Timbaland is similar to producers such as Norman Whitfield in that he helped to redefine the sound of an entire genre of music with an immediately recognizable production style. The songs he produces feature unusual arrangements, sounds, and instrumentation, tied together by a trademark sense of rhythm. Like Spector and Whitfield, Timbaland's production sometimes overshadows the credited performer and becomes the actual "star" of the song. With songwriters Steve "Static" Garrett and childhood friend Missy Elliott, Timbaland has helped to create some of the most successful songs in modern pop music and urban music, including singles for Aaliyah, Ginuwine, SWV, Total, and 702.
Mosley grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, where he became acquainted with Missy Elliott and Melvin Barcliff, whose MC name was "Magoo." Originally a disc jockey known as "DJ Timmy Tim," Mosely began making hip-hop backing tracks on a Casio keyboard he owned. In 1993 Elliott heard his material and, taken by Mosley's unique sense of rhythm, immediately began working with him.
Elliott and her girl group Sista auditioned for DeVante Swing, producer and member of successful R&B act Jodeci. Devante signed Sista to his Swing Mob label, and Elliott brought Mosely and Barcliff along with her. Mosely began working under Devante, who renamed the young producer Timbaland, after the Timberland boot popular in hip-hop fashion.
Sista and Timbaland & Magoo became part of Devante's stable of Swing Mob signees known as "Da Bassment" crew, joining artists and groups such as male singer Ginuwine, male vocal group Playa, and girl group Sugah. Timbaland did production work on a number of projects with Devante, including the 1995 Jodeci LP The Show, The After-Party, The Hotel, and Sista's debut LP, which was shevled and never saw release.
Timbaland was also friends with Pharrell Williams, and had dabbled in projects with him as S.B.I., or Surrounded By Idiots. Pharrell recalls in an interview: "“In seventh grade I met Chad. That’s twenty years ago by now. Like I said earlier, we started producing beats together. But then again, I also played with this famous group which consisted of Timbaland, Magoo, myself and some other guy. Chad wasn’t a part of the group, so I was in The Neptunes and in Surrounded By Idiots at the same time.” A few tracks produced by the group float around on the internet, the most distributed being "Big White Spaceship".
In 1995, most of Devante's acts broke their ties with the producer and went their own ways. Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Playa, and Ginuwine continued to collaborate, and began working on individual projects of their own. Elliott began receiving recognition as a songwriter and guest artist for artists such as 702 and MC Lyte, and Timbaland was sometimes assigned to produce remixes of Elliott-penned songs. One of these, the remix to 702's "Steelo" in 1996, became Timbaland's first important production credit.
Also in 1996, Ginuwine released his debut album, Ginuwine...the Bachelor, which was produced entirely by Timbaland. The album was both a commercial and critical success, and its first single, "Pony," was the first example of what would later become the signature Timbaland sound.
The track for "Pony," which Timbaland had created two years prior during the Swing Mob days, was characterized by a shifting, syncopated rhythm, similar to samba or jungle music, which used snare and kick hits on typically non-accented beats in the measure. Stuttering high-hats typical of southern bass music accompanied the basic drum sounds, which were, unusual for hip-hop and R&B of this period, severely gated to create short, strong sounds. This use of the "short snare" is in marked contrast to the "long snare" sound in New Wave music in the 1980s, which featured a heavily amplified, almost white noise snare drum put through reverb. Accompanying the unusual rhythm were melody lines created by playing odd sound effects (vocal effects and cartoon slide whistles) through a sampling keyboard. The other tracks on Ginuwine...the Bachelor also featured similar production and arrangements. On many of the tracks, Timbaland can be heard either rapping or providing ad-libs, similar to what both Elliott and Puff Daddy where doing at the time; Timbaland's deep voice was usually vocoded to give it an electronic sound.
While work was being completed on Ginuwine...the Bachelor, R&B artist Aaliyah contracted Timbaland and Missy Elliott to write and produce most of her second album, One In A Million. The tracks that were crafted for Aaliyah featured innovative arrangements similar to those on Ginuwine...the Bachelor. One In A Million went on to sell over two million copies, and made superstars out of not only Aaliyah, but Elliott and Timbaland as well.
