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The 2000s marked a truly experimental moment for pop music. As such, the innovative efforts of Timbaland made for some brilliant musical collaborations. One of the most important producers in music history, his work has enjoyed substantial acclaim for his futuristic sounds and exploratory beats. Furthermore, by enlisting some of the finest pop artists in his work, Timbaland created some truly timeless collabs.

Notably, his works with frequent collaborators Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado took center stage. However, in the pop scene, Timbaland has worked with many lauded artists, including Keri Hilson, Katy Perry, and even the Queen of Pop, Madonna. Overall, his music has remained timeless, and when it comes to some of the best producer-artist collabs, Timbaland undoubtedly reigns supreme. Here are seven of his best pop alliances that dominated the 2000s.

7. “If We Ever Meet Again” – Timbaland Ft. Katy Perry (2009)

“If We Ever Meet Again” is one of the standout tracks from Timbaland’s third album, Shock Value II. It features additional vocals from Katy Perry. The song was a moderate success but is one of the producer’s most recognizable collaborative efforts. Lyrically, the single follows both artists longing for another chance to see each other again after an initial encounter. Commercially, the song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also enjoyed the most success in the UK, achieving a platinum certification for over 600,000 sales.

6. “4 Minutes” – Madonna Ft. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland (2008)

By 2008, Madonna had already made a full comeback. However, she took things up a notch with the single, “4 Minutes.” One of Madonna’s biggest collabs, the dance-pop track featured Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, who both co-produced the track alongside Danja. Overall, “4 Minutes” is a boisterous number, backed by a sleek and heavy bass beat. Furthermore, Timbaland employed Bhangra beats, as well as brass instruments to give the track an extra kick. Madonna and Timberlake also shared amazing synergy on the track, effortlessly trading lines with one another.

5. “Give It To Me” – Timbaland Ft. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake (2007)

The snappy, sexy, club staple, “Give It To Me,” wasted no time in taking over the radio. Timbaland enlisted his frequent partners, Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake for one of his hottest collabs of all time. “Give It To Me” peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Timbaland’s first and only chart-topper as a lead artist. The single was released as the first single from his sophomore album, Shock Value. Moreover, it became one of the most-played songs of 2007. Overall, “Give It To Me” has been certified 3x Platinum in the US, with over three million copies sold.

4. “Apologize” – Timbaland & OneRepublic (2007)

Timbaland has a number of successful collaborations, but “Apologize” quickly became a worldwide smash hit. The slow-burning pop and R&B hybrid has been certified 5x Platinum in the US, with sales of over five million copies. While the song failed to top the Billboard Hot 100, it settled for the penultimate position. Moreover, it spent a whopping 25 weeks in the top 10. Around the world, “Apologize” dominated heavily as well. In Australia, for example, the song achieved a gargantuan 11x Platinum certification by the ARIA for selling over 770,000 copies. In the UK, it achieved a 2x Platinum, selling over 1.2 million copies. Furthermore, it achieved sales of over 400,000 in Canada, achieving a 5x Platinum.

3. “The Way I Are” – Timbaland Ft. Keri Hilson (2007)

Timbaland was known to keep his musical partners close. Besides Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, and Missy Elliott, Timbaland also enjoyed some delicious collabs with Keri Hilson. Her sultry vocals paired brilliantly with his dark, sexy production style, and together, they made magic. “The Way I Are” is a testament to their harmonious musical relationship. The pop and electro-hop single became an instant success, peaking atop the UK Singles chart. On the Hot 100, the song reached the third spot. Furthermore, in the US, “The Way I Are” has been awarded a 3x Platinum certification by the RIAA, for sales of over three million. It remains one of both artists’ most successful tracks.

2. “SexyBack” – Justin Timberlake Ft. Timbaland (2006)

The collaborative effort of Timbaland and Justin Timberlake made for some of the best music in both their discographies. However, the magic of “SexyBack” absolutely dominated the radio around the world. In a twist from his crooning style, Timberlake opted for a more stylish, rock vibe, boosting the song’s incredible sex appeal. “SexyBack” peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, the UK Singles Chart, and many more charts around the globe. Although Timbaland reigned supreme in the 2000s, 2006 and 2007 were undeniably his best years, especially in terms of chart-topping collabs.

1. “Promiscuous” – Nelly Furtado Ft. Timbaland (2006)

Timbaland was the main producer on Nelly Furtado’s third album Loose, which was responsible for one the biggest collabs of his career. “Promiscuous” was the second single off the album, and peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 in no time. Lyrically, both Furtado and Timbaland trade lines, engaging in heavy flirtatious banter, and tagging each other “promiscuous.” Beyond the song’s success on the charts, “Promiscuous” went on to sell over seven million copies, earning a 7x Platinum certification by the RIAA. It also enjoyed much success in Europe, particularly in the UK, where it earned a 2x Platinum certification for sales of over 1.2 million.

