The Emperor of Sound: A Memoir

Timbaland · Veronica Chambers

Nov 2015 · HarperCollins

About this ebook

The long-anticipated inside look at the extraordinary career of the man who brought Sexy Back, the legendary producer in the pantheon of music greats as influential and groundbreaking as Motown’s Berry Gordy and a memoir of the creative process.

Hailed by the New Yorker as “the eminence grise behind half of what is great in the Top Forty these days,” world-renowned producer Timbaland has been a fixture on the pop charts, with more top-ten hits than Elvis or the Beatles. An artist whose fans are multi-racial and multi-generational, Timbaland works with the hottest artists, from Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott to Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Madonna, and his childhood friend, Pharrell Williams. Yet this celebrity is a uniquely private man who shuns parties, stays out of gossip columns, and rarely gives interviews. Deliberately choosing to tour by bus and conspicuously bling-free, he maintains a low-key lifestyle. If he’s not at the recording studio, he is at home with his family.

In The Emperor of Sound, Timbaland offers fans an unprecedented look into his life and work. Completely uncensored and totally honest, he reveals the magic behind the music, sharing the various creative impulses that arise while he’s producing, and the layering of sounds that have created dozens of number one hits. Cinematically written, full of revealing anecdotes and reflections from today’s most popular music icons, The Emperor of Sound showcases this master’s artistry and offers an extraordinary glimpse inside this great musical mind.

Ratings and reviews

As an artist myself, this book has inspired me tremendously and sparked a hunger that had been dormant for a while

Timbaland is my mentor and I strive to be a great producer like him and reading this book just inspires me even more to follow my dreams!!

Always loved Timbaland great book gave me hope

About the author

Timbaland, born Timothy Z. Mosley, has played many creative roles throughout his celebrated career. He was a member of DeVante Swing’s Da Bassment crew and is one half of the hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo. Considered one of the most successful producers in music history, he is the executive music producer of Fox’s runaway-hit television show Empire. The CEO of his own label, Mosley Music Group, Timbaland lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife and children. Veronica Chambers was born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn. She attended Simon's Rock College at Bard. She is a prolific writter. Mama's Girl is her acclaimed memoir. Some of her other work includes Kickboxing Geishas: How Japanese Women Are Changing Their Nation, and The Joy of Doing Things Badly: A Girl's Guide to Love, Life and Foolish Bravery. She has contributed to several anthologies and has also written books for children and teens. Her latest book as a contributor is in Michael Strahan's book, Wake Up Happy: The Dream Big, Win Big Guide to Transforming Your Life.