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Raquel's Corner: Tim "Timbaland" Mosley

Tim "Timbaland" Mosley
Acclaimed hip-hop producer Tim "Timbaland" Mosely began honing his craft at age 19 under the tutelage of Jodeci soundman DeVante Swing. Eventually he hooked up with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Playa, Ginuwine and Magoo. His productions have sold more than 10 million copies. I had a chance to speak with him about his recent projects, including the opening of Cherry Lounge, his second night club.

Exactly how long have you been in the industry?

About 11-12 years.

What motivates you?

Music. I love Music but nothing musically is motivating me right now. The world is changing and I'm getting older, I knew it was something when I started looking at B2K funny. As I think about it, I'm sure it's like how when we were young, people looked at Rakim. We're like those people now, the older generation. We're getting older.

I like doing music but I don't like what's being said on top of the music. It's like all the images are the same old, same old. There's really no creativity, it's just a repeat, a cycle, it's all a bunch of bull crap.

What's in your CD player now?

Cold Play, Maroon 5… stuff like that.

What inspires you to keep going with your productions?

Ummm…. Old school music. I might hear some old school music and that might inspire me to go forward.

What is it about your music that makes people come back for more from you and Missy?

I don't know, maybe it's just that VA sound that me, Missy, and Pharrell all got.

Do you think that style of music comes from you all being brought up in VA?

It could be cause we were all limited. We didn't have like a lot of things. We had to create our own little sound.

What was it like growing up in VA?

Growing up in VA was cool, just more like laid back, country, really nothing to do, just regular old everyday stuff that people do, You know. Following the trends of New York.

What was it that made you say to yourself 'I want to be a producer'?

I never wanted to become a producer. What happened was, I wanted to be a DJ and when I met Missy and them, I was doing beats on this little Casio keyboard. That made me say, okay. Missy kind of made me become a producer because she said I could produce. I was just doing stuff cause people weren't making the kind of music I wanted to hear.

What was Missy doing at that time?

She was singing and doing her thing with her group Phase 2.

When you first entered the industry was it all you expected?

When I first entered the industry it was more like, whatever! It was a job and I was glad to have a job. That was all.

If you could be doing anything else as a career what would it be?

If I could do anything it would probably be the same thing, nothing spectacular cause I don't really like nothing else. I'm starting to get into other things now, I'm starting to branch out. By being in music, it makes you explore other avenues and other things in life that you might not normally do like maybe… play tennis or something.

(giggling) Do you play tennis?

Yup I be out there, I started to. Now that's something I wouldn't normally do but, me being exposed to different thing in life makes you do things you normally won't.

You opened up a new club right?

Yeah.. The Cherry Lounge.

Ha (laughing) What, do you just like cherries?

It just sounded sexy. (DJ) Clue and I, everybody who was involved thought that sounded sexy.

So it's a part ownership between you and Clue?

Yeah me, Clue and this other guy H.I. Sugarman. Me and H.I. own club Suede downtown.

Is there any particular reason why you chose to open a club in Harlem?

Just because it's untapped for right now so they needed something. There's nothing wrong with Harlem. It's just untapped.

What's the general feel of the club, what's the vibe?

I mean I thought it would be more ghetto and hood but, it's actually okay, it's not that bad. It's kind'a cool!

What artist haven't you worked with that you would like to before you pull a Michael Jordon on us?

None. I'm satisfied.

Is there any particular artist that you really enjoyed working with. Someone you just can't get enough of working with them.

No, not really. It's all the same thing, it's just making great music. It's not so much the music, it's more about the time spent with the artist you know.

Peace and Quiet or Party Hardy?

Oh peace and quiet.

Is there a special place that you go for peace of mind?

Hawaii.

What is it about Hawaii?

There ain't nothing there. I mean it's nice, the water's nice. It's just nice. It's so relaxing and it's so peaceful.

Pardon me for saying but you don't seem to be interested or excited about much.

Nope. I'm cool. I enjoy buying property, buying houses, stuff like that. Enjoying life.

What's your sign?

(laughs) Pisces.

What are some of the Pisces characteristics you would say stand out about you?

People draw to me. Different kinds of women draw to me.

What type of women do you like?

At one point in time I used to be real judgmental about females and about their characteristics. I'm not like that no more. As far as women, it varies. I mean I could like a person's eyes or her mouth. I don't know.

So basically you don't discriminate anymore?

No I don't really discriminate but I want a woman who has some kind of morals as a woman. I mean, if I have a child with her, how would they raise our child.