Elliott and Timbaland became one of the most successful and prolific songwriting/production teams of the late-1990s. By the end of the decade, Timbaland's sound had been heard in records from artists such as SWV, Destiny's Child, Nicole Wray, Jay-Z, Nas. Most of his production work during this period was reserved for his original stable of collaborators: two Missy Elliott albums (Supa Dupa Fly and Da Real World), a second effort by Ginuwine (100% Ginuwine), and Playa's debut album (Cheers 2 U). Timbaland produced much (if not all) of the material on many of their albums during this period, and also made two albums of his own: one with Magoo, and one solo album. Timbaland's own raps, which were usually ghostwritten by Elliott, Magoo, or his younger brother Garland Mosley (AKA Sebastian), were almost always accompanied by other MCs, including his main collaborators and numerous guest artists.
Timbaland spawned a plethora of imitators, some of which went as far as to sample sections of his work to create similar-sounding tracks. The popularity of the "Timbaland sound" marked a shift in hip-hop music from rougher, sample-based tracks to simpler, more synthetic musical accompainiment (unlike many hip-hop producers, Timbaland rarely sampled older records; most of his tracks were crafted by him and his in-house band). Since Timbaland worked in both hip-hop and R&B and often combined elements of one in tracks for the other, his work aided the blending together of the two genres, which became less and less distinct during the first half of the 2000s.
Foreign, especially Asian, instrumentation is present through much of his early work (Xscape's "My Secret" remix, especially, with a rollicking sitar outro and Timbaland ad-libbing "Let's take a little trip...to India"), but was most successful and prevalent with Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'" (1999), which borrowed directly from the song "Khosara" by Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi. Missy Elliott's 2001 hit single, "Get Ur Freak On" from her third album, Miss E...So Addictive, was also likewise a smash, using a speedy dhol drumline typical of Bhangra. His borrowing from these cultures has resulted in mixed reactions, with many critics embracing his musical adventurousness and eclecticism and more esoteric, purist factions reacting catiously, and sometimes negatively. In an interview with Missy Elliott in RayGun Magazine, he mentioned a diverse base of influences, from UK Drum 'N Bass to Garage.
Timbaland-produced songs such as Ludacris' "Roll Out (My Business)," Jay-Z's "Hola' Hovito," Petey Pablo's "Raise Up," and Beck's "Diamond Dogs" were recorded and released during this period, and he contributed to Limp Bizkit's 2001 remix album, New Old Songs. He also contributed three songs--all eventually released as singles--to Aaliyah's self-titled third album.
Timbaland & Magoo's second album together, Indecent Proposal, had been scheduled for release in November 2000, and was to feature appearances by Beck, Aaliyah, and new Timbaland proteges--some of whom were signed to his new Beat Club Records imprint--Ms. Jade, Sebastian, Petey Pablo, and Tweet (who was a member of Sugah during the Swing Mob days). The album was delayed until for an entire year, finally being released the following November, and was a commercial disappointment. Beck's vocals for the track "I Am Music" were not included on the final released version, which instead featured Timbaland singing alongside Static (Steven Garrett) of Playa and Aaliyah, who had been killed in a plane crash three months before the release of the album. The loss of Aaliyah deeply affected Timbaland, whose work was less omnipresent after 2001.
The first release on Beat Club was the debut album by Caucasian MC Bubba Sparxxx in October 2002, Dark Days, Bright Nights. Timbaland contributed three tracks to Tweet's debut album, Southern Hummingbird, and produced most of Missy Elliott's fourth and fifth LPs, Under Construction and This Is Not A Test! He also produced hit singles and album tracks for artists such as Li'l Kim ("The Jump Off") and Pastor Troy during this period. Collaborating with Scott Storch, Timbaland also produced a number of tracks on former *NSYNC lead singer Justin Timberlake's solo debut, Justified, including the hit single "Cry Me a River".
Late in 2003, Timbaland delivered the second Bubba Sparxxx album, Deliverance, and the third Timbaland & Magoo album, Under Construction, Part II. Both albums were released to little fanfare or acclaim even though Deliverance was praised by reviews and embraced by the internet community.
Timbaland continues to produce hit singles and albums for artists; in 2004 Timbaland-produced singles by LL Cool J, Xzibit, and Jay-Z became staples on urban radio, and he produced the bulk of Brandy's fourth album, Afrodisiac. New songs from artists such as Tweet and The Game are set for release in 2005.
2005 saw Timbaland producing a song on Tweet and The Game's albums ("Steer" and "Put You on The Game" respectively). He also produced 2 songs on Missy Elliott's 6th album (The Cookbook), "Joy" featuring Mike Jones and "Partytime."
