Photo: Marcin Kadziolka / Shutterstock.com
Our Top 10 Timbaland Songs list takes a look at a multi-faceted artist. He is a producer, rapper, singer and executive. He has written songs for himself as well as other artists. Between his work as well as his work with other artists, he has sold over 32 million albums worldwide. Some of the artists he has worked with are Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna, Madonna, Jay-Z, Pussycat Dolls, Usher, XScape, as well as other artists.
Timbaland was born Timothy Zachery Mosley on March 10, 1972. He grew up with rappers Missy Elliott and Magoo. When Timbaland was 19, he learned how to become a musician. DeVante Swing from Jodeci helped Timbaland get his start in the music business. Timbaland got his name when DeVante Swing mispronounced Timberland. He got in the music business when he worked with Aaliyah on her One In a Million album. He was part of a rap duo with Magoo. They released a couple of albums together. In addition to releasing albums, he wrote and produced tracks with Missy Elliott. They collaborated for years with some of the biggest artists in music. They helped put stars on the map.
Timbaland released Tim’s Bio: Life from da Basement in 1998. It peaked at number 11 on the r&b charts and number 41 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Here We Come,” “Keep It Real,” “Lobster & Skrimp” and “Can’t Nobody.” This album didn’t make him a household name. He was more known for writing for other people than being an artist. He would gain more success with his next album Shock Value.
Shock Value was released in 2007. It peaked at number three on the r&b charts and number five on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Give It to Me,” “The Way I Are,” “Throw It on Me,” “Apologize (Remix)” and “Scream.” The album sold over three million copies.
Shock Value II was released in 2009. It peaked at number seven on the r&b charts and number 36 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Morning After Dark,” “Say Something,” “Carry Out” and “If We Ever Meet Again.” This album didn’t do as well as his previous album.
Timbaland is a sought after writer and producer. He has made his mark in music. He has worked with a lot of artists throughout his career. He has the ability to create hits for a wide variety of people. In addition to writing and producing for other artists, he is also an artist. This Top 10 Timbaland Songs list will feature songs he wrote and produced for himself as well as other artists.
# 10 – Anonymous – Bobby Valentino ft. Timbaland
The first song on our Top 10 Timbaland Songs list is “Anonymous” from Bobby Valention’s Special Occasion album. The song has an r&b, hip-hop and pop beat. The lustful song is about him wanting to find the girl he hooked up with. He had a good time with her, but he never got a chance to get her name. He has been with other women, but this woman means a lot to him. The melody of the song is similar to Justin Timberlake’s “My Love.” Timbaland produced “My Love” so that explains the similarities in the two songs.
This song has Timbaland written all over it. It has the classic Timbaland sound. It features a beatbox and a futuristic sound. The beatbox is similar to what appears in Aaliyah’s songs that Timbaland produced. This track is perfect for chilling out with your friends or at a cookout. This is one of the highlights of Bobby Valentino’s album. This song has great crossover appeal because it can appeal to fans of r&b and hip-hop. The music has a thumping beat and hypnotic synths.
Timbaland has an ear for music. He knows what works and what doesn’t. Bobby Valentino does a good job on the vocals. Timbaland is right at home with his rhymes. He rhymes in time with the music. He isn’t in the song that much, but he does a great job with what he does while he’s rapping.
# 9 – Wait a Minute – Pussycat Dolls ft. Timbaland
The next song on our Top 10 Timbaland Songs list is “Wait a Minute” from the Pussycat Dolls’ album PCD. The song has an r&b and pop beat. The assertive song is about the differences between men and women. The woman doesn’t want to be used while the guy thinks she is a gold digger. She doesn’t care how much money he spends on her. She doesn’t want him to think he can buy her with his money. She doesn’t want his money. She wants the real thing from him. It is a tongue-in-cheek song that is meant to poke fun at dating.
The music is a departure from Timbaland’s classic sound. This didn’t have to be a Timbaland song if he wasn’t featured in the song. The beat is very dance friendly. You can get on the dance floor with this track. It will have you turning up the volume so you can hear it loud. It is perfect for the club or for chilling out at home. Timbaland doesn’t rap in this song. He tries his hand at singing. He has a good singing voice. He isn’t the best singer in the world, but he does have a decent voice. He is using AutoTune, but he doesn’t go overboard with it. His voice blends well with the music.
Nicole Scherzinger does a great job with her vocals. She sings with the sass needed to pull off her character in the song. She sings in a way that will make you want to sing along with her. The Pussycat Dolls harmonize well in the background. They do a great job supporting Timbaland and Nicole Scherzinger in the background.
# 8 – Icebox – Omarion ft. Timbaland
This somber song is from Omarion’s 21 album. The song has a contemporary r&b beat. This is a melancholic song about his heart being hardened because of a former girlfriend. She broke his heart so now he doesn’t care about love. This subject has been done before, but Omarion manages to make it sound like a fresh take on the subject. This is one of Omarion’s biggest hit singles. This song has hit written all over it. It is something that you can hear on the radio. It’s an r&b song, but it has pop appeal.
