list of artists he’s partnered with. The list includes Drake, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Aaliyah, Ginuwine,and several others. However, It may be harder to list the stars Timbaland hasn’t worked with at least once. Given his longevity and the star power he has worked with, it’s not a stretch to rank Timbaland as one of the greatest producers of all time. Timbaland has been in the music game for nearly three decades. However, his plethora of upcoming projects show he has no plan of slowing down.
Timbaland recently sat down with Variety to discuss his career and upcoming work. Perhaps the most exciting project he’s working on is an album with hip-hop legend Missy Elliot. Missy hasn’t released a full album in 15 years. However, the love her fans have for her hasn’t gone away. It was first reported that the duo would be linking up again earlier this year. Timbaland didn’t give a definitive release date for the project. However, he hopes it will be ready to go this Summer. “We’ve got a lot of songs we’re gonna start recording soon,” he said. “my dream is to have it out around her birthday in July.”
Timbaland Takes Multiple Inspirations Into New Project
Timbaland has worked with Missy before. Subsequently, he knows what kind of tracks she enjoys making. “I know how Missy works: It’s got to be new and fun,” he said. “Or maybe not so much new as kind of underground, and everything is upbeat” Furthermore, Timbaland revealed the album will have an international flavor. “Some of it has a kind of Latin feel to it, almost a Bad Bunny effect” he said. “Some of it’s kinda like underground Brazilian funk”
Additionally, Timbaland is also teaming up again with Justin Timberlake. The duo has worked together numerous times over the years. Perhaps their most famous collaboration was on JT’s FutureSex/LoveSounds, album which includes the smash hit “Sexy Back.” Timbaland says Justin’s new project has already wrapped up. “We just finished up and everything sounds great,” he said. “Now it’s really on him how and when he envisions it to come out.” Given Timbaland’s success, It’s likely that both projects will be a hit with fans.
As of January 20, Aquarius season is finally upon us. This means that several iconic artists will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming weeks, including Justin Timberlake. The Social Network star’s big day is today (January 31), and it marks his 42nd year here on Earth.
Of course, the R&B star has been in the public eye for the better part of his life. His early childhood in Memphis, Tennessee previously found him appearing on shows like Star Search and The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. By the late 90s, he made a name for himself as the youngest member of NSYNC, but would eventually leave in favour of a solo career.
His 2002 debut album, Justified, chiefly earned him two Grammy awards. By 2006, he really caught the world’s attention with FutureSex/LoveSounds. The hot and heavy project remains in rotation to this day, and boasts titles like “Summer Love” and “SexyBack” featuring Timbaland.
Timberlake and the renowned producer have since worked together numerous times over the years. In celebration of the former’s birthday today, we’re throwing it back to 2009 with their highly favoured “Carry Out” collaboration.
Appearing on Timba’s Shock Value II album, the track has since been streamed upwards of 120M times on Spotify alone. The same project also holds popular songs like “If We Ever Meet Again” with Katy Perry and “Morning After Dark” featuring Nelly Furtado.
It was an undeniably exquisite time in music, and absolutely deserves a revisit in celebration of Justin’s life and work.
Stream Timbaland and Timberlake’s “Carry Out” on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, tell us your favourite throwback track from the birthday boy in the comment section.
Quotable Lyrics:
And if there’s room for dessert then I want a piece Baby, get my order right, no errors I’ma touch you in all the right areas I can feed you, you can feed me Girl, deliver that to me, come see me