The way Timbaland sees it, those two sides of Kelly can be separated, to the point that he still considers the controversial singer the “king of R&B.”
During a recent episode of Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, Sharpe spoke about how he believes “you can separate art from an artist” before specifically mentioning Kelly. After he said he doesn’t believe you can “throw everything he’s done artistically away,” Timbaland said, “No you cannot.” Sharpe continued, “I believe you can separate the two,” and Timbaland chimed in, “Yes you can. I agree. I agree.”
Timbaland then elaborated:
“R. Kelly’s the king of R&B. We all know that, man. And it’s funny, I’m glad you talk about that, because I be having talks… everybody jump when you say ‘R. Kelly.’ I’m like, ‘So we just gonna ignore his music that he gave us, that we all jam to?’ No, we can’t do that. His art is his art. I’m not going to bash the man’s art. […] To me, we have to learn how to… I think, as a culture, we have to learn how to separate that.
And if I say, ‘OK, who can battle R. Kelly,’ I don’t want to see in the comments, ‘How you gonna have this…’ Don’t mix music up with personal. Music is a feeling, it stands alone. Music is something that don’t have no race. It brings people together. It don’t have no drama with it. It is a place of enjoyment, a feeling, so don’t bring drama into music. Leave that outside. His art is his art.”
Multi-platinum producer Timbaland recently shared that R. Kelly is still the R&B G.O.A.T., despite being convicted of sex-trafficking women.
“R. Kelly’s the king of R&B. We all know that, man,” the award-winning music producer said during a recent appearance on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast while discussing with host Shannon Sharpe whether it’s possible to separate Kelly’s art from his crimes.
In June 2022, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a New York Court after being found guilty on nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges related to Kelly’s decades-long practice of grooming women and girls for illegal sex.
In February of this year, the 56-year-old was then sentenced by a Chicago court to an additional 20 years in prison after being found guilty of producing child pornography and abusing minors.
“Everybody jump when you say R. Kelly,” Timbaland said. “I’m like, so we just gonna ignore his music that he gave us, that we all jam to?”
“No, we can’t do that. His art is his art, I ain’t gonna bash the man’s art,” he added. “Don’t mix music up with personal. Music is a feeling, it stands alone. Music is something that don’t have no race, it brings people together. It don’t have no drama with it. It is a place of enjoyment; a feeling, so don’t bring drama into music. Leave that outside.” Thoughts?
Timbaland plans to launch an AI startup to give late artists a musical continuation even after their passing. The Grammy-winning producer intends to explore new avenues of creativity in music using AI voice filters. However, he is mindful of this endeavor’s potential legal issues and copyright infringements. Empowering Producers & Music Executives Timbaland envisions a […]
Timbaland reminisced about his past collaborations with Missy Elliott, sharing insights into her meticulous beat selection process while making her first two albums. This glimpse into their creative partnership offers a fascinating perspective on Elliott’s attention to detail and unwavering dedication to her craft. The Studio Dynamic Duo During a recent interview with Club Shay […]
Swizz Beatz And Timbaland, the founders and original owners of the VERZUZ platform, sued Triller for $28 million after selling the platform to the social media company.
Swizz and Timbo settled the $28M lawsuit, then took to IG to claim ownership of the VERZUZ brand.
During that convo, Swizz said, “VERZUZ is still 100 percent Black-owned.” He added, “50 percent on the top of your screen and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. In case you ain’t know. Word to Allah. Okay?” Swizz ended it by saying, “It was built for the people, and it will stay with them. And we love everybody.”
Immerse yourself in the daring domain of rap, a realm where many artists fearlessly flirt with fate. From dodging bullets to tackling life-threatening seizures, these wordsmiths have encountered trials that are more thrilling than any action flick. They’re not just lyrical heroes—they’ve conquered death itself. From surviving multiple gunshot wounds to fighting against crippling maladies, these intrepid rappers have challenged every boundary imaginable and emerged victorious. Peel back the layers of risk-taking rhymers who have stared straight into the mouth of peril and lived to share their tale. Fasten your seatbelts for an electrifying expedition through their stories of survival. Here are rappers that almost died.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 13: Timbaland attends Variety’s Miami Entertainment Town Brunch Presented By CN Bank on April 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Variety via Getty Images)
Timbaland’s life has had two life-changing near-misses. At fifteen, he was shot and left with partial paralysis for nine months. Five years later, he narrowly escaped death again when his car skidded off an icy road, killing his passenger but leaving him unscathed.