Timbaland started his new label, Mosely Music Group, once again under Interscope. On the label are singers Nelly Furtado and Keri Hilson, and rapper D.O.E. Timbaland's parternship and mentorship of upcoming producer Nate "Danjahandz" Hills is evident in Timbaland's rejuvination in music.
Furtado looks to have her third album, Loose, released under MMG with in the first half of 2006 with Hilson's debut following shortly after. Timbaland is also slated to work with Justin Timberlake, Hilary Duff as well as albums by Jamie Foxx, JC Chasez, Busta Rhymes, Diddy, Ludacris, Chingy, Chilli of TLC, Tweet, and a lot more.
In 2006, Timbaland produced songs "Promiscuous" "My love" and "Sexyback" topped the charts for over fourteen weeks. In 2007, the tracks "Say It Right" and "What Goes Around" also topped the charts. The year 2007 also saw the release of his album "Timbaland presents Shock Value" which featured Fall Out Boy, The Hives, Elton John, Nicole Scherzinger, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliot, Sebastian (his brother), Keri Hilson, Money, Attitude, and Jim Beanz.
Lobster & Scrimp
Timbaland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh huh uh huh uh, yo!
Yi yea yeah
Yo Timbaland wh, where Missy at?
(Ha ha right here Dawg) Geyeah
Uh huh uh huh uh
Uh huh yaknahmean? (Yeah)
Lobster shrimp nigga I'm a pimp nigga
Yeah c'mon
From the gutter to the rich
From holes in my clothes to the most butter shit
How's life what a bitch
Now I rock ice for the fuck of it
Your wife love my shit, know who you fuckin with?
Jay-hovah, 'fore I never got no play
Now these bitches want to give me more head than Sade
(Say what?) Crisp in the 6 withcha bitch parlayed
I need privacy I pull up the back shade
Initials on the headrest, it's official
Style so sick I need bedrest, nigga I got issues
(Say what?) I hate fake bitches, "you gotta wait" bitches
"I don't know you, I don't fuck on the first date" bitches
(Is that right?) Hot shot niggaz, talk to the cop niggaz
"Money, that's my girl," cock block niggaz
See you in the club, and scheme on your watch niggaz
Talk a lot of shit with, no Glock niggaz
It's Jigga baby, let it be known
I'm the king, I could never be dethroned
Thank God
Uh-huh, yeah yeah yeah
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, yo
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Yo, ain't nothin' changed nigga, you know the name Jigga
And I came to put it down for y'all, what?
Call me, fitty plus, niggas envious
Drop top, Jigga, leave 'em in the dust
You got a lot of crew, do any of 'em bust?
Hell no, Jigga off the hook, "Hello!"
They call me poppy seed, this is hot to me
I got this lock and key, I got cities Under Siege
When I'm in L.A. the six-four is ill
When I'm in the A-T-L it's the Coupe DeVille
When I'm down in Miami, I'm hoppin through
With the all black Ninja with the sock over my shoe
Mami screamin', "Papi chu', who keeps stoppin you?"
And I'm screamin, "Not a cat, Money holla back"
It ain't nothin but beginners, and y'all in the game
But y'all can't ball like Chicago centers
This is it niggaz, get your grip niggaz
It's about to get hot mami, Who You Wit? "Jigga!"
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Ain't nuttin changed nigga, you know the name Jigga
And I came to put it down for y'all
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Ain't nuttin changed nigga, you know the name Jigga
And I came to put it down for y'all
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hear Timbo' on the CB, need some info
Your chick is with you Dawg?
Gotta be, 10-4
I'm in the 5-speed now so I shift to fo'
Mash my foot on the gas til it hit the floor
Tires left skid marks, whoa
Shit's about to start
How we got there?
Snatched the case of Crist' up out the car
Can you stand the rain cause it's pourin now
I hope she likes porno flicks cause she starrin now!
If the answer is no, she speakin foreign now
Just let a brotha know, I turn my car around
Freak or freeze, if the answer really is no
Girl I leave so fast you can speak to my breeze
She said, "You're stressin me now,"
Said, "No No No," then, "Yea yea yea" like she Destiny's Child
We about to cook with no recipe now, to the mornin, then
Let's be out!
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Ain't nuttin changed nigga, you know the name Jigga
And I came to put it down for y'all
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Ain't nuttin changed nigga, you know the name Jigga
And I came to put it down for y'all
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Ain't nuttin changed nigga, you know the name Jigga
And I came to put it down for y'all
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Ain't nuttin changed nigga, you know the name Jigga
And I came to put it down for y'all
That's how we do it y'all
Timbaland, Jay-Z
Two pimps
Two pimps
Two pimps baby
Put it down
Don't you like that?
