When the song “Get Ur Freak On” hit radio in 2001, it set the world of popular music on fire. Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s first crossover hit sounded nothing like the chart-topping bluesy rock of Aerosmith or Lenny Kravitz, or the smooth R&B of Joe or Jagged Edge. It was a song that compelled you to dance - literally, with Missy issuing repeat commands to “get ur freak on” and encouraging crowds to gather ‘round in what we’ve only ever experienced as a hot slick mess of bodies, cheering and vibing as one pretzeling mass. But this song was years in the making. Timbaland and Missy had been hard at work on the sound for nearly a decade before “Get Ur Freak On” was heard by anyone.
This week, in yet another segment of our Modern Classics miniseries, our guest host and former producer Megan Lubin shares the story of the sound that made “Get Ur Freak On” a pop music phenomenon, and transformed Timbaland into one of the most ubiquitous producers of the aughts.
Songs Discussed
Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
Tweet - Oops (Oh My)
Jay-Z - Dirt off Your Shoulder
Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around... Comes Around
2Pac - Me Against The World
TLC - Creep
Ginuwine - Pony
Aaliyah - One in a Million
Jay-Z ft. UGK - Big Pimpin’
Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me a River
Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous
Justin Timberlake ft. T.I. - My Love
Timbaland ft. One Republic - Apologize
Sports Car - Tate McRae
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How Missy Elliott and Timbaland Freaked the World | Switched on Pop podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
