Timbaland and Missy Elliott were a match made in heaven, but it sounds like the relationship wasn't always easy. The producer recently revealed his experience of working with Missy, his close friend and frequent collaborator. The pair are legendary for the hits that they made together on Missy's early albums. Together, they created legendary tracks like "Get Ur Freak On," "Work It," and "Pass That Dutch." However, producing such big hits comes with quite a bit of pressure. In fact, it turns out that Missy was extremely selective in order to continually outdo herself. Timbaland described her as having a strict and demanding approach similar to a "drill sergeant."
During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast, Timbaland discussed various aspects of his life and career. Of course, this including his long-standing partnership with Missy Elliott. The duo's professional relationship goes a long way back, and they have collaborated on many projects. Timbaland was a staple on Missy's albums from the beginning, starting with her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. However, the producer shared that after the initial excitement of success wore off, they faced immense pressure to produce another hit. It was during the creation of Missy's second album, Da Real World in 1999, that Timbaland admitted she subjected him to intense scrutiny and demands.
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Missy Had A Vision And Didn't Compromise
Missy Elliott apparently became extremely selective about the production on her second album. In his interview, Timbaland says that while Missy acknowledged that what the producer was making was good, it wasn't for her. “She’d be like ‘that might be dope for JAY-Z or a Ludacris, but I gotta dance to it. I gotta see the video. I gotta see how my girls [are] gonna look,'" he said. However, the producer was quick to acknowledge that the experience made him a better artist, noting "She made me not settle." Timbaland went on to compare Missy's work ethic to that of an NBA player, saying that her preparation was unmatched.
Missy was quick to respond to the interview on social media. She expressed her gratitude for the experience and called Timbaland a genius. "Awww @Timbaland I love you bro this interview made me tear up because of how far we come," the rapper wrote. "BLESSED I knew from the day I came to your house after school that you would change the sound & cadence of music as we knew it multiple times! #genius I Thank you." Of course, Missy just made history as the first female rapper to be inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. So, it looks like the her tough demeanor paid off. What do you think of Timbaland's comments? Sound off below!