Watch Pharrell And Timbaland Fan Out Over Each Other's Production
The producers go back and forth over notable tracks they've made throughout their careers.
Virginia's own Pharrell and Timbaland are two of rap's most important producers, having made songs for Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and countless others. So it's only right that the pair respect and admire each other's work.
During an OTHERtone panel that took place at Pharrell's inaugural Something in the Water music festival, the two went back and forth highlighting songs from each other's production catalog.
"Is there a record either of you have produced to where you heard it and you were like, 'I wish I did that one,'" Scott Vener asks the panel, which also includes Pusha T, Teddy Riley, and Pharrell's co-Neptunes collaborator Chad Hugo.
"Let me tell you the story," Timbaland says in response, recounting the time he ended a session with Missy Elliott early after overhearing a beat Pharrell was working on.
"Pharrell had a studio called Master Sound. There was another studio connected," Timbaland recalls. "Me and Missy was working in studio A. I walked to the backdoor, Missy was in there doing something and I heard 'I hate you so much right now.' And I said 'What is that?' And I said, 'Missy, you gotta hear this.' Then I was like, 'Oh man I wish I had made that beat.' That was the beat. Pharrell made it, I was like, 'Oh, this is crazy.'"
"I just kept listening to the door and [Missy] was like, 'Come on, come on, we gotta finish our record,' and I said, 'I'm done for the night,'" Timbaland continues.
The song he was referring to was Kelis' "Caught Out There," which was produced by The Neptunes.
From there, Pharrell proceeds to imitate the production of Timbaland's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)," which he did with Missy. Then the two start going back and forth: Timbaland references "Milkshake" and "Grind'" while Pharrell references "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)" and "Big Pimpin'."
"I was more amazed at his production while he was amazed at mine," Timbaland says.
This exchange, as well as of the rest of the interview, can be viewed above.