Justin Timberlake Biography

Tennessee native Justin Timberlake burst on the music scene in 1996 with the boy band ‘N Sync, for which he played the role of teen idol and sex symbol. The group sold millions of records and toured non-stop for a number of years before going on hiatus in 2002. At that point, Timberlake decided to change his public and performing persona, and launched a solo career.  

His first solo album, Justified, debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at #2 and eventually sold more than seven million copies worldwide. He has labored since to inject R&B and hip-hop influences into his performing sets and recording repertoire by collaborating with such talents as Timbaland, the Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, and rapper Nelly. In 2005 Timberlake started his own record company, JayTee records, and released his second solo album, titled FutureSex/LoveSounds, in September of 2006.  

Produced by Timbaland, William Adams of Black Eyed Peas, Rick Rubin, and Timberlake himself, the new album features guest vocals by Snoop Dogg and Nelly Furtado. The music is described as being “all about sexiness” and aiming for a more adult feel. The first new single, “Sexy Back,” hit the airwaves in July of 2006.  

At the 2004 Super Bowl, Timberlake contributed the term “wardrobe malfunction” to the pop culture lexicon, in describing what happened at the end of a song that he performed with Janet Jackson. Apparently a little too much of Jackson’s blouse and brassiere came off, exposing her breast and nipple briefly on live, worldwide television. They were both banned from the 2004 Grammy Awards unless they promised to apologize on air; Jackson declined, but Timberlake, who was up for several awards, read a scripted apology as he accepted two Grammy’s, for Best Pop Vocal Album with Justified and Best Pop Vocal Performance.  

Timberlake has made a measured move into films after trying out a few minor acting roles during his early music career, such as a bit part in the 2000 made-for-television film Model Behavior, and a cameo in the film On the Line in 2001. More recently, he has attempted to jumpstart a full-fledged film career, playing a reporter in a noir thriller Edison, scheduled for a 2006 direct-to-video release. He has also appeared in Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan, and Southland Tales, and recorded the voice of the young King Arthur in the animated film Shrek 3, scheduled for release in 2007.  

In October 2005, the Grammy Association lauded Timberlake for his humanitarian work in his home state of Tennessee. He has opened restaurants in several U.S. cities, and started up the William Rast clothing line, which he describes as being “a little bit of Hollywood, a little bit of Tennessee,” with his close friend Trace Ayala. With food, films and finery in his entrepreneurial portfolio, it is clear that Timberlake is not counting on any one thing to establish him as a force in the marketplace. Using no more talent and energy than he has already displayed, Timberlake is certain to establish himself in several successful careers, and the music-loving, movie going, restaurant-eating public will be voting on his efforts in a lot of different ways in the years to come.  

Justin Timberlake is also well known for his relationship with Britney Spears, which lasted until March of 2002. Many people thought they were the perfect couple and still long for them to get back together. In an interview with Barbara Walters on live television Justin revealed that the hype about himself and Britney being 'chased' was a infact a lie. He confirmed that the couple had slept together, which infuriated Britney.

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