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Timbaland has created many timeless productions over the course of his decades-long career, and it looks like some new music is on the way. His musical journey began as one half of a rap duo but from the early ’90s onward, Timbaland went into music production. Since then he has released hit after hit with an array of renowned artists: from Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, and Madonna, to Jay-Z and even Björk.

His productions have since earned him the status of an icon, and Timbaland remains one of the most successful music producers of all time. Moreover, he boasts many chart-topping collaborations and successful solo albums like 2007’s 3x Platinum Shock Value, featuring hits like “Give It To Me,” “Apologize,” and “The Way I Are.” More recently, Timbaland gained recognition when he co-founded the influential Verzuz series with Swizz Beatz, an online Hip Hop battle that burgeoned into a cultural phenomenon during the pandemic in 2020. Nonetheless, Timbaland will always be revered for his awesome productions Here are seven of them that have withstood the test of time.

7. “Pony”- Ginuwine (1996)

Ginuwine’s debut single, “Pony” came before his album Ginuwine… The Bachelor. Nevertheless, it is by far one of the most iconic in the collection. “Pony” was also a monumental hit, both commercially and critically. It remains among the greatest R&B tracks ever recorded and is hailed as a Timbaland classic. Furthermore, this track marked a significant milestone for Timbaland, becoming one of his earliest acclaimed R&B productions. “Pony” peaked at the sixth spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Moreover, it secured the second spot on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.

6. “The Way I Are”- Timbaland Ft. Keri Hilson (2007)

“The Way I Are” was a part of the successful Shock Value album. By the mid-2000s, Timbaland was already synonymous with stellar productions, and this song became a hit in no time. Keri Hilson featured on the song, which was co-written with Danja, The Clutch, and Candice Nelson. “The Way I Are” hit the third spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Moreover, it was a commercial juggernaut, selling over three million units. This track became Timbaland’s second top-five single and his second-longest-running single in the country, following “Apologize.”

5. “Cry Me A River”- Justin Timberlake (2002)

This epic ballad by Justin Timberlake was a passionate exploration of the complexities of a turbulent breakup. Co-written by Timbaland, the soulful beat and polished production led to the song being a massive hit. The track soared to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, securing a Grammy win for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2004. Internationally, “Cry Me A River” earned a Song Of The Year nomination at the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards. One of his biggest productions to date, Timbaland’s futuristic production contributed greatly to the song’s sexy appeal. Furthermore, his artistic collaboration with Timberlake cemented “Cry Me A River” as one of the biggest hits of the 2000s.

4. “Work It”- Missy Elliott (2002)

Timbaland’s production work for Missy Elliott has birthed Hip Hop gems, especially the iconic single “Work It.” Debuting on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 75 on September 14, 2002, it swiftly climbed the chart, claiming the Airplay Gainer status in its second and third weeks at numbers 42 and 24, respectively. Within five weeks, it stormed into the top ten, peaking at number 8. It also held the number 2 spot for ten weeks, topping the Billboard Hot R&B/HipHop Songs chart for five weeks and earning a Grammy nod for Best Rap Song.

3. “Try Again”- Aaliyah (1996)

The futuristic productions of Timbaland broke the glass ceiling in the 2000s. Aaliyah’s “Try Again“ was originally part of the Romeo Must Die soundtrack until it emerged as a standalone hit. A major reason for that was the song’s captivating intro, which was a sample of Timbaland’s rendition of Eric B & Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul.” Aaliyah clinched a 2001 Grammy nod for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance with the track, recognized for both critical acclaim and commercial triumph. Dominating the Billboard Hot 100, it hit a milestone, when it rose to number one solely through airplay.

2. “Promiscuous”- Nelly Furtado (2006)

Timbaland did not only produce Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous,” he also appeared in the music video as quite the charming figure. The song was a successful single from Furtado’s album Loose. “Promiscuous” also earned Best Pop Single of the Year at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards. Debuting at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2006, it reached number one on July 8, marking Furtado’s first chart-topper. Moreover the single held the peak position for six weeks. It was also certified platinum by the RIAA for over a million digital sales.

1. “Sexyback”- Justin Timberlake (2006)

Featured on the successful album FutureSex/LoveSounds, this collaboration between Timbaland and Justin Timberlake remains one of the former’s most innovative and eclectic productions to date. “SexyBack” quickly rose to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, reigning for an impressive seven weeks after its release. The single also won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording and earned Justin Timberlake the People’s Choice Award for Favorite R&B song. Furthermore, he earned the Male Artist of the Year award at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

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