We like to do it like that
We like to ride these tracks
Uhh, you don't think we two pimps?
Huh, holla back
You know what? Tell you somethin like this
With the Ferraris and Jaguars, switchin four lanes
Ha ha, money ain't a thang
Ha ha, I got no thangs you know what I'm sayin?
You know why? Cause I'm a pimp
And Jay-Z? He's the pimper you know what I'm sayin?
That's how we do it right here in the nine-eight
So we gotta be out let it ride like this
Bounce
In "Lobster & Scrimp," a track by Timbaland and featuring Jay-Z, the rappers boast about their wealth, success, and sexual prowess. The song's chorus utilizes a play on words in which "Lobster & Scrimp" sounds like "Lobster & Shrimp," effectively placing the rappers at the top of the food chain. Throughout the song, the duo assures their listeners that they are dominant and in charge, likening themselves to pimps who can command any woman.
In the first verse, Jay-Z describes his ascent from poverty to riches and the pleasures that come along with it. He brags of the women who desire him and the head-turning effect of his expensive taste. In the second verse, Timbaland describes a sexual encounter with a woman he met at a club, detailing how he "snatched the case of Crist' up out the car" and drove off with her for a night of wanton passion. The song's chorus repeats the refrain of the title, effectively solidifying the message that the two rappers are kings in their own right.
Line by Line Meaning
Lobster shrimp nigga I'm a pimp nigga
I am a pimp and I have the best of the best
Feel the game that I spit lobster shrimp nigga
Listen to my raps, they are like fine dining - luxurious and the best
From the gutter to the rich
I came from nothing to a life of luxury
From holes in my clothes to the most butter shit
I used to have nothing and now I have the best clothes and accessories
How's life what a bitch
Life can be difficult and challenging
Now I rock ice for the fuck of it
I wear expensive jewelry just for the fun of it
Your wife love my shit, know who you fuckin with?
Your wife is attracted to me, so be aware of who you are dealing with
Jay-hovah, 'fore I never got no play
Jay-Z is now successful and influential, but he used to struggle in the music industry
Now these bitches want to give me more head than Sade
Now that Jay-Z is successful, more women are interested in him and willing to please him
Crisp in the 6 withcha bitch parlayed
Jay-Z is enjoying the good life with a beautiful woman by his side
I need privacy I pull up the back shade
Jay-Z values his privacy and is careful about who sees him and his luxurious lifestyle
Initials on the headrest, it's official
Jay-Z has personalized his car with his initials, showing his status and success
Style so sick I need bedrest, nigga I got issues
Jay-Z is so successful and stylish that it causes envy and problems for others
I hate fake bitches, 'you gotta wait' bitches
Jay-Z does not like women who are not genuine and tries to play hard to get
'I don't know you, I don't fuck on the first date' bitches
Jay-Z is not interested in women who are not willing to be upfront with him and who try to hold back on a date
Hot shot niggaz, talk to the cop niggaz
Jay-Z does not like men who act tough in public but cooperate with the police behind closed doors
'Money, that's my girl,' cock block niggaz
Jay-Z also does not like men who try to intimidate others by saying that they have a lot of money
See you in the club, and scheme on your watch niggaz
Jay-Z is aware that some people are always looking for ways to take advantage of others, even in social gatherings
Talk a lot of shit with, no Glock niggaz
Jay-Z does not take people seriously who talk a big game but do not follow through with action
It's Jigga baby, let it be known
Jay-Z is proud of his success and wants everyone to know who he is
I'm the king, I could never be dethroned
Jay-Z considers himself the best in the music industry and no one else can take his place
Is you a pimp nigga? (Yes I'm a pimp nigga)
Jay-Z and Timbaland are both successful and influential in their music careers
Well spit the game nigga (Lobster and shrimp nigga)
Show off your success and luxury, talk about the best
And I came to put it down for y'all, what?
Jay-Z is here to perform and show off his talent to his fans
You got a lot of crew, do any of 'em bust?
Jay-Z is questioning whether his competition can even keep up with him
Hell no, Jigga off the hook, 'Hello!'
