The Emperor of Sound

The most important producer of the decade. The New Yorker

Timbaland is indisputably one of the most innovative music producers working today. The Grammy Award wining producer, rapper, songwriter, and composer has collaborated with the mega-superstars of pop, rap, hip-hop, and R&B, from Jay Z to 50, Madonna to Justin, Nelly to Bjork. His solo album Shock Value has sales tipped in the millions, and the video for his international chart-topping single Apologize has been viewed more than 100 million times on YouTube.

The Emperor of Sound is an exclusive look at this talented artist and his extraordinary career. Here, as unexpected as much of what he creates, is an introspective memoir, revealing a modest and God-fearing man with an intense appreciation for the creative process, a humility for his musical gifts, and a unique understanding of what he calls the science of hearing. 

Timbaland embraces and champions those who possess his same life-or-death passion for music: he reveals that it was Missy Elliott who steered him to own his confidence, that it was Aaliyah who inspired him to stretch his craft beyond boundaries, and that it was Justin Timberlake with whom he found an unprecedented creative chemistry, making SexyBack an instant classic. Timbaland also reflects on his growth and recent success in the entertainment business in his pivotal role as the executive music producer of the enormously popular television series Empire.

Written with a cinematic flair and abundant with illuminating anecdotes about some of today s most renowned musical icons, including his former classmate and collaborator Pharrell Williams, The Emperor of Sound is an engaging memoir of a life in the works, showcasing the brilliant inner workings of a true musical genius."