This sounds like a song Timbaland would have written for Justin Timberlake. The music didn’t really sound like it has the signature Timbaland sound. It does have a mini beatbox in the background, but that’s pretty much the only indicator that the music was done by Timbaland. The music changes throughout the song. It starts off as a mid-tempo song in the verses, but speeds up in the chorus. Omarion’s vocal tone is phenomenal. He delivers as he pours his heart out in the song. He makes you feel the pain he is going through with his break up.
He does an excellent job on the chorus as he speeds up the lyrics without missing a beat. He sings it fast so you might have a little trouble keeping up with him. Timbaland magnificently produced the track. Timbaland played to Omarion’s vocal strengths. Timbaland adds the ad libs in the track. He also sings the bridge. Omarion and Timbaland’s vocals compliment each other very well.
# 7 – What About Us – Total ft. Timbaland and Missy Elliott
The anthemic song is from the Soul Food soundtrack. The song has an r&b beat. The complex song is about a man who cheats on his woman. The slinky song questions why men are willing to risk their relationship by cheating. This song was written for the movie, but it is relatable to anyone who is dealing with infidelity. The music has Timbaland’s signature sound. It has a classic 90s r&b sound. The melody is similar to SWV’s “Can We.” It features the drums, bass and acoustic guitar.
It all combines to create a futuristic sound. It is great for dancing. Timbaland and Missy Elliott have worked together on many tracks. They did a great job with this one. This is one of their earlier hits. Total do a great job vocally. All three of the singers get a chance to sing lead in the song. This is something that didn’t happen too often with girl groups. There was usually one lead singer while the others sang background. This song gives you a chance to hear all of their voices.
They all sound sassy and sing the song with attitude. Timbaland does the beatbox and spoken word. His smooth voice sounds great with the beat. Missy Elliott also does a spoken word throughout the song. This is one of Timbaland’s underrated hits. It doesn’t get the recognition that it deserves. It is a banger and gets overshadowed by his other hit singles.
# 6 – We Need a Resolution – Aaliyah ft. Timbaland
The drama filled song is from Aaliyah’s self-titled album. The song has an r&b beat. This expressive song is about being stuck in a stalled relationship that is going nowhere. She questions why she stays with him even though he treats her badly. She wants to resolve the situation. This song can be therapeutic for anyone who is in a bad relationship and doesn’t know what to do to fix it. Here is some trivia about the song. Aaliyah had to request that she work with Timbaland on this song as well as the album.
Timbaland was having issues with her record company so he wasn’t going to appear on the album. Aaliyah got what she wanted and he was able to do the song for her. The music has a Middle Eastern vibe to it. The music is intoxicating. It features a clarinet, drums and handclaps. It has the Timbaland beatbox sound in the background. It also has the signature futuristic sound. It is something that will have your hips shaking. This song is great for the club.
Aaliyah’s voice sounds like an angel. Her delivery of the song sells it beautifully. Her voice is hypnotic. You could get lost listening to her sing this song. This song demonstrates her strengths as an artist. She sounds similar to Janet Jackson on this track. Timbaland raps in this song. His rhymes blend well with the music. He has excellent vocal timing with the music. Aaliyah and Timbaland worked really well together in this song. The song is decades old, but it still works on radio today. The song will never get old.
# 5 – 4 Minutes – Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland
The next song on our Top 10 Timbaland Songs list is “4 Minutes” from Madonna’s Hard Candy album. The song has a dance pop beat. This is a social song about people suffering in Africa. Madonna went to Africa and saw the way the people were treated. She wanted to write a song about human suffering. She wanted her listeners to know that people were suffering in the world. This is her “Man In The Mirror” song.
Madonna and Timbaland’s style of music couldn’t be more different from each other. She is a pop star while he is an r&b and hip-hop producer. The unlikely pairing managed to make it work. Madonna is known for her suggestive songs so she is basically out of her comfort zone with this social song. She doesn’t do too many songs of this nature so it was a refreshing change for her lyrically. The music is also different for Madonna. This is a stray from her typically pop sound. When the song opens up you wouldn’t think was a song by Madonna .
The music caters more to Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. The music features a catchy marching band beat. The rest of the musical instrumentation is fire. It features cowbells and foghorns, which aren’t usually used in music. The sizzling synths will blow you away. Madonna sounds a little unrecognizable in this track. She sings in a lower register. Justin Timberlake is at home with this track. He sings as well as mini raps. Timbaland sings in the background as well as provides the ad libs. They all combine to make a great song. The chorus is infectious and will stay in your head long after you hear the song.