The shooting also prompted a remarkable transformation. Timbaland learned to DJ with just one hand, yet the car crash had a more pronounced and enduring effect. The immediate aftermath brought nightmares, uncontrollable sobbing, and a sense of guilt. To this day, Tim avoids driving, humbly recognizing that he shouldn’t even be here.
6. Lil Wayne
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MAY 04: Lil Wayne performs in concert at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on May 04, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/WireImage)
A 12-year-old Dwayne Carter attempted to take his own life. Lil Wayne has detailed this incident at length, revealing that he tried to shoot himself. Police Officer Robert Hoobler saved his life en route to the hospital. Years later, while dining out, someone tapped him on the shoulder – it was Lil Wayne. The artist expressed his gratitude, noting that Officer Hoobler had saved his life and then generously covered the officer’s bill.
5. The Game
VENICE, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 12: Rapper The Game attends the release of “Drillmatic” at the Gall3ry By Koll3ctiff on August 12, 2022 in Venice, California. (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images)
At No. 5 of the rappers that almost died is the Game. Jayceon Taylor’s life was forever changed after a fateful shooting incident at his Compton apartment. After getting hit by five bullets, he slipped into a three-day coma and emerged with a newfound purpose – to conquer the hip-hop world. Drawing inspiration from notable rap innovators such as N.W.A., Notorious B.I.G., and Nas, Game devoted himself to mastering the craft. He achieved unprecedented success with his debut album, The Documentary, which hit No. 1 in 2004. His brush with death apparently catalyzed an unquenchable ambition that continues to drive him today.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 06: U50 Cent during the Lovers & Friends music festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on May 06, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/FilmMagic)
50 Cent survived getting shot nine times while sitting in a car outside his grandmother’s home in Queens. Despite being dropped by Columbia Records while he recuperated in the hospital, he released the mixtape Guess Who’s Back. Subsequently, he became an unprecedented force in the rap game. He was eventually signed to Shady / Aftermath, with the song “Many Men” from his major-label debut referencing the shooting incident. Rumors circulated that he had ordered revenge against his shooter only weeks later.
3. Post Malone
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 7: Post Malone supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers during their Unlimited Love Tour at Marvel Stadium on February 7, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo credit should read Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
The public was incredulous in the wake of Post Malone’s string of harrowing encounters within a three-week period. From tire blowouts on a private jet to a car crash and the thwarted burglary at his home, the rapper appeared to live under an unfortunate cloud of misfortune. Jocular speculation spread like wildfire that he had somehow managed to fall under a curse, though, in reality, it seemed his brush with danger stemmed from nothing more than sheer bad luck and a bold decision to tinker with a particularly malevolent spirit-housed object while intoxicated.
Zak Bagans, star of Ghost Adventures, visited the Haunted Museum with Post Malone in tow. Seemingly unaware of the supernatural risks, Malone recklessly opened a Dybbuk Box – a concealment vessel that traditionally houses a powerful ‘Dybbuk’ entity from Jewish folklore. Unsurprisingly, the incident culminated in a frenzied outburst from the singer once he became aware of the sacredness of the cursed item.
2. Kanye West
He is Kanye West, a groundbreaking artist of the 21st century who has set records with his prodigious output. He is widely acclaimed, earning 21 Grammy awards and gracing the cover of Time Magazine’s list of Most Influential People. On October 23, 2002, tragedy befell the budding star while working at a California studio, producing music alongside Beanie Sigel, Peedi Crakk, and The Black Eyed Peas. On his way home from the session, an unfortunate car crash ensued when Kanye dozed off. The impact inflicted irreversible damage. Miraculously surviving his near-death experience, Kanye found himself with a metal plate in his chin where it met with a fractured jaw.
