New Timbaland article

****MUSICAL HIT MAN

He produced some of 2006's biggest hits, but Timbaland's Grammy Award nominations are actually for best pop collaboration with vocals for Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" and best dance recording for Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack." He also got a nod for his production work on Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds," which is up for album of the year.

Still, Timbaland doesn't mind being passed over in the producer of the year category. "It's Rick Rubin's time," he says. "I never really realized how much he's done. But he's got 12 nominees on the list, from Johnny Cash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hats off."

Describing his 2006 sound as global, the body-building producer says that he has drawn his inspiration from "India to China. I'm outside of the box." Last year also saw the blooming of his collaboration with studio right-hand man Nate "Danja" Hills.

"My style is totally different so nobody can adapt to what I do," Timbaland says. "But I brought him in and showed him how I work, and he caught on pretty quickly."

Hills adds, "When we come to the studio neither of us knows what we're about to do. We might have a million ideas floating around. We just go back and forth. Once we find one we love, we just pile a bunch of stuff on top of it. It becomes a jam session."

When Timbaland hits the road this month with Timberlake, he will continue with his busy production slate via a mobile studio on the tour bus while Hills holds down the fort in Virginia Beach, Va. He is also putting the finishing touches on a star-studded new solo album, expected this spring via his Mosley Music imprint through Interscope.

But for now Timbaland seems most enthused about working with two decidedly non-R&B acts—Kelly Clarkson and Coldplay.

"It takes a lot to really excite me," he says. "But I am excited about Coldplay." ••••

—Hillary Crosley Source

Sounds pretty interesting ya'll. BIG TIME props to my friend Bigmac!