Timbaland recently shared his thoughts on the state of modern music, expressing that he finds it uninspiring. He also argued that artificial intelligence, despite ongoing controversy, is currently the most genuine creative tool available.
During an appearance on The Inner Court, he explained his perspective: “This election just divided us. What I mean by that – it divided the music. It sounds bland, it sounds boring. We talk about AI, but that’s the only thing that has a pure soul right now. You can create something, express your true feelings, and it comes out beautiful.”
He further elaborated on his views, stating, “Right now, everything is just discombobulated. Which aligns with everything in the world.” According to him, the music industry reflects the larger societal climate, and he believes that AI offers a way for artists to express themselves in a more meaningful way.
Earlier this month, Timbaland also discussed how he created some of his biggest records while struggling with substance abuse.
Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, he revealed that he was battling addiction while working on major projects for JAY-Z, Beyoncé, and Justin Timberlake. His contributions to Magna Carta Holy Grail, Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love,” and Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience were made during this period.
“It was fun. Those were cool albums, but my best work was done when I wasn’t on drugs. That’s facts,” he said. He acknowledged that while those projects were successful, they did not stand out to him in the same way as his earlier records.
Reflecting on his career, he explained, “I look back at it now and they were great, but they don’t stand out like my big records, like ‘Big Pimpin,’ ‘Dirt Off Your Shoulder,’ and ‘One in a Million.’”
Timbaland attributed this to the creative clarity he had before his addiction. “Those were drug-free, so when I look back at my highlights, that [period] is probably a dip. Even though it was still good, that’s just God-given talent in me. Like, God still having his hand on me — that’s why those songs were still beautiful, but they don’t have, like, FutureSex/LoveSounds in them.”
He acknowledged that while his 2010s work was still strong, he believes his earlier productions had a different level of impact.