Though many would have taken time to recover, Kanye channeled his experience into creativity. As a result, he entered the recording studio only two weeks after his hospitalization, evidencing his remarkable grit and determination. Subsequently, he birthed what would become his debut single, “Through The Wire.”
DENVER, CO – APRIL 19: Rick Ross is a rapper that is performing at the annual 420 Pro Marijuana rall at the Civic Center in Denver, Colorado on April 19, 2015. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Rick Roos tops the list of rappers who almost died. In 2011 and 2018, Ross endured seizures that reportedly rendered him unresponsive and, in some cases, presumed dead. Upon reflection on those hospitalizations, the celebrated artist developed the idea for his memoir. Though speculation circulated that he had experienced a heart attack during one episode, he refutes this theory in his book. Instead, he attributed it to disregarding medical advice, taking copious amounts of alcohol, and abusing codeine.
Missy Elliott and Timbaland are one of hip hop’s most iconic duos. They grew up in Virginia and became friends, developing a close working relationship in the early 1990s. They originally recorded demos for Jodeci’s DeVante Swing’s label. The pair’s tight chemistry translated into Timbaland producing most of Missy’s discography, making their biggest hits. Missy Elliott’s unique approach to Timbaland’s unconventional production style created a sound and style that has stood the test of time. This week marks 22 years since Missy’s third studio album, Miss E… So Addictive. Missy Elliott was also recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has influenced many careers.
This list of Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s biggest hits highlights their chemistry and influential sound of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The list draws from Missy Elliott’s spotless music catalog, almost entirely produced by Timbaland. Many of their best and biggest hits come from the albums Supa Dupa Fly and Da Real World. Each of these hit singles is considered a classic, listed chronologically. Take a look at the list below.
“The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” (1997)
Missy Elliott’s debut single, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” is one of her best and biggest hits. Every part of the song is catchy, from Missy’s effortless and laid-back flow in her verses to the sample of “I Can’t Stand The Rain” by Ann Peebles. The beat from Timbaland is slow but bouncy enough to get one’s head bobbing. No rap song sounded like “The Rain” at the time, making it so unique. The Missy Elliott and Timbaland style is so influential due to this song and those like it. The video for “The Rain” was also crucial for hip hop as many rappers of the 1990s and 2000s tried to emulate Missy’s style.
“Sock It 2 Me” (1997)
The horns that immediately start playing on “Sock It 2 Me” are infectious. The song samples “Ready Or Not Here I Come” by The Delfonics, famously recreated by The Fugees the year prior. While The Fugees recreated the sample’s chorus, “Sock It 2 Me” completely reimagines the first few bars of the sample. Missy Elliott showcases her singing in the verses and sounds even better with her layered vocals on the hook. Da Brat’s feature verse is impressive as she transitions between slow and double-time flows with different cadences.
“Hit Em Wit Da Hee” (1997)
“Hit Em Wit Da Hee” is the song that starts Supa Dupa Fly. Before Missy Elliott says a single word on her debut album, Lil Kim starts the song with one of her best verses. Over the beat’s twanged guitar strings, Missy displays her versatility. She sings the song’s chorus and spits two verses, both at a very high level. While both “The Rain” and “Sock It 2 Me” were commercial successes in the United States, “Hit Em Wit Da Hee” was not released as a single in the U.S. until the album’s release. Despite that, it performed quite well in the U.K. and eventually charted on Billboard in the U.S. Though it was not nearly as big of a hit as the previous singles from Supa Dupa Fly, “Hit Em Wit Da Hee” deserves to be mentioned among Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s best hits.
“She’s A Bitch” (1999)
Missy Elliott’s Da Real World is arguably her best album and doubles down on the sound she and Timbaland created with Supa Dupa Fly. One could also argue that they took more artistic risks on Da Real World, but the album was also a critical and commercial success for both of them, leading to multiple hits. The lead single and one of the best songs from the album is “She’s A Bitch.” The song features one of Timbaland’s bounciest productions and some of Missy’s most slick and animated rhymes. She weaves in and out of different flows, rapping about how the word “bitch” can be both misogynistic and empowering. “She’s A Bitch” has been sampled several times, including GoldLink’s “Spectrum” and, most recently, BIA’s “I’m That Bitch” which features Timbaland.
