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Swizz Beatz Proposes New Jadakiss “Verzuz” Battle With A Twist

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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 Jones recently 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 Doesn’t Do “Microwave Music”

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!

Missy Elliott’s “Miss E…So Addictive” Turns 22

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It’s been 22 years since Missy Elliott’s groundbreaking third studio album Miss E…So Addictive hit the airwaves. The Virginia native grew up surrounded by music. She discovered her passion for performing at a young age and formed the R&B group Sista in the early 1990s. Although the group disbanded without releasing a full album, Missy’s journey was far from over.

The music icon’s big break came when she teamed up with her childhood friend and fellow musician Timbaland. Together, they became a powerhouse duo in the music industry. The pair wrote and produced hits for artists like Aaliyah, SWV, and Ginuwine. This collaboration laid the groundwork for Missy’s solo career, which took off with the release of her debut album Supa Dupa Fly in 1997.

Fast forward to 2001, when Missy Elliott released Miss E…So Addictive. The album would further solidify her place as a Hip Hop and R&B pioneer. Produced primarily by Timbaland, the album showcased their undeniable chemistry and ability to create innovative, genre-defying music.

Reactions From Fans & Critics

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 26: Missy Elliott performs onstage during the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on August 26, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

The album Is a fusion of Hip Hop, R&B, and electronic elements. Timbaland’s clever beats complement Missy’s distinguishable rapping and singing style. It includes hits like “Get Ur Freak On” and “One Minute Man,” which became staples on the radio and in clubs worldwide. Other standout tracks include “Lick Shots,” “Take Away,” and the sensual ballad “X-tasy.”

Miss E…So Addictive was met with widespread acclaim from both critics and fans. The album’s lead single, “Get Ur Freak On,” reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album itself peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It was eventually certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Miss E…So Addictive remains a seminal work in Elliott’s discography, highlighting her fearless creativity and unique artistry. The album’s lasting impact is evident in the countless artists who have cited Missy as an inspiration. This includes Rihanna, Lizzo, and Cardi B. By breaking down barriers and pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible in Hip Hop and R&B, Missy Elliott carved out a space for herself and future generations of artists.

Queen Of Innovation

Missy Elliott’s innovative impact on music exemplified her experimental approach to songwriting and production. Her often fearless approach to music production paved the way for other women in Hip Hop artists to break into the industry. The inspiration behind Miss E…So Addictive is rooted in Missy’s desire to create music that would withstand the tests of time. Drawing on her life experiences and her love for various genres, Missy crafted an album that showcased her versatility as a performer, songwriter, and producer.

In addition to its commercial success, Miss E…So Addictive garnered several award nominations. The album received two Grammy Award nominations, with “Get Ur Freak On” winning Best Rap Solo Performance. Elliott also welcomed several MTV Video Music Awards nominations. She won the Best Hip Hop Video award for “Get Ur Freak On.”

Beyond the music itself, Missy Elliott’s influence extends to her music videos. These have become an essential part of her artistic legacy. With their futuristic visuals, bold fashion choices, and high-energy choreography, her videos perfectly encapsulate the essence of her music.

A Legend In The Game

Missy career has continued to thrive, with several more albums and countless collaborations with artists from various genres. Additionally, her contributions to the music industry have not gone unnoticed. She was honored with the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 2019 and inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame the same year.

As we look back on the 22nd anniversary of Miss E…So Addictive, it’s essential to recognize Missy Elliott’s lasting impact on the music industry. The album is a testament to her vision, innovative approach to music, and tireless dedication to pushing boundaries. With Miss E…So Addictive, Missy Elliott cemented her legacy as a trailblazer in the world of hip-hop and R&B, and her influence continues to reverberate through the music of today’s top artists.

