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.
Cover's Blown
timbaLand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the back two steps ahead of me
Pressure time is wasting
Happy boy you'd better be
Trust me it's amazing
But I got it wrong, how you should be with me
I'm stuck in the sea how in need we are
Reach the sky will be touching the moon
As the lucky lady night lost in the crowd
I said you did you when the lights go down wow
Chorus:
Too late to stop girl you know what to do
Baby don't waste my time, hurry up
Don't wait no more
It's getting hot girl got to keep it cool
Gotta stay from behind too pressure cover's blown
Your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No girl your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No boy, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No girl, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
[Timbaland:]
Ha ha
What you need, what you want, what you want
I guarantee I will, he won't
Can't fake, can't front
I'm want to give it to you,
I need to cuts off, cuts off
Let's ride out girl
You're tryin to stack, you can slide out girl
And it just can't be
Why would you want him when you can have me
(Work show babe)
Mister multi c, everything work and it don't come free
(What's her name) baby girl trust me
I need time two plus two
And what you think about that?
What you gonna do baby, how you're gonna act
But you nigga so act you don't hit it like that
I could tell you make eye contact
[Chorus:]
Too late to stop girl you know what to do
Baby don't waste my time, hurry up
Don't wait no more
It's getting hot girl got to keep it cool
Gotta stay from behind too pressure cover's blown
Your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No girl your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No boy, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No girl, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
They say love is blind
Must be if your sleep is good as mine
And the crowded claw caught my eye through the door smoke I wasn't know
I got ym eyes in the as so fat and wait
In a way I'ma little walk in the pass like that I'm tryin make up late
Put you in the coop and make you date
But your lame man nigga make you stand the way
Cope like I'm shocking anyway
Yeah you something else
But the sad part is you're with someone else
You ain't being shit I ain't no myself
So we should be together and we couldn't so,
I'm tryin show your man respect
I really wanna brag by your own arm and check
[Chorus:]
Too late to stop girl you know what to do
Baby don't waste my time, hurry up
Don't wait no more
It's getting hot girl got to keep it cool
Gotta stay from behind too pressure cover's blown
Your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No girl your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No boy, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
No girl, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
The lyrics of "Cover's Blown" by Timbaland and Keri Hilson portray a story of a young woman who is caught between two men. Keri Hilson's opening verse suggests that she is a few steps behind the man she wants, urging him to hurry up and make a move. She then acknowledges that she has made a mistake and should have chosen the person she desires to be with. However, it seems like there is someone else that wants to be with her too. She sings, "Reach the sky will be touching the moon, but somebody is on the eye but he ain't you," indicating that someone else has caught her attention.
Timbaland's verse comes right after and continues the theme of the song, with him trying to convince the woman that he is the better choice compared to the other man. He boasts about his sexual prowess and how he will satisfy her needs. He also challenges the woman by suggesting that she is wasting her time with the other man when he is available. Timbaland repeats the chorus of the song, emphasizing that the "cover's blown," meaning that the other man's true intentions have been revealed, and the woman should make her decision.
Overall, the song's lyrics suggest a game of cat and mouse where both parties are trying to win the affection of the other person. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy hook create an infectious energy that underscores the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
On the back two steps ahead of me
I'm following you, but you're moving too fast
Pressure time is wasting
We don't have time to waste
Happy boy you'd better be
You better be happy with me
Trust me it's amazing
This relationship is amazing
But I got it wrong, how you should be with me
I made a mistake in how I treated you
I'm stuck in the sea how in need we are
I feel trapped and realize how much we need each other
Reach the sky will be touching the moon
We can achieve great things together
But somebody is on the eye but he ain't you
Someone is watching us, but they're not you
As the lucky lady night lost in the crowd
I feel lucky to have you, even when we're lost in a crowd
I said you did you when the lights go down wow
I enjoy being intimate with you when the lights are off
Too late to stop girl you know what to do
It's too late to turn back now
Baby don't waste my time, hurry up
Don't waste any more time, let's move forward
Don't wait no more
We can't wait any longer
It's getting hot girl got to keep it cool
We need to stay calm and focused, even though things are heating up
Gotta stay from behind too pressure cover's blown
We need to be careful, or we'll get caught
Your cover's blown, your cover's blown
Our secret is out, we've been caught
No girl your cover's blown, your cover's blown
You've been discovered
No boy, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
You've been caught
No girl, your cover's blown, your cover's blown
You've been discovered
What you need, what you want, what you want
What do you desire?
I guarantee I will, he won't
I'll fulfill your desires, he won't
Can't fake, can't front
I'm being honest with you
I'm want to give it to you,
I want to give you what you want
I need to cuts off, cuts off
I need to end my other relationships
Let's ride out girl
Let's do this together
You're tryin to stack, you can slide out girl
You're trying to play it safe, but you can leave that behind
And it just can't be
Our chemistry is too strong to ignore
Why would you want him when you can have me
I don't understand why you're with him when you could be with me
(Work show babe)
Let's get started
Mister multi c, everything work and it don't come free
I can provide for you, but it won't be cheap
(What's her name) baby girl trust me
I care about you, even though I don't know your name
I need time two plus two
I need to figure out the best course of action
And what you think about that?
What do you think?
What you gonna do baby, how you're gonna act
What's your plan, how will you act?
But you nigga so act you don't hit it like that
Your boyfriend can't satisfy you like I can
I could tell you make eye contact
I can see the chemistry between us
They say love is blind
People say love doesn't see clearly
Must be if your sleep is good as mine
We had a great time last night
And the crowded claw caught my eye through the door smoke I wasn't know
I noticed you from across the room, even though it was crowded and smokey
I got ym eyes in the as so fat and wait
I can't take my eyes off you
In a way I'ma little walk in the pass like that I'm tryin make up late
I'm walking the path of trying to win you over
Put you in the coop and make you date
I want to take you out, show you a good time
But your lame man nigga make you stand the way
Your current boyfriend is holding you back
Cope like I'm shocking anyway
I can handle anything
Yeah you something else
You're amazing
But the sad part is you're with someone else
Unfortunately, you're in a relationship with someone else
You ain't being shit I ain't no myself
You're not being true to yourself
So we should be together and we couldn't so,
We should be together, but we can't
I'm tryin show your man respect
I'm trying to respect your current relationship
I really wanna brag by your own arm and check
I want to show you off, be proud of being with you
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.