Timbaland – 'The Way I Are'

Since casting an indelible imprint on commercial R’n’B with his mid-‘90s collaborations, uber-producer Timbaland has seen his stock simply rise and rise. Now trying his luck in front of the mic, the Virginia native maintained a phenomenal winning streak with the success of second album, Shock Value. Whether or not this has been due to endorsements from the likes of Justin Timberlake or Nelly Furtado is a moot point, but, as “The Way I are” demonstrates, Timbaland’s ear for a tune is wholly deserving of attention. The main riff may be shamelessly ripped from Salt ‘n’ Pepa’s genre-defining ‘Push It’, but it’s so craftily melded into the signature mix - stuttering bass-beats, smooth swirling synth and sultry lyrical inflexions – that you cannot help but be impressed. Excellent.

Released 23/07/07 on Polydor Records