Timbaland hasn’t been putting out as much work as he did in the past, and is without high profile hits since his 2014 collabs with Beyonce and Justin Timberlake. Now we know why. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the veteran producer said he had a substance abuse problem, and he also suffered from depression.
"I was on drugs,” he admitted. "I was on OxyContin ... Music is a gift and curse. Once you're not popping, it plays with your mind. The pills helped block out the noise. I'd just sleep all day. I remember JAY-Z told me one time 'Don't do no more interviews,' because I was saying crazy shit."
Timbaland explained that he started with Oxys to help with an old gunshot wound, but then he got addicted. In fact, he almost overdosed one night, which made him take another look at himself.
"All I can tell you is that there was a light," he explained. "I woke up trying to catch my breath like I was underwater. But through that whole thing I saw life. I saw where I would be if I don't change, and where I could be if I did.”
The very next day, Timbo started to remove himself from the pills and eventually quit altogether.
"But I thought about Michael Jackson," he said. "I didn't want to be old and taking these pills."
The 45-year old tells the music mag he's in a much better place now and is getting ready to get back onto the charts.
"Right now, I feel like what I can do with my legacy is to give back," Timbaland says. "Which means finding the youth of today. Look at Quincy Jones – he was 50 when he did Thriller! What's my Thriller!"
Do you think Timbaland can get back on top?