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American producer Timbaland is a groundbreaking songwriter with a distinctive style that came to define much of popular music at the turn of the millennium, futurizing hip-hop while simultaneously crossing over into the worlds of pop and rock. Ascending to the top of the industry in the late '90s, he balanced his in-demand hitmaking abilities with his recognizable production style, yielding an endless list of hits for a select group of affiliates (Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Ginuwine) and a number of other A-list artists (Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Nas), infusing a remarkable sense of individuality and creativity into his productions. His trademark sound featured stuttering, bass-heavy bounce beats offset by resounding high-end synth stabs, all of this often complemented by his signature quiet murmuring beneath the track. Over time, Timbaland began taking an increasingly assembly-line approach to his signature production, working with a team of co-producers and songwriters including Nathaniel "Danjahandz" Hills, the Clutch, and Justin Timberlake. He also began producing a wider array of acts, ranging from alternative icons Björk, Chris Cornell, and M.I.A. to mainstream pop acts the Fray, Nelly Furtado, and Madonna.

Born Timothy Zachery Mosley in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1972, he got his start as a DJ when he was still a teenager. His earliest collaborators included his high school pal Melvin Barcliff, who the world would later be known as rapper and musical partner Magoo, as well as his cousin Pharrell Williams in the production crew S.B.I. Making a steady climb through the ranks with some help from Jodeci's DeVante Swing, who recruited the young producer for work on efforts for his Swing Mob label, Timbaland soon broke through as a major player with tracks for Missy ("The Rain"), Aaliyah ("If Your Girl Only Knew"), and Ginuwine ("Pony"). Once he established himself with these three, he began working with industry heavyweights like Jay-Z ("Big Pimpin'"), Nas ("You Won't See Me Tonight"), Snoop Dogg ("Snoop Dogg [What's My Name, Pt. 2]"), and Ludacris ("Rollout [My Business]"). He also worked with regional artists such as Petey Pablo ("Raise Up"), Pastor Troy ("Are We Cuttin'"), and Tweet ("Oops [Oh My]"). As a result of his exceptional success as a producer, Timbaland eventually established his own record label, Beat Club, and began unveiling his own stable of artists that included Bubba Sparxxx and Ms. Jade.

In the midst of his production work, he began to release his own material. From 1997 to 2003, he issued three Timbaland & Magoo albums (while 1998's Tim's Bio was a solo album in name). Meanwhile, his studio wizardy began to impact the pop mainstream with notable 2006 albums such as Timberlake's Grammy-winning FutureSex/LoveSounds and Furtado's Grammy-nominated Loose, as well as the alternative charts with contributions to Björk's Volta and M.I.A.'s Kala in 2007. That same year, he dropped Timbaland Presents Shock Value, scoring additional radio hits with the U.S. chart-topping "Give It to Me," featuring Furtado and Timberlake, and "The Way I Are," with Keri Hilson and D.O.E. While 2009's Shock Value II didn't reach the same heights as its predecessor, Timbaland still managed to enlist an impressive roster of talent, from old collaborators Timberlake and Furtado to Drake, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and even rock acts like Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger and Australian band Jet. That year he also turned heads with the controversial pop turn for Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell (his solo effort Scream), while delivering Hilson's official debut and working with Shakira and Wyclef Jean.

Into the 2010s, he would continue to produce singles like "Talk That" with T-Pain; "Pass at Me" with Pitbull; "Break Ya Back" with Dev; and "Know 'Bout Me" with Jay-Z, Drake, and James Fauntleroy. Notable albums during the decade included Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience, Jay-Z's Magna Carta... Holy Grail, Beyonce's game-changing self-titled surprise drop, and Tee Grizzley's Scriptures. He also issued another "solo" set heavy on features, 2015's mixtape King Stays King, and contributed heavily to the music for the hit television series Empire.

