Timbaland is one of music’s most prolific producers, however, he’s catching a little heat from Aaliyah fans due to his latest release.
Known for shaping the sound of some of music’s biggest names — Missy Elliot, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, to name a few — Timbo is back in his coaching bag, partnering with L.A.-based singer-songwriter Anna Margo on new song “My Way.”
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“You wanna find out/ If I’m what I seem, what I’m like now/ Oh, you think I’m the vibe now/ And there’s nobody else on your mind now/ So tell me ’bout your big plan,” sings Margo, whose voice softly graces the beat.
She continues: “You wanna see if I’m anything new/ What makes you think I want somethin’ from you?/ Try not to blink when I walk in the room.”
Despite Timbaland’s contributions to some of music’s biggest albums such, and his frequent work with the likes of Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake and Ginuwine, a number of fans weren’t feeling his latest joint — with many branding it a failed attempt at recreating his magic with Aaliyah.
“Tim I know you miss Aaliyah but stop trying remake her. You been giving her songs to anybody. Just stop. Let it go,”one user wrote in the comment section of a Neighborhood Talk repost of the song, while another added: “Not him wasting this beat on this nonsense singer.”
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“You can’t make her be Aaliyah bruh At Least get a black girl. You tried it,” a third commenter wrote. “That’s Ginuwine beat…”not right now I’m busy, call me in the morning….” [laughing face emoji],” added another, pointing to similarities to Ginuwine’s 1999 song “Final Warning.”
Still, there were some among the ranks who felt the criticism aimed at Timbaland was a bit harsh, considering his role in creating Aaliyah’s unique sound.
“Y’all keep saying “it’s giving Aaliyah vibes” but Timbaland WAS the Aaliyah vibe, what you expect?,” wrote one user in defense of Tim. “Why do y’all keep saying he’s trying to remake Aaliyah??? He just used a sample of his own beat from a song he produced for her…” another person wrote.
While Timbaland may not be on the receiving end of some praise with his latest release, he’s not above giving others their flowers.
Earlier this week, Timbaland made an appearance on 99 JAMZ in Miami. While discussing his desire for more album releases from artists of his generation, he created a wave of anticipation for what’s in store from Rick Ross and Meek Mill’s upcoming new album.
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“Like I’ma tell you right now, the Meek [Mill] and [Rick] Ross album,” he said. “That’s what we been missing. Ross giving you that Big Meech Ross. And that’s all we want, we don’t want Ross to sound like Uzi Vert. We don’t hear him on those tracks. We want to hear Ross today. We want to hear that.
“When I hear their album and it’s a masterpiece, just be good at what you good at. Be great at what you great at. Don’t change for nobody. That album says a lot to me because Meek is being Meek whether you like it or not.”
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Timbaland went as far as calling Meek and Rozay’s upcoming Too Good To Be True a “classic.”
“It’s not dated, it sounds current, it sounds fresh and it sounds like a classic,” Timbo testified. “And you could tell the space they’re in. I don’t even have to talk to them or ask what space they’re in, you could hear it through the music.”
