It’s been over five years since Missy Elliott last released an album (2005’s The Cookbook), but Timbaland assures that her upcoming seventh LP is in the can. During an extensive interview with Power 105’s The Breakfast Club, Tim explained that Missy had to get back in a mindset to be in artist mode and that it won’t be difficult for her to reclaim her relevance.
“We finished the album. I don’t think it’s the simple word of cold. It’s called figuring your life out,” he said. “I think we only got one rapper that’s a female. It’s not about being cold or hot. It’s about, am I ready to do it again? It comes with a lot of work. For a girl, you got makeup, styling…
“At the end of the day, females need more things,” he continued. “My thing is, are you ready? When Missy do it, she gives 130 percent. Having health issues, you’ve gotta be sure.”
Explaining that he’s “mentally ready” to team back up with Missy, Tim recalled the difficulties of putting out his Shock Value series and how record executives weren’t feeling his music. “I feel like I’m still the underdog. I feel like I don’t get my just due,” he said. “Y’all didn’t know how much I had to go through. You know how much fighting I had to go through to get my record to you?”
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He also ran down his list of favorite current emcees, naming A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Young Jeezy and Waka Flocka Flame. But he said that his dream is of recording a full-length album with frequent collaborator Jay-Z and how it would push him to his limits.
“Jay cool. Jay’s a family man. My dream is to do a whole album with the dude. That’s my goal. I pray on that. I know what it could be,” he confessed. “Even if we didn’t put it out, it would be fun. It would push me somewhere I’ve never been as a producer. Since Jay had his child, I haven’t really talked to him lately. I sent him gifts for his daughter. When you’re married, it’s a different life. […] We went from a Range Rover to now. This dude is an icon.”
Tim also revealed that his upcoming album Shock Value 3, which he refers to as Ezekiel’s Will, will feature Lil Wayne and Rick Ross and that he hopes to record with Kanye West.
“It’s [Shock Value 3], but I call it Ezekiel’s Will. Meaning that Ezekiel in the Bible was the guy who got foretold the world the future, what’s going on and what happened. If people followed, they followed. If they didn’t, they didn’t. The reason I say that is because I’ve been through struggle in the game, and for me to be relevant and caring, I’m telling people, the music y’all listen to is terrible. Follow me. ‘I don’t know!’ Trust me. People are going to start making real music again.”
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Watch the full interview below.
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