Timbaland

Melding throbbing, stuttering beats into a much-imitated signature style, Timbaland quickly established himself as the world's hottest producer, creating hits for everyone from Jay-Z to Bjork. Starting as DJ Timmy Tim, he scratched out backing tracks on a Casio keyboard before uniting with Pharrell Williams to form production collective SBI (Surrounded By Idiots). Early collaborations with Missy Elliott took him to New York, where he signed to Swing Mob Records and worked with Aaliyah, Tweet and Ginuwine before performing his own songs on three albums as one half of rap duo Timbaland & Magoo. As the hits rolled in he released solo records Tim's Bio: Life From Da Basement (1998), Shock Value (2007) and Shock Value II (2009). And the singles Give It To Me and The Way I Are were both UK chart-toppers. He also played a big role in the success of Missy Elliott's Supa Dupa Fly (1997), Justin Timberlake's Future Sex/Love Sells (2006) and Nelly Furtado's Loose (2006).