Tracks
Justin Timberlake f/ T.I.: "My Love"
(2006)
By Connor Morris | 29 January 2008
Remember “Girlfriend”? A decrepit attempt at giving five thoroughly white, milksop mallrats some urban flavor by the hand of the rapper who tried to heal his career with a band-aid, literally. Back then, it was a record label’s last shot at giving their waning pan-flash a makeover for an aging fan base. Without getting into semantics about where black and white music meet, where they clash, and where they mesh: it didn’t belong. It was a boy band that had no business in the parking lot and an MC who looked like Farrakhan in an episode of Friends. Hard to believe that one sixth of that abortion would go on to co-host burners with the likes of Clipse and T.I., arguably three of the best rappers in the world.
Where “Girlfriend” went wrong, “My Love” does right ten times over. In a year already well cut by Timbaland’s erratic jams, this beat marvels from miles above. Towering over “catchy,” a track like this could redefine the success of the again-budding producer, and maybe even the beyond-famous pop star. The events in order: Justin slinks his most shatterable whine to date, which slips through the spasmodic synth pops, and is complimented strongly by Crown’s usually-lamented baritone; we’re barely through the chorus, but throwing reservation out the window. With striking immediacy -- the most important layer in the Timb and Timb pastiche -- “My Love” soars to the top and says nothing of coming back down. By the time the thundering bass comes in over the chorus we’ve been hooked, and it’s just euphoria overdose from there.
And since my poker face here is all-whites, I’m ok with saying that the most genius part of the track saunters in around Tip’s verse. At three minutes in, the song is already a mainstream sensation, and that’s when the King of the South gets to big talk his game. There’s no turning back for rap’s detractors; we’re all already too deep, and for the hip-hop hierarchy, the rapper’s verse is going to make FutureSex/LoveSounds look a lot less pansified come September 12th. With immaculate cadence and buckets of confidence, T.I. passes in and out with heavy effect, reaffirming himself as one of 06’s mega-talents. There’s a rumor that Jay-Z turned down a verse on this beat; that couldn’t mean less at this moment.
By all intents and purposes, “My Love” is as close to perfection as pop has come in a long time, and counts itself as one for the ages. Five stars, 100%, A+; our rubric a mockery, and in blatant disregard. Radio, come talk to me in a year.
Where “Girlfriend” went wrong, “My Love” does right ten times over. In a year already well cut by Timbaland’s erratic jams, this beat marvels from miles above. Towering over “catchy,” a track like this could redefine the success of the again-budding producer, and maybe even the beyond-famous pop star. The events in order: Justin slinks his most shatterable whine to date, which slips through the spasmodic synth pops, and is complimented strongly by Crown’s usually-lamented baritone; we’re barely through the chorus, but throwing reservation out the window. With striking immediacy -- the most important layer in the Timb and Timb pastiche -- “My Love” soars to the top and says nothing of coming back down. By the time the thundering bass comes in over the chorus we’ve been hooked, and it’s just euphoria overdose from there.
And since my poker face here is all-whites, I’m ok with saying that the most genius part of the track saunters in around Tip’s verse. At three minutes in, the song is already a mainstream sensation, and that’s when the King of the South gets to big talk his game. There’s no turning back for rap’s detractors; we’re all already too deep, and for the hip-hop hierarchy, the rapper’s verse is going to make FutureSex/LoveSounds look a lot less pansified come September 12th. With immaculate cadence and buckets of confidence, T.I. passes in and out with heavy effect, reaffirming himself as one of 06’s mega-talents. There’s a rumor that Jay-Z turned down a verse on this beat; that couldn’t mean less at this moment.
By all intents and purposes, “My Love” is as close to perfection as pop has come in a long time, and counts itself as one for the ages. Five stars, 100%, A+; our rubric a mockery, and in blatant disregard. Radio, come talk to me in a year.