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The Emperor of Sound: A Memoir Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 240 ratings

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A fantastically inspirational story about weathering the dynamics of the producer-artist relationship, the rigors of show business and one man’s insistence on constantly evolving, one beat at a time.” — Soul Train

“[Timbaland] changed the course of hip-hop and R&B… The open-minded, genre-hybrid approach that dominates contemporary production would be hard to imagine without Timbaland’s example.” — Rolling Stone

“The most important producer of the decade.” — The New Yorker

From the Back Cover

Timbaland is indisputably one of the most innovative music producers working today. The Grammy Award—winning producer, rapper, songwriter, and composer has collaborated with the mega-superstars of pop, rap, hip-hop, and R&B. His solo album Shock Value has sales tipped in the millions, and the video for his international chart-topping single “Apologize” has been viewed more than 100 million times on YouTube.

The Emperor of Sound is an exclusive look at this talented artist and his extraordinary career. Here, as unexpected as much of what he creates, is an introspective memoir, revealing a modest and God-fearing man with an intense appreciation for the creative process, a humility for his musical gifts, and a unique understanding of what he calls “the science of hearing.”

Timbaland embraces and champions those who possess his same life-or-death passion for music: he reveals that it was Missy Elliott who steered him to own his confidence, that it was Aaliyah who inspired him to stretch his craft beyond boundaries, and that it was Justin Timberlake with whom he found an unprecedented creative chemistry, making “SexyBack” an instant classic. Timbaland also reflects on his growth and recent success in the entertainment business in his pivotal role as the executive music producer of the television series Empire.

Written with a cinematic flair and abundant with illuminating anecdotes about some of today’s most renowned musical icons, including former classmate and collaborator Pharrell Williams, The Emperor of Sound is an engaging memoir of a life in the works, showcasing the brilliant inner workings of a true musical genius.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00U1ZV7FQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amistad; Reprint edition (November 17, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 17, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 213 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0061936979
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 240 ratings

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Veronica Chambers
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
240 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and inspiring. They appreciate the well-written story that keeps them engaged throughout. The book provides an interesting look at the man behind hit records.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

37 customers mention "Readability"37 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it provides an insightful look into the life of a music producer. The book is well-written and enjoyable from start to finish.

"...Good job telling Timbaland's story, Veronica Chambers. Well written, it's a quick and easy yet meaty read." Read more

"I love this Book! It is a must read for music lovers and producers!" Read more

"...Great book." Read more

"...It's a quick read that provides more insight about perhaps the most innovative musical mind of our time...." Read more

15 customers mention "Inspiration"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring for musicians and producers. They appreciate its insights into today's music and memories of listening to classic hits. The author's life in the music industry is described as good and extraordinary.

"...I had no idea how he got into music and it brought back memories of listening to classic hits and his heart wrenching story about the impact that..." Read more

"...Great to hear how he has overcome so much adversity in his life to produce music for over 20 years...." Read more

"It was very inspirational and interesting. Timbaland made you feel his highs and his lows throughout the book. I couldn't put the book down...." Read more

"Interesting,and inspiring...I recommend it to anyone who's into creating music,especially producers, beat makers." Read more

15 customers mention "Story quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the story engaging and interesting. They appreciate the detailed experience and insights provided by the author. The book is described as a quick, easy read that provides a refreshing change from what they usually read.

"...Timbaland's journey to superstar music producer is at once familiar yet surprising, expected yet unconventional...." Read more

"...It's a quick read that provides more insight about perhaps the most innovative musical mind of our time...." Read more

"...was like here we go lol but it was really good and a refreshing change to what I usually read ...." Read more

"It was very inspirational and interesting. Timbaland made you feel his highs and his lows throughout the book. I couldn't put the book down...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2022
    I love reading memoirs of people who intrigue me. No one is who we see or believe we know but rather the summation of their entire journey. Timbaland's journey to superstar music producer is at once familiar yet surprising, expected yet unconventional. I appreciate his candor as well as his desire to teach what he has learned on the way. Underneath, there is a sense that he's still learning and no doubt, we will hear the new lessons in his future music.

    Good job telling Timbaland's story, Veronica Chambers. Well written, it's a quick and easy yet meaty read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
    I love this Book! It is a must read for music lovers and producers!
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2021
    I bought this book for my husband and he said he read it's the only book he's ever read straight through without stopping. If you're familiar with Timbaland, I highly recommend it. I had no idea how he got into music and it brought back memories of listening to classic hits and his heart wrenching story about the impact that Alliyah had on his life. Great book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2015
    Solid in terms of highlighting several things that I didn't know. I've been a HUGE Timbaland fan ever since I heard Luv 2 Luv U, The Rain, and Up Jumps da Boogie. Great to hear how he has overcome so much adversity in his life to produce music for over 20 years. Fun fact: He was in a group for a short time with Pharrell, another great producer. It's a quick read that provides more insight about perhaps the most innovative musical mind of our time. I wish I could hear the story behind every song, but the insight that he provides makes it good. I'd recommend it to anyone who is a music fan and especially anyone who has been forced to put a song produced by Timbaland on repeat.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021
    This book was really good I'm part of a book club so I was like here we go lol but it was really good and a refreshing change to what I usually read . A lot of things I didn't know about Timberland or other artists pre social media glad to get to know about them. I wish they would've touch a little more on what happened to his parents but other than that I really like it
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2018
    It was very inspirational and interesting. Timbaland made you feel his highs and his lows throughout the book. I couldn't put the book down. I respect the fact that he came from very humble beginnings and went through hell to make it to the top of his craft. I love his music.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2016
    Timbaland has and always be the greatest producer in my eyes. I've never been into books but this one kept me interested the whole way through. It has also made me look at certain individuals in a different light. My only minor tidbit was that I wish he touched on a couple of other points in his career. I would have read the extra 50-100 pages that entailed. But overall a good read for the casual fan or somebody who has an interest in autobiographies. this book alone has me excited to read more books and not just autobiographies
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2016
    Interesting,and inspiring...I recommend it to anyone who's into creating music,especially producers, beat makers.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Joshua Habtwold
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read about the Music Industry
    Reviewed in Canada on August 22, 2018
    Timbaland demonstrates a more diverse and straightforward way to understand the music industry through his experiences, his trials and tribulations and the people he interacted with. If you're looking to be successful, then read this book
  • anon
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very Inspiring Tale From my Favorite Music Producer.
    Reviewed in India on July 3, 2019
    I completed this Book in one sitting, that is how much interesting this book is. if you love his music, you should definitely read his biography. ***Gets Very Emotional Sometimes.***
    Print Quality of this book was good enough. cover is Catchy and detailed but won't going to last long.
  • Alexandre
    5.0 out of 5 stars Happy with the book
    Reviewed in France on January 23, 2019
    Everything OK, seller OK
  • Melissa
    5.0 out of 5 stars He loved it and read it in a few days
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2016
    Brought for my boyfriend ! He loved it and read it in a few days.... Said he couldn't put it down
  • Dan Sandy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bob on
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2018
    Timothy’s bio is a great read yo

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