Timbaland kicked off the 2020s with production for Megan Thee Stallion, Teyana Taylor, 6lack, Burna Boy, J. Cole, Jack Harlow, and others, though his output was not as prolific as in decades past. In 2023, he reunited with Furtado and Timberlake for the single "Keep Going Up" and contributed to the soundtrack to the film remake of The Color Purple. ~ Neil Z. Yeung & Jason Birchmeier

Justin Timberlake is one of the most recognizable pop stars of his generation, jumping from platform to platform on his way to establishing himself as something bigger than a star: he is a self-sustained empire. Timberlake began his rise on television, performing on The New Mickey Mouse Club as a child in the '90s, but he earned his superstardom as one of the frontmen for *NSYNC, one of the most popular boy bands at the turn of the millennium. Stepping away from the band just as its popularity crested, he released the sleek Justified in 2002. Its hit singles "Cry Me a River" and "Rock Your Body" established him as a force outside the group and he consolidated that success in 2006 with FutureSex/LoveSounds, the album that generated his biggest hit to date, "SexyBack." After reaching this peak, he decided to pursue other ventures, choosing to concentrate on acting and entrepreneurship. Recurring appearances on Saturday Night Live proved to be among the show's most popular spots and he received acclaim for his performance in the 2010 Oscar-winning film The Social Network. After juggling numerous ventures outside the music industry, Timberlake returned to the top of the charts with help from Timbaland, releasing 2013's two-part 20/20 Experience and 2018's Man of the Woods. He also scored an enduring crossover hit with "Can't Stop the Feeling!" off the soundtrack to the Trolls movie in which he also starred. Along with the Trolls franchise, Timberlake garnered more critical acclaim for his roles in 2021's Palmer and 2023's Reptile, before returning to music with 2023's "Keep Going," a reunion with Timbaland and Nelly Furtado. That same year, he reunited with *NSYNC, releasing the song "Better Place" for the Trolls Band Together soundrack, and made his own solo comeback in 2024 with Everything I Thought It Was.

Timberlake's journey to stardom began in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was born on January 31, 1981. He began performing early, appearing on the televised talent competition Star Search at the age of 11, singing under the name of Justin Randall. This was his first step into the big leagues, leading to him securing a spot on The New Mickey Mouse Club in 1993. This cast would prove to be filled with future stars; in addition to Timberlake there were the pop singers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, actor Ryan Gosling, and JC Chasez, who'd later join Justin in *NSYNC, the group manager Lou Pearlman assembled in the late '90s. Pearlman formed *NSYNC after the cancellation of The New Mickey Mouse Club in 1994, taking Timberlake and Chasez as his anchors and adding Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick.

*NSYNC began their march toward stardom in 1996 when their first album appeared in Europe. Two years later, their eponymous debut was released in the U.S. and the group scored hits with "Tearin' Up My Heart," "I Want You Back," and "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You." The latter reached the Top Ten, paving the way for the smash success of No Strings Attached in 2000. Within one week of its March 2000 release, the album sold an astonishing 2.4 million copies and set a record that stood for 15 years. After generating the singles "It's Gonna Be Me" and "Bye Bye Bye," the group set to work on its next album, 2001's Celebrity. It was another massive hit, launching the Top Ten singles "Pop," "Gone," and "Girlfriend, but it proved to be the group's last album, as Timberlake's popularity was quickly eclipsing that of the rest of the group.

It didn't take long for Justin to release his first solo album. Justified appeared a little over a year after Celebrity and its gleaming, stylish surfaces -- partially produced by the Neptunes and partially produced by Timbaland -- suggested a new, mature, adventurous musician who was as much an R&B vocalist as he was a pop singer. Timberlake supported the album with a co-headlining tour with Christina Aguilera in 2003 and he ruled the airwaves with the singles "Like I Love You," "Cry Me a River," Señorita," and "Rock Your Body," not to mention the "I'm Lovin' It" jingle for McDonalds. He weathered a scandal in early 2004 when he tore off part of Janet Jackson's costume during their half-time duet at Super Bowl XXXVIII, but he bounced back nicely, winning Grammys that year for Justified and "Cry Me a River." He also launched William Rast, a clothing line.

