Born Today! Justin Timberlake
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Justin Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is a Pop-R&B singer/songwriter/producer, actor and entrepreneur. He has become an accomplished artist who is now widely-considered one of pop culture's most influential entertainers. Timberlake came to fame as a member of the pop group, *NSYNC, and, through a successful solo career, has gone on to win six Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and dozens of accolades from around the world.
MUSIC
In 2002, Timberlake released his debut album, Justified, which has sold over eight million copies worldwide. Timberlake's second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, was released in 2006 and produced four #1 singles including “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “What Goes Around…Comes Around” and “Summer Love.” With his first two albums, Timberlake has sold over 17 million albums worldwide. Timberlake co-wrote and co-produced both albums and says, “The process of writing music is almost indescribable. It's unconscious thought continuum..It's almost like if you stop and think about what you are doing too hard or too much the song might suffer. The effect is also mind blowing. It still trips me out to think that you can put together words and melody and it can affect people in so many different ways.”
Justified
In August 2002, Timberlake performed at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards where he premiered his first single, “Like I Love You,” a track produced by The Neptunes. The song reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following the single, Timberlake released his debut solo album, Justified, on November 5, 2002. The album was also a success. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 439,000 copies in its first week of release. It eventually went on to sell over 4 million copies in the U.S. and over 8 million copies worldwide. The album also received critical acclaim, thanks to its heavy R&B influence provided by producers The Neptunes and Timbaland. It spun off hits throughout late 2002 and 2003, including the top ten singles “Cry Me A River” and “Rock Your Body.”
Timberlake supported the album by co-headlining the Justified/Stripped Tour with Christina Aguilera in the summer of 2003. For many dates, The Black Eyed Peas served as the opening act, for whom Timberlake co-wrote/produced their #1 hit “Where Is The Love.”
FutureSex/LoveSounds
He released his second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, on September 12, 2006. The album, which Timberlake co-wrote and co-produced in 2005, debuted in the #1 position on the Billboard 200 album chart. It sold 684,000 copies its first week. A 56% increase in 1st week sales compared to his first solo album Justified. The album was produced by Timberlake along with Timbaland, will.i.am, Rick Rubin, and features guest vocals by top acts such as T.I., will.i.am and the Oscar-winning Three 6 Mafia. The album's lead single, “SexyBack,” was performed by Timberlake at the opening of the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. It began receiving radio and Internet play on July 7, 2006, and premiered at #90 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. By week 9 it reached number one, where it remained for seven consecutive weeks. “My Love,” the album's 2nd single also co-produced by Timbaland and featuring rapper T.I., reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for the week ending November 11, 2006. Timberlake performed the album's third single “What Goes Around.../...Comes Around” on the December 16, 2006 episode of Saturday Night Live, the same week it debuted at #64 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later on, “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around” would become a #1 hit.
In January 2007, Timberlake launched the FutureSex/LoveShow world tour, which was one of the top grossing tours of 2007. The FutureSex/LoveShow was broadcast from Madison Square Garden on HBO and received critical praise. In June of 2007, his 4th single off of FutureSex/LoveSounds — “Summer Love” - became a #1 hit single. Justin is the first artist in Nielsen Top 40 history to chart four #1 hits from one album.
Music Producer
Justin also has and continues to write and produce chart-topping music for some of today's most popular artists including 50 Cent, Ciara, Duran Duran, Madonna, Reba McEntire, Rihanna and T.I.
FILM & TELEVISION
In addition to music, Timberlake has also embarked on a successful career in film and television as both an actor and producer. Pursuing a lifelong passion for acting, Timberlake says, �This art of acting is a process I love very much.� On the day you are actually shooting a scene, it�s very similar to music in that you have all of these tools that you have cultivated and thoughts that you have put into character and someone yells �action� � then its your job to forget everything and be in that one moment. It's an unbelievably fulfilling experience for me and I look forward to building upon my art in the years to come.
Film
In addition to Justin Timberlake's multi-platinum album FutureSex/LoveSounds, which produced four consecutive #1 singles, his critically acclaimed 2007 FutureSex/LoveShow tour, and multiple Grammy Awards - he appeared in four films in 2007. Timberlake received rave reviews for Universal's crime drama ALPHA DOG co-starring Emile Hirsh, Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone. The Los Angeles Times said the movie is “a showcase of Timberlake, who turns in Alpha Dog's most nuanced performance.” He was also applauded for his role in Black Snake Moan, Craig Brewer's follow up to his Sundance hit Hustle and Flow, along with Christina Ricci and Samuel L. Jackson which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and opened February 23rd. In the summer of 2007, he loaned his voice to the all-star cast of DreamWorks' third installment of Shrek, Shrek The Third. He starred alongside Cameron Diaz, Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy, as the voice of Artie - the young King Arthur. In the U.S., Shrek The Third generated $121 million the 1st weekend at the box office — breaking box office records for animated movies. And finally, Timberlake joined Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Mandy Moore in Southland Tales from the director of the cult hit Donnie Darko. In the summer of 2008, Justin starred alongside Mike Meyers and Jessica Alba in the 20th Century Fox film, Love Guru. In 2009, Justin will appear in the independent film, The Open Road, with Jeff Bridges, Mary Steenburgen, Harry Dean Stanton and Kate Mara.
Television
Television has become yet another artistic outlet for Timberlake. He has hosted Saturday Night Live three times and several of his sketches have become viral video sensations including the Emmy Award-winning “D**k in the Box” that has been viewed over 100 million times on YouTube. Furthering his forays into televisioin, Timberlake has hosted MTV's Europe Music Awards, Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards, and recently ESPN's 2008 ESPY Awards. He also serves as executive producer on the MTV reality show called “The Phone.”
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