Jay-Z knows that he is the best and can handle any competition
When I'm in L.A. the six-four is ill
Jay-Z has different luxurious cars for different locations, showing off his wealth in different ways
When I'm in the A-T-L it's the Coupe DeVille
Jay-Z chooses a different luxurious car when he is in Atlanta
When I'm down in Miami, I'm hoppin through
Jay-Z likes to drive around in luxurious cars when he is in Miami
With the all black Ninja with the sock over my shoe
Jay-Z likes to wear fashionable items like socks with his sneakers
Mami screamin' 'Papi chu', who keeps stoppin you?'
Jay-Z is enjoying his time with a beautiful woman who is impressed by his luxurious lifestyle
And I'm screamin 'Not a cat, Money holla back'
Jay-Z is not worried about any competition and will always come out on top
Can you stand the rain cause it's pourin now
Jay-Z is asking if the woman can handle his lavish lifestyle despite any challenges that may come with it
I hope she likes porno flicks cause she starrin now!
Jay-Z is hinting at a sexual encounter with the woman he is with
If the answer is no, she speakin foreign now
If the woman does not want to be involved with Jay-Z, he will move on and find someone else
Just let a brotha know, I turn my car around
Jay-Z is willing to change his plans if the woman is not interested
Freak or freeze, if the answer really is no
Jay-Z wants the woman to be honest with him, even if she is not interested
Girl I leave so fast you can speak to my breeze
If the woman is not interested, Jay-Z will quickly move on and not look back
She said 'You're stressin' me now'
The woman is feeling overwhelmed by Jay-Z's lavish and fast-paced lifestyle
Said 'No No No', then 'Yea yea yea' like she Destiny's Child
The woman is unsure about Jay-Z, but eventually decides to give in to his charm and luxurious lifestyle
We about to cook with no recipe now, to the mornin', then
Jay-Z and the woman are about to engage in a sexual encounter without much planning or forethought
That's how we do it y'all
Jay-Z and Timbaland are showing off their luxurious lifestyles and success
Two pimps
Jay-Z and Timbaland are successful and influential in their music careers
Put it down
Jay-Z is showing off his talent and success to his fans
Don't you like that?
Jay-Z is asking if his fans are impressed with his talent and success
We like to do it like that
Jay-Z and Timbaland are proud of their lavish lifestyles and success
We like to ride these tracks
Jay-Z and Timbaland enjoy performing and showing off their talent to their fans
Uhh, you don't think we two pimps?
Jay-Z and Timbaland are questioning whether people understand their success and influence in the music industry
Huh, holla back
Jay-Z and Timbaland are asking their fans to show them support and appreciation
You know what? Tell you somethin' like this
Jay-Z and Timbaland are about to share more insights into their luxurious lifestyles
With the Ferraris and Jaguars, switchin' four lanes
Jay-Z and Timbaland have luxurious cars that they like to switch between and enjoy driving at top speed
Ha ha, money ain't a thang
Jay-Z and Timbaland have so much money that they can spend it without much thought or worry
Ha ha, I got no thangs you know what I'm sayin?
Jay-Z and Timbaland have so much money that they do not even know how to spend it all
Cause I'm a pimp
Jay-Z is successful and influential in the music industry
And Jay-Z? He's the pimper, you know what I'm saying?
Jay-Z is influential and successful in the music industry, setting trends and leading the way for others
That's how we do it right here in the nine-eight
Jay-Z and Timbaland are showing off their success and lavish lifestyles in the late 1990s
So we gotta be out, let it ride like this
Jay-Z and Timbaland are about to leave and continue their luxurious and successful lifestyles
Bounce
Jay-Z and Timbaland are leaving and moving on to the next part of their lives
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWN CARTER, SHAWN C CARTER, TIMOTHY Z MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jensendavenport1406
It's a reason why they call it futuristic still sounds good after so many years
@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves
“Can I Get a…” had the same effect. 1998 had the freshest, timeless beats in hip-hop.
@jensendavenport1406
@@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves I agree it's only a few artist that can do it
@andreww3621
@@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves The late 90's were a good time for the entertainment industry. 99 is one of the best year for films. Check out everything that came out that year. 98 and 2000 were good as well.
EDIT: The 90's in general was churning out quality stuff
@DarkVanillaDude
I mean for real.
@maliklewis9115
Fresher than anything on radio now. Woop 🙌🏽
@nunyabuziness1162
after over 2 decades...
@MPK112233
Things I like about this track:
1. The subtle beat switches are really dope.
2. Jigga's sounds great over this shit.
3. The back and forth between Jigga and Tim for the 3rd verse was a nice touch.
@music18021
For real this song is a classic 😊😊
@chrisrosadonyc
still a bop! came out when i was a freshman in high school 😎