As he worked on his second album with producer Timbaland, Timberlake found time to resume his acting career, taking on key roles in Southland Tales, Black Snake Moan, and Alpha Dog. Before any of these films appeared, his second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, was released, preceded by the single "SexyBack," a cool synthesized groove in the vein of Prince that established the tone for the album. "SexyBack" stayed at number one for seven weeks and its two sequels, "My Love" and "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around Interlude," also reached number one over the following year, a year that also saw Justin launch an international tour in support of the album.

Following the completion of the FutureSex/LoveSounds tour, Timberlake slowly stepped away from music, though he was featured on three major 2007-2008 pop hits: Timbaland's "Give It to Me" (number one), 50 Cent's "Ayo Technology" (number five), and Madonna's "4 Minutes" (number three). He had other musical endeavors over the next few years, but his main focus was acting. In 2007 he had a voice role in Shrek 3, and in 2008 had a lead part in Mike Myers' The Love Guru. Two years later, Timberlake had his greatest acting success as Sean Parker in David Fincher's The Social Network; he quickly followed this with roles in Bad Teacher and Friends with Benefits. During this period, he also appeared several times on Saturday Night Live.

In January 2013, after investing in three Los Angeles and New York restaurants, he released a new single, "Suit & Tie," co-produced with Timbaland. Along with a glitzy performance at the 2013 Grammy Awards and another SNL appearance, it set the stage for The 20/20 Experience, released that March. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and eventually went double platinum, driven by Top Five showings for its singles, "Suit & Tie" and "Mirrors." Two months later, the Coen Brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis, in which he co-starred, premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix. Part two of The 20/20 Experience, recorded during the same session that resulted in the first, was released that September. It followed the first to the top of the charts, and produced three Top 40 singles, "Take Back the Night," "TKO," and "Not a Bad Thing."

In 2014, Timberlake returned to the Top Ten as a featured guest on "Love Never Felt So Good," a track from Michael Jackson's posthumous album Xscape. "Can't Stop the Feeling!," recorded for the soundtrack of Trolls (a DreamWorks production in which Timberlake provided one of the lead voices), topped the pop chart months ahead of the film's 2016 theatrical release. It also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and took home the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Timberlake also co-composed the soundtrack for The Book of Love, a film co-produced and co-starring his wife, Jessica Biel, released later that year.

In 2018, Timberlake returned with the Danja- and Timbaland-produced "Filthy." "Supplies" and the Chris Stapleton collaboration "Say Something" followed shortly thereafter as the second and third previews of Man of the Woods. Released in February 2018, the album coincided with the singer's halftime performance at Super Bowl LII. It topped the Billboard 200, while "Say Something" garnered a Grammy-nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The following year, Timberlake was bestowed an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.

In 2020, he reprised his voice role in the animated sequel film Trolls World Tour, for which he also produced much of the soundtrack, contributing the singles "The Other Side" (with SZA) and "Don't Slack" (with Anderson .Paak). He then paired with Ant Clemons for the single "Better Days" and peformed the song at President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. He later returned to acting, starring in the drama Palmer, followed by the 2023 crime thriller Reptile. That September, Timberlake reunited with his *NSYNC bandmates and released the song "Better Place" as part of the Trolls Band Together soundtrack. It was the group's first recording together in over 20 years. That same month, he also reunited with Timbaland and Nelly Furtado for the single "Keep Going Up." He closed the year by hopping on a remix of Jung Kook's "3D."

Timberlake kicked off 2024 with his fifth solo full-length, Everything I Thought It Was, which included the midtempo comeback ballad "Selfish" and guests Fireboy DML, Tobe Nwigwe, and *NSYNC. The set was also featured writing and production by the likes of Calvin Harris, Cirkut, and frequent collaborators Danja and Timbaland. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Drifting between dance clubs and pastoral introspection, Nelly Furtado combines a folkie sensitivity with a visceral pop sensibility. Initially, Furtado separated these two sides of her musical personality. Whoa, Nelly!, her 2001 debut, reveled in a neo-hippie multicultural aesthetic that crystallized on her breakthrough hits "Turn Off the Light" and "I'm Like a Bird." A few years later, Loose -- her biggest and most enduring commercial hit -- found Furtado collaborating with hip-hop producer Timbaland, resulting in such sexually-charged smashes as "Promiscuous" and "Maneater." The artistic evolution cemented her status as one of the most unpredictable pop musicians of her era, a position she consolidated in subsequent years by proudly displaying her Portuguese heritage while splicing her knack for elliptical, memorable melodies with her facility with modern R&B. These gifts were evident on such releases as 2009's Spanish-language Mi Plan, 2017's The Ride, and 2024's 7.