# 4 – If We Ever Meet Again – ft. Katy Perry
The lustful song is from Timbaland’s Shock Value II album. The song has a dance pop and r&b beat. The lush song is about people who are attracted to each other, but are too shy to do anything about it. Here is some trivia. Timbaland wanted to do a song with good vibes. He wanted his version of Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling.” Lyrically, this song is relatable to anyone who is afraid to approach someone he or she is attracted to.
This song will give people advice on what to do if they get a second chance to approach the person they are attracted to. This song is out of Timbaland’s comfort zone because it is a pop friendly song and not an r&b friendly song. Also, Timbaland and Katy Perry are an unlikely pairing. Despite being an unlikely pairing, they work well together. Musically the song is different from Timbaland’s other tracks.
He wanted to do something different and that is exactly what he did. It doesn’t feature the signature Timbaland sound. It was nice to hear him do more of a pop song because it proved he could do something different. He doesn’t rap in this song. He tries his hand at singing. He uses AutoTune throughout the song. It doesn’t hurt because he doesn’t use it too much. Katy Perry sounds good in the song. She belts throughout the song. The music is loud and she is able to keep up with it. The chorus is very memorable and catchy. It is one of the best parts of the song.
# 3 – Carry Out ft. Justin Timberlake
This metaphoric song is from Timbaland’s Shock Value II album. The song has a hip-hop and crunk beat. The playful song is slang for what they want to do with women. “Carry Out” is a southern term for a restaurant where people come in and get their food. They use a lot of metaphors for sex. This song is definitely geared towards men, but it manages not to objectify women. Timbaland and Justin Timberlake have worked together on many different songs.
This is another collaboration with the duo. It has a Middle Eastern sound that is great for dancing. This song is great for the club scene. This is a departure from Timbaland and Timberlake’s normal sound. They don’t do too many crunk songs so this was different for them. Timbaland is talking and singing throughout the track. He uses AutoTune, but doesn’t go overboard. He always know the right amount of AutoTune to use for a song. He sings in time with the beat changes.
Justin Timberlake sings in a lower register. His vocals are stacked because he has a double. He sings one part of the song in his lower register while he sings the other in his signature falsetto. Timbaland and Justin Timberlake have vocal chemistry with each other. They support each other well throughout the track. Some critics didn’t care for the song, but it is worth checking out.
# 2 – Apologize (Remix)– ft. OneRepublic
The bittersweet song is from the Shock Value album. The song has a pop, r&b and soft rock beat. The break up song is about a painful relationship ending. He wants to move on with his life. This is a remix of OneRepublic’s song. The original version is a more intense version. It’s also a slower version. Timbaland’s version has more tempo in it. There are also more beats mixed in the music, which will allow you to move to the beat.
Here is a fun fact. Timbaland and Ryan Tedder knew each other for years before they did this song. Timbaland used to check on Ryan Tedder when he was a solo artist. “Apologize” was a hit, but Timbaland made the song a bigger hit when he remixed it. It gave OneRepublic a bigger audience. Timbaland kept the vocals from the original version in the remix. Timbaland added rap lyrics to the remix. The rap lyrics add on to the hurt and pain of the situation.
It makes the song sound more heartfelt. It gave the song an urban sound. It also made the song appeal to hip-hop fans. The remix was a good idea because it went on to be a big hit. This version is just as good as the original version. If you are a fan of Timbaland’s music, you may prefer this version of the song.
# 1 – The Way I Are ft. Keri Hilson and D.O.E.
The number one song on our Top 10 Timbaland Songs list is “The Way I Are” from the Shock Value album. The song has a hip-hop and electro beat. This is a sexy song about role reversal. He doesn’t have money and can’t buy her things. She isn’t interested in his money. She said she is willing to pay him. This song is unusual because some women wouldn’t want to be with a man who can’t support her. They usually want a man with money and aren’t always willing to pay for everything.
This is relatable to anyone who is in a similar situation. The music sounds similar to Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back.” The pumping synths are fierce. It will definitely get you on the dance floor. We dare you to sit still while you listen to this hot beat. Timbaland once again tries his hand at singing. He does a good job. D.O.E. provides the rap lyrics. His rhymes are stellar. He raps in time with the beat. The real star of the song is Keri Hilson. She sounds angelic. She sounds like a cross between Janet Jackson and Aaliyah. The only issue with her vocals is she is very hard to understand.
You will definitely need to read the lyrics in order to understand what she is saying. Other than that, her vocals are really good. The song has all the right ingredients to be a big hit. It is no surprise this song is one of Timbaland’s biggest hit singles. The music is banging and the chorus is infectious. Timbaland and Keri Hilson’s vocals are exceptional. This song is worth checking out. If you weren’t a fan of Timbaland’s before you heard the song, it may turn you into one.
Top 10 Timbaland Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business or any organizations is allowed to re-publish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either public domain creative commons photos or licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with ClassicRockHistory.com. All photo credits have been placed at end of article.