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Timbaland Faces Backlash After Sharing AI-Generated Song With Notorious B.I.G.’s Vocals

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Timbaland

Producer Timbaland recently shared a preview of an AI-generated song featuring the late Notorious B.I.G.’s vocals on social media. The snippet received a lot of criticism from fans who felt it was disrespectful to use AI Biggie’s vocals.  Timbaland Shares Preview of AI-Generated Song with Biggie’s Vocals In the clip shared by Timbaland, he revealed […]

The post Timbaland Faces Backlash After Sharing AI-Generated Song With Notorious B.I.G.’s Vocals appeared first on SOHH.com.

Timbaland Never Got To Work With The Notorious BIG So He Used AI To ‘Collaborate’ With Him Instead

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Over the past few years, rap fans have unfortunately gotten plenty of calls to debate the ethics of posthumously releasing an artist’s works — especially when it comes to collaborations that the artist may not have approved. With the advent of AI technologies that reproduce artists’ voices and likenesses, that debate has heated up a lot lately.

The latest figure in hip-hop to join the debate is Timbaland, who used AI to “collaborate” with The Notorious B.I.G. — someone he never got the chance to work with in real life before Biggie died. He shared part of the song, in which Big’s voice shouts out artists he never lived to see such as Nipsey Hussle and Young Dolph, on Instagram, saying:

We know that it’s a lot of talk about AI and we know how the feelings of violating certain things. But let me tell you something: I got a solution, I’m working on it. It’s gon’ be beneficial to everybody. I gotta share something I’ve been working on because I always wanted to do this and I never got a chance to. I always wanted to work with Big and I never got a chance to.

Fans on social media have received the “collaboration” with some trepidation — people who pay for Twitter Blue aside — pointing out that although the machine-learning algorithm can reproduce Christopher Wallace’s voice, Tim’s still just talking to a computer simulacrum.

Timbaland Creates Dream Collab With AI Biggie

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The use of AI in the music industry has already raised concerns but for producers and songwriters, it’s become an incredible tool for their craft. Timbaland, for example, never had the opportunity to work with the late Biggie Smalls. However, with the help of AI, he created a dream collaboration with the late Brooklyn artist. “We know that it’s a lot of talk about AI and we know how the feelings of violating certain things,” he said. “But let me tell you something: I got a solution, I’m working on it. It’s gon’ be beneficial to everybody.”

“I gotta share something I’ve been working on because I always wanted to do this and I never got a chance to. I always wanted to work with Big and I never got a chance to,” he added before playing the record. Timbaland pairs AI Biggie with his signature futuristic style of production as the late rapper’s voice shouts out Young Dolph, Nipsey Hussle, and Pop Smoke. Although it’s a cool experiment, it still raises red flags surrounding how AI can easily replicate an artist’s voice without their consent or approval.

Timbaland & AI Biggie Collab

The comment section of Timbaland’s post was met with mixed reception. Some people, like Offset, called the AI collab “hard” but there were still plenty of others who felt a type of way. A few people went as far as calling it disrespectful. Still, Timbaland appeared to be excited about what he created. “This rite here @creatrgod @youngguru763 I had too,” he wrote, tagging Jay-Z’s engineer who has been strongly against the use of AI to replicate artist’s voices. 

At this point, it’s unclear what Timbaland’s solution for AI but it seems like something the music industry might need now more than ever. In the past month, Universal Music Group took action against the rise of AI songs, specifically those using the voices of artists like Drake and The Weeknd. Drake has grown frustrated with the technology after they used his voice to cover Ice Spice’s “Munch.” However, UMG called on Spotify and other streaming companies to take action and block AI-generated songs. Check out Timbaland’s post above. 

Timbaland Hires Public Speaking Coach

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Timbaland is someone we know for making the beats of our favorite songs. He’s always been the strong silent type. Even in music videos, half the time, Timbaland is doing his trademark raised eyebrow and that’s it. Moreover, Timbo is making efforts to change that. In a recent interview with Variety, the super producer shared that he has spent time working on his public persona.