“All N My Grill” (1999)
Many of Timbaland’s beats are perfect for both rapping and singing. “All N My Grill” is an ideal example of that. Missy Elliott sings over the orchestral instrumental alongside Nicole Wray’s killer ad-libs. The standard version of the song features a verse from Big Boi, while the European release of the single features French rapper MC Solaar. Both versions with the guest verses rank among Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s best hits and performed well on the charts.
“Hot Boyz” (1999)
“Hot Boyz” is one of Missy Elliott’s most anthemic songs. Over one of Timbaland’s toughest instrumentals, Missy Elliott switches between rapping and singing on the verses. The song also features some vocal runs from Lil Mo, which brings the piece together nicely. The way the instrumental starts and stops during Missy’s verses exemplifies her and Timbaland’s chemistry. The song’s remix was also made for a posse cut featuring Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip.
“Get Ur Freak On” (2001)
The very first word on “Get Ur Freak On” is when Missy says, “headbanger.” This word perfectly describes the song “Get Ur Freak On,” which is one of Elliott’s most exciting tracks. The explosive instrumental from Timbaland makes for one of the most iconic rap songs ever. The song is unpredictable, as Missy Elliott’s energetic verses contain dramatic pauses and ad-libs that keep the listener locked in.
“Get Ur Freak On” is a staple in pop culture, as it has been performed at the Super Bowl. It has also been sampled several times, notably on Bad Bunny’s “Safaera.” In Elloitt’s second verse, she raps, “Me and Timbaland been hot since 20 years ago,” which speaks to their chemistry, quality of the music, and longevity.
Swizz Beatz And Timbaland, the founders and original owners of the VERZUZ platform, sued Triller for $28 million after selling the platform to the social media company.
Swizz and Timbo settled the $28M lawsuit, then took to IG to claim ownership of the VERZUZ brand.
During that convo, Swizz said, “VERZUZ is still 100 percent Black-owned.” He added, “50 percent on the top of your screen and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. In case you ain’t know. Word to Allah. Okay?” Swizz ended it by saying, “It was built for the people, and it will stay with them. And we love everybody.”
Swizz Beatz has suggested a new twist to the usual Verzuz format for Jadakiss’ next battle. With the battle series set to return later this year, Swizz talked with Timbaland about what he would like to see from the upcoming third season. Swizz proposed pitting the MC against several of his contemporaries at the same time, based on freestyles rather than hit songs. “You know what I wanna see? I wanna see everybody versus Jadakiss,” he said. Timbaland responded, “Wait a minute, so five against one? Oh, okay.”
Jim Jonesrecently suggested that Jadakiss should have released an album after the contest to capitalize on the moment, a suggestion the MC agreed with. However, he wanted to get his business affairs right, and the Verzuz performance gave him leverage on the label to fix some stuff. Jadakiss renegotiated his contract with Def Jam and showed the world his worth. “My numbers went up for hostings and walkthroughs, for shows, and TV cameos,” he said after the battle. “Just in general my numbers went up. It also showed Def Jam that they got to do the right thing [and] restructure my contract. It really showed the world my true worth, what I can do.”
Jadakiss has said that he definitely should have dropped something after the Verzuz battle, but he cannot do “microwave music.” He has a bunch of songs on the hard drive, but he did not feel that he could just put out anything. He said, “I still feel like I’m gypping the people if I just put out anything. You know, I like to cook my meals.”
Diddy has announced that he will face off against Jermaine Dupri in Verzuz at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on September 8, although the battle has yet to be officially confirmed by Swizz Beatz or Timbaland. Jadakiss’ next Verzuz battle with the twist suggested by Swizz Beatz will be something to watch out for, given his MVP-worthy performance in the previous battle. What do you think about the twist that Swizz Beatz suggested? Let us know in the comments!