Do you have any children?

No.

So you're not married and you don't have children.

Nope.

What gives you a sense of security. What's makes you feel secure in life?

I don't. I just live life as it goes.

What would you say are some of your flaws?

I'm kind of inconsiderate.

Ha!

I am. I've been told that by different woman I fooled with. They say I'm inconsiderate. My timing is messed up. I don't know. I'm a strange person. I'm real strange. A lot of women that I do get close to fall in love and I wouldn't know until the last 7 or 8 months. But hey…. I'm nonchalant. I can care less. Like if you say you going somewhere, you going out, hey… whatever.

What would be a turn off about a woman to you?

A woman who smokes. Just one that does things unladylike because I'm trying to go back to the old school. I don't want a woman who got a foul mouth, like she's on a ship. I can't clean up a woman. It takes God to do that. They got to have God in their life. That's how I made it this far, you know, always keeping God first. If a woman doesn't have the same morals, it will probably never work.

What's your religion?

I'm Pentecostal. Church of God and Christ.

Do you think your religion plays apart in how you feel about the industry and somewhat going astray from it all?

It could or it could just be a change of lifestyle. Everybody got different callings. I don't know. Maybe I got a calling.

What would be your ultimate goal in life or have you already achieved it?

I really don't have an ultimate goal. You just live life and then you die. That's all.

What's one word to describe you best?

(a) Loner.

Do you have any reoccurring dreams/nightmares?

No.

Do you have any fears?

The fear of God.

Chuuuch! What projects are you working on now?

Missy, J-lo, Luda, Fat Joe, and Busta Rhymes

Where is Ms. Jade?

Jade was here for the opening. She's chilling.

I think Ms. Jade is tight. There were a lot of people waiting on her album. They still are, myself included.

Yeah?

Will she be out soon?

I don't know. The record business took a hold of her. So right now, she's just marinating.

If you could have dinner with anyone, whether they are still here on earth or not, who would it be?

If I could dinner with somebody, I'd want to have dinner with Aaliyah and just hug her. That's about it.

Wow! I don't know why, but I wasn't expecting that. I'm such a mush when it comes to Aaliyah, I'm such a fan of hers. She was so beautiful. Now look, you almost made me cry.

Hey you asked me the question.

Ummmm…how would you say that you've rebuilt yourself from the loss of Aaliyah?

I don't think I have. I think we just go on.

With your newer artist or other artist that you've worked with, have you tried in anyway to recreate or package them as Aaliyah, the artist?

No. Never! But I think Ciara is like Aaliyah.

And none of it is intentional?

No.

If you see an artist following the same patterns as Aaliyah would you try to change it.

No, just go with the flow.

What is it about Ciara that you like?

I like her energy, her attitude.

What other artist do you admire.

It's all about groups. Maroon 5, Cold Play, a lot of European groups.

What's your favorite Cold Play song?

Every last one of them.

Yeah, I noticed Brandy, on her last album Aphrodisiac, mentioned Cold Play. Was that inspired by you?

Probably. The guy who wrote her songs liked Cold Play too.

Do you ever see yourself going in that direction, maybe alternative?

I don't know. I could. I could not.

Where do you see yourself in five years.

I hope I could see myself in five years.

(knocking on wood) You will!

We don't know. I don't think ahead that far, just take it one day at a time.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would that be?

Right here.

Doing this interview?

I guess so. That's were time permits me to be.

If you could change the music industry how would you?

I did!

If you could change what the newcomers are doing in the industry, how would you?

I would tell them to go back and listen to real music, 70's and 80's music, something that ya'll young people don't know nothing about. Notice I said ya'll young people. Ya'll don't know nothing about it. Go back and study the art of where real music comes from. Feel me?

What advice would you give the newcomers to the industry, whether they're artists, producers, etc.?

Ahhh everything is fleeting. At first you're hot then someone new comes and knocks you off. I don't know. There's no advice to give. This game is corrupt.

The game is corrupt? Do you care to elaborate?

I can't really elaborate, you just have to be in it to see. There are so many things. So many things happening everyday that I just block my mind from it. I just know that it's corrupt.

Any last words for the readers?

The last word for the readers is just read it and get your own opinion of it all.

Message Tim "Timbaland" Mosley and Raquel De Jesus and tell them what you think

Raquel De Jesus is a freelance journalist and video/DVD show host living in New York. Catch her program on a DVD near you.

Raquel De Jesus

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