Timbaland has opened up about discovering Ludacris while discussing his favorite Hip Hop artists of all time.
During a recent appearance on the I AM ATHLETE podcast, the legendary producer listed Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, LL COOL J, Run-DMC and Gang Starr as artists who changed his life.
AD LOADING...
He also named Wu-Tang Clan, Fat Joe, Big Pun, OutKast, DMX, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, 8-Ball & MJG, N.W.A and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as Ludacris.
“I was the one who found Ludacris,” he said. “Because Ludacris was working in the radio station and I was like, ‘Hey, ain’t nobody sign you? What’s going on here?’ [He was like], ‘Nah man.’
AD LOADING...
“Then he came down to Virginia and we did ‘Phat Rabbit,’ and from there, labels started calling. He asked me one time, ‘Would you sign to Def Jam or Eleltra?’ I said, ‘Man, you better go to Def Jam.'”
He added: “And I didn’t know how the business go, I just backed them ’cause I knew he was incredible.”
Ludacris reunited with Timbaland in the studio in 2019 for his still-forthcoming ninth album and reflected on his relationship with the producer from early in his career.
“Tim was the first person that really believed in me, along with Jermaine Dupri and Organized Noize,” he said. “But in terms of really the very first person, [he] came to the radio station in Atlanta when I was working there. Timbaland was the first person who was like, ‘Who is that?’
“And then [I] got on ‘Phat Rabbit’ and got on [Timbaland’s 1998 debut album] Tim’s Bio. Do your history, Google that. He’s the first person. So, to be back in the studio with him at this moment in time — for this juncture and this particular moment that is about to be monumental for me — is amazing.”
Timbaland also shared the clip, adding: “After 20 years, the love of creating music hasn’t faded. Much respect to my brotha @ludacris. We are working on something special for y’all.”
AD LOADING...
Ludacris hasn’t dropped an album since reconnecting with Timbaland, with his last project Ludaversal being released in 2015.
