Pivot Podcast

Timbaland Musical Mastermind on creating legendary beats with Jay Z, Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake, Aaliyah, battling addiction, rebuilding, describes the crash and burn from top, what saved him, learning to adapt and the future of Versuz's


Listen Later

"You need to see what you are made of. I think everyone needs to go to the top and take a dip....Falling down really determines your true success. How do you get back up?" Timbaland 

 

You know how it goes Pivot Family- 'It’s been a long time, we shouldn’t have left you, without a dope beat to step to'....Well we have that beat, as we welcome entertainment icon, Timbaland to The Pivot as he delivers a masterclass in music, resilience, and reinvention. The Grammy-winning producer sits down with Ryan, Fred and Channing to talk about his legendary career, the price of success, overcoming addiction, and the future of the industry.

 

Raised in Virginia, Timbaland didn’t come from a major music city, but that only made him hungrier. He breaks down how growing up with limited resources forced him to use anything available to him to create a sound that had never been heard before. As a teenager, he was shot in the neck, leaving him temporarily paralyzed on one side, but it didn't slow up his creative drive, it only sharpened his focus, clearing the way for one of the most distinct musical paths. 


Ryan recounts how Timbaland, a musical mastermind, was a soundtrack to life growing up and is behind some of the most memorable hits of our times. With over 18-GRAMMY nominations, 4 GRAMMY wins and 200+ ASCAP Music awards, he shares with the guys how he understands his contributions to the music world and is grateful for working with some of the most successful and legendary artists who always brought out the best in him. 

 

From Jay-Z’s effortless flow to Missy Elliott’s visionary and creativity, Timbaland shares what makes "the Greats" different. He breaks down how he and Missy discovered Aaliyah’s “Try Again” beat, the chemistry behind Justin Timberlake’s biggest hits, the songs he wished he released differently, his in-studio process with Jay Z and why some artists just have an energy that can’t be duplicated.


Timbaland opens up on his dark times, discussing the moment success became too much and admits that at his peak, he let his ego overpower his talent, which allowed addiction to give him a false sense of power. He recalls out-of-body experiences that made him confront how far he had fallen, the loss of reality and how ultimately, it was deep self-reflection, faith and his wife’s voice that brought him back.

 

Despite decades of prominence and success, Timbaland isn’t stuck in the past. He’s studying the next wave of producers, embracing change, and keeping his sound ahead of the curve. He talks about the impact of Versuz's platform that he co-created with Swizz Beatz, how new artists are still trying to replicate his blueprint, and how the secret to true success isn’t about longevity, it’s about knowing how to adapt and elevate.

 

This conversation takes us on a journey through music but also sheds light on lessons of falling, rebuilding, and coming back stronger than ever. As in music and in life, Timbaland’s story is proof that the real beat never stops, sometimes, you just have to find the rhythm again. Don't forget to like and follow us on your audio platform of choice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Pivot PodcastBy It's Never Too Late To Pivot

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

2,915 ratings


More shows like Pivot Podcast

View all
First Take by ESPN, Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim

First Take

5,669 Listeners

The Breakfast Club by iHeartPodcasts

The Breakfast Club

14,276 Listeners

Club 520 Podcast by iHeartPodcasts, The Volume, and Shay Shay Media

Club 520 Podcast

1,313 Listeners

Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles by The Players' Tribune

Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles

3,391 Listeners

Million Dollaz Worth Of Game by Barstool Sports

Million Dollaz Worth Of Game

10,970 Listeners

All The Smoke by The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts

All The Smoke

7,588 Listeners

Club Shay Shay by iHeartPodcasts and Shay Shay Media

Club Shay Shay

7,352 Listeners

KG Certified by Black Effect x All The Smoke Productions

KG Certified

210 Listeners

Gil's Arena by Underdog Fantasy

Gil's Arena

432 Listeners

Nightcap by iHeartPodcasts and Shay Shay Media

Nightcap

1,787 Listeners

7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony by Wave Originals

7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony

533 Listeners

IT IS WHAT IT IS by Ma$e & Cam'ron

IT IS WHAT IT IS

790 Listeners

The Underground Lounge by THEORY COMMUNICATIONS

The Underground Lounge

76 Listeners

4th&1 Podcast with Cam Newton by Iconic Saga

4th&1 Podcast with Cam Newton

91 Listeners

Out the Mud by iHeartPodcasts

Out the Mud

163 Listeners