When the song “Get Ur Freak On” hit radio in 2001, it set the world of popular music on fire. Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s first crossover hit sounded nothing like the chart-topping bluesy rock of Aerosmith or Lenny Kravitz, or the smooth R&B of Joe or Jagged Edge. It was a song that compelled you to dance - literally, with Missy issuing repeat commands to “get ur freak on” and encouraging crowds to gather ‘round in what we’ve only ever experienced as a hot slick mess of bodies, cheering and vibing as one pretzeling mass. But this song was years in the making. Timbaland and Missy had been hard at work on the sound for nearly a decade before “Get Ur Freak On” was heard by anyone.

This week, in yet another segment of our Modern Classics miniseries, our guest host and former producer Megan Lubin shares the story of the sound that made “Get Ur Freak On” a pop music phenomenon, and transformed Timbaland into one of the most ubiquitous producers of the aughts.

Songs Discussed

Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On

Tweet - Oops (Oh My)

Jay-Z - Dirt off Your Shoulder

Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around... Comes Around

2Pac - Me Against The World

TLC - Creep

Ginuwine - Pony

Aaliyah - One in a Million

Jay-Z ft. UGK - Big Pimpin’

Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me a River

Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous

Justin Timberlake ft. T.I. - My Love

Timbaland ft. One Republic - Apologize

Sports Car - Tate McRae

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How Missy Elliott and Timbaland Freaked the World