Additionally, Timbaland mentioned that he needed to do this due to his being naturally introverted. “I’ve never felt great in my speaking,” the platinum producer told the publication. “And [in interviews], the old Tim used to be real short with my answers, a little grumpy, never elaborate,” Timbaland continued. Not only that, the “Try Again” producer further explained he’s an introvert at his core and expresses himself through his music. Secondly, Tim continued sharing with Variety that he’s realizing people want to hear him speak.

Timbaland’s Been Working On Himself

Timbaland attends the <a href=Rihanna Party.” class=”wp-image-669371″ srcset=”https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Timbaland-Attending-Rhianna-Party.jpg 1024w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Timbaland-Attending-Rhianna-Party.jpg?resize=300,215 300w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Timbaland-Attending-Rhianna-Party.jpg?resize=768,551 768w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px” />
Timbaland attends the Rihanna Party at The New York Edition on September 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for EDITION)

He told the outlet, “God has allowed me to articulate it in a way that has the feeling of my music.” However, Timbaland did reveal that he wasn’t 100% comfortable when it came to his public speaking. Even the interview he was doing with Variety he wasn’t all the way comfortable he admitted. Moreover, the hitmaker also expressed that he was entertaining the idea of getting a public speaking coach. He said he wanted to learn even more about public speaking. “So, for me, it’s been like therapy,” Timbaland told the outlet.

“I ain’t there yet – I’m not gonna get up and be giving speeches, but now it’s an uncomfortable-comfortable position,” the 51-year-old noted. Along with improving his public speaking, Tim’s been busy working on new music. He mentioned in the interview that he was currently working on some new stuff with Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot (classics loading). When asked what the new JT collab was going to sound like, the super producer said “It’s fun Justin.” Furthermore, he elaborated that the album wouldn’t be too heavy and have a lot of FutureSex/LoveSounds (their blockbuster collaboration). Are you ready for more music from Timbaland?

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Timbaland’s Biggest Hit Was Made By Accident

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Timbaland is easily one of the greatest producers in the game. He’s helped produce some of the most timeless classics. Not only that, Timbaland’s production style is second to none. Recently, the iconic producer sat down with the I AM Hip-Hop podcast, and revealed how one of his biggest hits with the late Aaliyah came about. Accordingly, the hit record “Try Again” was made by mistake by Timbaland messing around on the keyboard.

“I was playing with the keyboard and it was a mistake, and my engineer Jimmy Douglass caught it,” he began. “I said ‘Jimmy did you catch that lil rhythm?’ [and] he said ‘I sure did,’” Timbaland told the podcast. He continued, “So [after] he caught it and played it back, I put the beat on it. I said ‘Ooo chop it right there,’ and he chopped it right there.’” Not only that, but Timbaland also shared that the late Static Major penned the verse. He noted it sounded too preachy before the lyrics were revised. Moreover, it was Hov who told him it was a hit. However, it took a little convincing, for he was unsure about the track at the time.

Timbaland Opens Up In New Interview

The legendary producer went on to say, “When Jay-Z came in the studio he was like ‘Oh my God,’ and then I was like, ‘yeah we got one.’” Timbaland has never shied away from talking about the myriad of things regarding his immense catalog and career. The man has a whole masterclass on producing. Later in the interview, the producer titan revealed how he discovered Ludacris while discussing his favorite rappers.

“I was the one that found Ludacris,” said the superproducer. “Because Ludacris was working in the radio station and I was like ‘Hey, ain’t nobody sign you? What’s going on here?’ [He was like], ‘nah man’.” He told the podcasters, “Then he came down to Virginia and we did ‘Phat Rabbit,’ and from there, labels started calling. Not only that, Timbaland shared that Luda asked him “Would you sign to Elektra or Dej Jam?” He told him to sign with Dej Jam due to his great talent. However, he noted, “I didn’t know how the business go, I just backed them ’cause I knew he was incredible.” What do you think about all of Timbaland’s career stories? Should he get credit for discovering Ludacris? Let us know!

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