A native of the Canadian city of Victoria, Furtado was a musically precocious child, learning to play a variety of instruments and singing in choirs, spending as much time listening to modern R&B like Mariah Carey and TLC as she did Brit-pop, eventually winding her way toward hip-hop and Brazilian music. Upon her high school graduation, she headed to Toronto, soon joining the hip-hop duo Nelstar. Not long afterward, the duo of Brian West and Gerald Eaton, core members of the Philosopher Kings, produced the Furtado demo that led to her contract with DreamWorks.

Whoa, Nelly!, her first album, appeared in late 2000 and DreamWorks built the album gradually, capitalizing on strong reviews and a supporting slot for Moby, with the record truly taking off when "I'm Like a Bird" turned into a hit on a road that led to a Grammy for Song of the Year. This was one of four Grammy nominations and several hits including "Turn Off the Light," which displayed her rhythmic roots in a way "I'm Like a Bird" did not.

Furtado had a daughter as she was working on her second album, and her new role as a mother was evident on Folklore. Released in November 2003, it was an ambitious album with a world music aesthetic that garnered some good reviews along with some negative notices, and it failed to generate a hit. The album also suffered from under-promotion due to DreamWorks' acquisition by Universal Music Group, a situation that eventually led to Furtado landing at Geffen Records. Nonetheless, Folklore garnered some positive attention, with the single "Força" used as the theme to the 2004 European Football Championship.

Perhaps the under-performance and troubled release of that album pushed Furtado toward the musical makeover of Loose, the 2006 effort produced largely by hip-hop superstar Timbaland. Heavy on grooves and overtly sexual, Loose had a pair of smash singles: "Promiscuous," which was a chart-topper in the U.S., and "Maneater," which performed the same feat in the U.K. Both singles set the soundtrack for 2006 around the world, helping the album shift seven million copies internationally. Her star status fortified, Furtado took her time delivering a follow-up, releasing her first Spanish-language album, Mi Plan, in September 2009. A collection of remixes from Mi Plan appeared a year later, followed just a few weeks later by The Best of Nelly Furtado.

Her fifth studio album, the largely positive and upbeat The Spirit Indestructible, was released in fall 2012. Executive produced by Furtado, the album also showcased collaborations with a bevy of studio heavy weights, including Darkchild, Salaam Remi, Bob Rock, Fraser T. Smith, John Shanks, Tiësto, and others. The album produced several singles, including "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)," and while it failed to match the commercial success of Loose, it garnered favorable attention, including a nomination for Pop Album of the Year at the Juno Awards in 2013.

Furtado continued to make live concert appearances over the next several years, including singing the Canadian National Anthem at the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto. Also in 2016, she severed ties with Interscope, announced her sixth studio album The Ride, and released the moody, synth-inflected single "Pipe Dreams." Produced by John Congleton, The Ride appeared in early 2017.

After a five-year break, Furtado re-emerged by guesting at a July 2022 Toronto concert by Drake, an appearance that led to solo concerts in 2023. That year, she also released a pair of collaborative singles: she sang on Dom Dolla's hit "Eat Your Man" and "Keep Going Up," a single that reunited her with Timbaland and also featured Justin Timberlake. She continued in this vein in 2024 with the release of "Gala & Dalí," her third duet with Juanes. Additional collaborations with Tove Lo and SG Lewis ("Love Bites") and Bomba Estéreo ("Corazón") kept her going through the year; both landed on her aptly-titled full-length, 7, which was released that September. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine