Timothy Zachary Mosley, known by his professional name [Timbaland](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/timbaland-teaches-producing-and-beatmaking), is a famous music producer and solo artist. Born in 1971 in Norfolk, Virginia, Mosley learned how to use studio equipment from his mentor DeVante Swing, whose mispronunciation of the shoe brand Timberland gave Mosley his name.

Timbaland began his career as one half of the rap duo Timbaland & Magoo, which formed in 1989 with Mosley's friend from high school Melvin Barcliff. Since the early 1990s, Timbaland has produced for Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Nelly Furtado, Jay-Z, Rihanna, One Republic, Kanye West, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, and Beyoncé, and he’s also stretched his boundaries to work with artists like Chris Cornell, Björk, and Coldplay.

Timbaland has been nominated for 21 Grammy Awards, including 5 Album of the Year awards, and has won 4 for his singles. He also started the online hip hop "battle" series “Verzuz” with fellow producer Swizz Beatz. Timbaland also wrote a series of songs for the hit show *Empire*, which follows the dramatic life of a family that runs a successful hip-hop label. 

Timbaland has produced and written an enviable number of chart-topping hits. Below are just a few of the singles that Timbaland has produced for himself and other artists. 

1. __“Pony” by Ginuwine (1996)__: With its signature groovy intro, this Ginuwine song was one of Timbaland's earliest major hits. Still one of Ginuwine's most classic songs, it reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
2. __“Try Again” by Aaliyah (1996)__: Aaliyah's "Try Again" was included on the *Romeo Must Die* soundtrack but became a hit single in its own right, reaching number one on the  Billboard Hot 100. The groovy intro samples Timbaland rapping the opening verse of Eric B & Rakim’s song “I Know You Got Soul.”
3. __“Work It” by Missy Elliott (2002)__: Timbaland collaborated on several of rapper Missy Elliott's biggest hip-hop hits, including the legendary single “Work It”, which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song.
4. __“Cry Me A River” by Justin Timberlake (2002)__: This Justin Timberlake ballad about a tumultuous break-up has a soulful beat and glossy production thanks to Timbaland’s influence. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
5. __“Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado (2006)__: Timbaland makes a cameo as a suave man courting Nelly Furtado’s “promiscuous girl” in this beat-driven single from her third album "Loose.” The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
6. __“Sexyback” by Justin Timberlake (2006)__: This single off of the hit *FutureSex/LoveSounds* album was Timbaland and Timberlake's most successful collaboration, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying on the charts for 7 weeks. The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
7. __“The Way I Are” by Timbaland (2007)__: This track was the second one released off of Timbaland's *Shock Value* album, featuring Keri Hilson as Timbaland’s romantic counterpart. It peaked at number 3 on the Hot 100.
8. __“Apologize” by Timbaland feat. One Republic (2007)__: Though Timbaland is known for his dance songs, one of his biggest hits was this ballad that was a collaboration with alt-rock band One Republic, which sat on the Billboard Hot 100 list for 47 consecutive weeks.
9. __“Give It To Me” by Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake (2008)__: Tim worked with his frequent collaborators Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake on this club-friendly track that was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

As well as his hit single collaborations, Timbaland has released his own albums and mixtapes:

- __*Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment* (1998)__: Timbaland’s debut album is a compilation of songs that were primarily produced for other artists, including Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, and Ginuwine. It reached number 41 in the U.S. charts.
- __*Shock Value* (2007)__: Timbaland's second album—and his first solo album—was his most successful, reaching number 5 on the U.S. charts and going triple Platinum. It featured hits songs including "Give It To Me," "Apologize," and "The Way I Are."
- __*Shock Value II* (2009)__: This album reached number 36 on the Billboard charts and included singles such as "Carry Out" with Justin Timberlake, "If We Ever Meet Again" with Katy Perry, and "Say Something" with Drake. 

Become a better musician with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Timbaland, St. Vincent, deadmau5, Itzhak Perlman, Herbie Hancock, Tom Morello, and more.
Timbaland is a popular music super-producer, collaborating with some of music's biggest stars to create chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit.

Timbaland is a popular music super-producer, collaborating with some of music's biggest stars to create chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit.

Timbaland Songs: 9 Top Singles Produced by Timbaland

Timothy Zachary Mosley, known by his professional name <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/timbaland-teaches-producing-and-beatmaking' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/timbaland-teaches-producing-and-beatmaking","linkCopy":"Timbaland","category":null}'>Timbaland</a>, is a famous music producer and solo artist. Born in 1971 in Norfolk, Virginia, Mosley learned how to use studio equipment from his mentor DeVante Swing, whose mispronunciation of the shoe brand Timberland gave Mosley his name.Timbaland began his career as one half of the rap duo Timbaland &amp; Magoo, which formed in 1989 with Mosley&#39;s friend from high school Melvin Barcliff. Since the early 1990s, Timbaland has produced for Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Nelly Furtado, Jay-Z, Rihanna, One Republic, Kanye West, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, and Beyoncé, and he’s also stretched his boundaries to work with artists like Chris Cornell, Björk, and Coldplay.Timbaland has been nominated for 21 Grammy Awards, including 5 Album of the Year awards, and has won 4 for his singles. He also started the online hip hop &quot;battle&quot; series “Verzuz” with fellow producer Swizz Beatz. Timbaland also wrote a series of songs for the hit show Empire, which follows the dramatic life of a family that runs a successful hip-hop label.

A Brief Introduction to Timbaland

Timbaland has produced and written an enviable number of chart-topping hits. Below are just a few of the singles that Timbaland has produced for himself and other artists. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. “Pony” by Ginuwine (1996): With its signature groovy intro, this Ginuwine song was one of Timbaland&#39;s earliest major hits. Still one of Ginuwine&#39;s most classic songs, it reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. “Try Again” by Aaliyah (1996): Aaliyah&#39;s &quot;Try Again&quot; was included on the Romeo Must Die soundtrack but became a hit single in its own right, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The groovy intro samples Timbaland rapping the opening verse of Eric B &amp; Rakim’s song “I Know You Got Soul.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. “Work It” by Missy Elliott (2002): Timbaland collaborated on several of rapper Missy Elliott&#39;s biggest hip-hop hits, including the legendary single “Work It”, which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. “Cry Me A River” by Justin Timberlake (2002): This Justin Timberlake ballad about a tumultuous break-up has a soulful beat and glossy production thanks to Timbaland’s influence. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado (2006): Timbaland makes a cameo as a suave man courting Nelly Furtado’s “promiscuous girl” in this beat-driven single from her third album &quot;Loose.” The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. “Sexyback” by Justin Timberlake (2006): This single off of the hit FutureSex/LoveSounds album was Timbaland and Timberlake&#39;s most successful collaboration, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying on the charts for 7 weeks. The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. “The Way I Are” by Timbaland (2007): This track was the second one released off of Timbaland&#39;s Shock Value album, featuring Keri Hilson as Timbaland’s romantic counterpart. It peaked at number 3 on the Hot 100. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 8. “Apologize” by Timbaland feat. One Republic (2007): Though Timbaland is known for his dance songs, one of his biggest hits was this ballad that was a collaboration with alt-rock band One Republic, which sat on the Billboard Hot 100 list for 47 consecutive weeks. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 9. “Give It To Me” by Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake (2008): Tim worked with his frequent collaborators Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake on this club-friendly track that was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. </li></ol>

9 Top Timbaland Singles

As well as his hit single collaborations, Timbaland has released his own albums and mixtapes:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Tim&#39;s Bio: Life from da Bassment (1998): Timbaland’s debut album is a compilation of songs that were primarily produced for other artists, including Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, and Ginuwine. It reached number 41 in the U.S. charts. </li><li class="">Shock Value (2007): Timbaland&#39;s second album—and his first solo album—was his most successful, reaching number 5 on the U.S. charts and going triple Platinum. It featured hits songs including &quot;Give It To Me,&quot; &quot;Apologize,&quot; and &quot;The Way I Are.&quot; </li><li class="">Shock Value II (2009): This album reached number 36 on the Billboard charts and included singles such as &quot;Carry Out&quot; with Justin Timberlake, &quot;If We Ever Meet Again&quot; with Katy Perry, and &quot;Say Something&quot; with Drake. </li></ul>

Timbaland’s Discography

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Timbaland is a popular music super-producer, collaborating with some of music&#39;s biggest stars to create chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit.

Timbaland is a popular music super-producer, collaborating with some of music's biggest stars to create chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit.
