Justin Timberlake already had three albums under his belt when he left his first musical enterprise, ‘N Sync. The boy band became a household name wherever teens an pre-teens lived. ‘N Sync featured Timberlake as lead vocalist. The band used the momentum already in play from other so-called boy-bands to jettison their slightly edgier style to the forefront of pop and dance.
From 2002 onward Timberlake struck out on his own. An artist branded with the kind of teen superstardom that marked Timberlake would obviously have an uphill battle crafting a more mature, even edgy image. Timberlake’s first single was “Like I Love You,” released by Jive Records in 2002, and R&B their specialty. Jive is a sub-sub label of Sony/BMG. When the single performed so well out of the gate, the album followed not far behind. Justified turned out to be both a commercial success, as well as serve as the vehicle through which a mature Timberlake emerged. No longer boy with dance moves tightly screwed to teeny-bopper lyrics, here was a Justin pushing the sexy envelope with silky R&B and much funkier style. His first album not only earned Grammy awards, but also worked to accelerate his new solo image for the next year or so. Singles “Rock Your Body” and “Cry Me A River” were further hits.
Perhaps the single most entertaining event for Timberlake was the Super Bowl XXXVIII when he and Janet Jackson shared the stage for what has since become one of the most titillating and controversial half-time shows ever. If Timberlake was still unfamiliar to some by the time of this 2004 Super Bowl, then at the moment Janet Jackson’s breast was exposed, that all changed.
While the furor died down Timberlake instead did more collaborations than work on his own. His second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds was released to a very anxious audience in the fall of 2006. “SexyBack,” an immediate hit, won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. Timberlake also won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “My Love.” So far the other hit single off FutureSex is “What Goes Around...”
Justified (2002):
FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006):