ALBUM REVIEW: Shock Value 2

Timbaland
Shock Value 2 (2009)
Album Scan
By Arik Cohen

I think the greatest compliment I can give this is that it's not nearly as bad as we were expecting. Nobody was expecting anything from this album, which might be the first time people had lowered their expectations for a Timbaland-produced LP.

CLASSIC STATUS: Welcome To Our World

Timbaland & Magoo
Welcome To Our World (1997)
Classic Status
by Arik C.

When listening to Timbaland doing his grunts, his "uhs" and his "vicka-vicka-vickas" on his older work, it's very difficult to avoid conjuring up the persona of the new Timbaland:  The body-building pop-champion.  It takes a bit to remember what Timbaland once was.  He wasn't just a pop chart-climbing superproducer, but a super talented producer climbing the industry one sick drum loop at a time.

TRACK SCAN: Rumors

Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & Jay-Z
Rumors (2009)
Timbaland Presents Shock Value 2 (Dec 2009)
Track Scan
By Arik C.


I guess I'm a bit late to the new Timbaland track hate fest, but I'd still like to get in on the fun.


"Rumors" has a quality I've noticed a lot of tracks have at this period of hip hop history:  The quality of indiference.  It's a paint-by-the-numbers club track.  I'm sure Timbaland has a checklist for his singles now: