Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer and occasional actor. He came to fame as the front man of the pop band 'N Sync released his debut solo album, Justified, which went on to sell over seven million copies worldwide, in 2002, solidifying Timberlake's position as a pop superstar. Timberlake's second album is due for release in the summer of 2006.
Justin Timberlake | |
|---|---|
| File:Timberlake90.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Years active | 1998-present |
Timberlake has been dubbed the new "King of Pop" by Rolling Stone Magazine, a moniker previously attributed only to Michael Jackson.
Biography
Early life
Timberlake was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Randall Timberlake, the son of a Baptist minister, and Lynn Harless. His career began after a childhood stint on the American television talent show Star Search, and picked up speed when he became a cast member of The New Mickey Mouse Club. His co-stars on this teenage variety show included future 'N Sync bandmate JC Chasez, fellow pop singers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and actors Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell.
Music career
Timberlake was a member of the popular 1990s boy band, 'N Sync, and was considered a teen idol and the sex symbol of the group (akin to Nick Carter's status in the competing boy band The Backstreet Boys). The group formed in 1996 and went on hiatus in 2002. At that point, Timberlake decided to launch a solo career.
Timberlake performed his debut single Like I Love You at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, gaining a large number of ardent fans. In November of that year, he released his debut solo album, Justified, which received critical acclaim and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart, selling 439,000 copies in its first week of release, and eventually selling over 3 million copies in the US alone, and over 7 million copies worldwide. The album had a heavy R&B influence, and was produced by hip-hop stalwarts The Neptunes and Timbaland. Timberlake supported the album by touring with Christina Aguilera on her Stripped tour, which ran throughout 2003.
Timberlake has made a concerted effort to trade the squeaky-clean image of his teenage years for a more edgy, sexualized persona. He has added numerous tattoos, and also performed at SARSTOCK, a concert staged in Toronto following the 2003 SARS scare to revive the city's tourism industry.
Between 2003 and 2005, Timberlake collaborated with several artists on songs. He is featured in the track My Style on the Black Eyed Peas album Monkey Business. He also appeared in the group's hit single Where Is The Love?, from their previous album, Elephunk. Because his own album had just been released at the time, Timberlake's record company requested that his contribution to Where Is The Love? be officially unacknowledged on the track. However, Timberlake often appeared with the Black Eyed Peas to perform the track live, including during the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards. Additionally, Timberlake was featured on a version of rapper Nelly's song, Work It. When recording the 2004 single Signs with Snoop Dogg, Timberlake discovered a throat condition. Nodules were subsequently removed from his throat in an operation that took place on 5 May 2005. He was advised to not sing or speak loudly for at least a few months.
In the summer of 2005, Timberlake started his own record company, JayTee Records; he signed underground hip-hop artist, Joshua B, as the label's first act. Timberlake will release his second solo album, which will be produced by Timbaland, Will.i.am and Rick Rubin, and feature guest vocals by Snoop Dogg and Nelly Furtado, in the summer of 2006.
Controversy
In February 2004, during the halftime show of the Super Bowl XXXVIII, Timberlake performed with Janet Jackson before a television audience of over 140 million viewers. At the end of the performance, Timberlake tore off a part of Jackson's black leather costume in a "costume reveal" meant to accompany a portion of his song lyrics, "gonna have you naked by the end of this song". More of the costume became detached than intended, and Jackson's right breast and nipple were briefly exposed. Timberlake apologized for the incident, saying that he is "sorry that anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance of the Super Bowl... It was not intentional and is regrettable".[1] The phrase "wardrobe malfunction" has since been since used by the media to refer to the incident.
As a result of the controversy, Timberlake and Jackson were both banned from the 2004 Grammy Awards unless they agreed to apologize on screen at the event. Jackson declined to apologize. Timberlake, who was scheduled to perform, attended and issued a scripted apology while accepting his first of two Grammy Awards (a Best Pop Vocal Album for Justified and a Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Cry Me a River).
Acting career
Timberlake has had a few minor acting roles during his music career, including a bit part as a model in the 2000 made-for-television film, Model Behavior, and a cameo in the film On the Line. More recently, he has branched out into a full film career, playing a journalist in the thriller, Edison, which was filmed in 2005 and is currently scheduled for a 2006 release. He will also appear in the dark drama, Alpha Dog, currently scheduled for a May 2006 release, Black Snake Moan, the comedy Southland Tales, and voice a prince in the animated film, Shrek 3, which will be released in 2007.
Other work
Timberlake has opened several U.S. restaurants. He also began the Willam Rast clothing line with close friend Trace Ayala. Timberlake describes the line as being "A little bit of Hollywood, a little bit of Tennessee".
In October of 2005, the Grammy Association awarded Timberlake for his hummanitarian efforts in his home state of Tennessee, alongside writer/director Craig Brewer, also a Memphis native.
Personal life
Timberlake dated fellow pop singer Britney Spears for several years. The two were on the New Mickey Mouse Club together and broke up in 2002, amid rumors of Spears' infidelity. Timberlake has since dated singers Stacy Ferguson, Janet Jackson (during the summer of 2002), Christina Aguilera,[2] Emma Bunton,[3] actresses Alyssa Milano (between August and September of 2002) and Tatyana Ali, as well as dancers Jenna Dewan and Stacie Flood.
Timberlake is currently dating actress Cameron Diaz.
Discography
Albums
- Justified (2002) #2 US, #1 UK, US Certification: 3x Platinum (Worldwide sales: 7 Million)
- Just In Time (2006)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | UK Singles | AUS Singles | |||
| 2002 | "Like I Love You" (feat. Clipse) | 11 | 53 | 2 | 8 | Justified |
| 2002 | "Cry Me A River" | 3 | 11 | 2 | 2 | Justified |
| 2003 | "Rock Your Body" | 5 | 45 | 2 | 1 | Justified |
| 2003 | "Senorita" | 27 | - | 13 | 6 | Justified |
| 2003 | "I'm Lovin' It" | - | - | - | - | Non-Album |
Guest vocals
- 2001: "What It's Like To Be Me" (With Britney Spears from Britney)
- 2003: "Work It" (with (Nelly, from Nellyville) #7 UK, #68 US #14 AUS
- 2003: "Where Is The Love?" (with the The Black Eyed Peas, from Elephunk) #8 US, #1 UK, #1 Latvia, ##1 AUS
- 2005: "Signs" (with Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson, from The R&B Masterpiece #46 US, #2 UK, #34 Latvia, #1AUS
- 2005: "My Style" (with The Black Eyed Peas, from Monkey Business)
- 2005: "Floatin'" (with Charlie Wilson & Will.i.am, from Charlie Last Name Wilson)
- 2006: "Loose Ends" (with Sergio Mendes, Will.i.am & Pharoahe Monch, from Timeless)
Grammy Award history
- Career Wins: 2
- Career Nominations: 7
| Year | Category | Genre | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Best Pop Collaboration w/ Vocals | Pop | "My Kind Of Girl" | Nominated |
| 2003 | Best Rap/Song Collaboration | Rap | "Like I Love You" | Nominated |
| 2004 | Album of the Year | General | "Justified" | Nominated |
| 2004 | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Rap | "Where Is The Love?" | Nominated |
| 2004 | Best Pop Vocal Album | Pop | "Justified" | Won |
| 2004 | Record of the Year | General | "Where Is The Love?" | Nominated |
| 2004 | Best Pop Male Vocal Performance | Pop | "Cry Me A River" | Won |