Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, two of the greatest producers in hip-hop history, traded barbs this week and laid the groundwork for a beat battle.
Swizz started the war of words while speaking at the Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor press conference on Thursday in Brooklyn.
The Bronx native told the Barclays Center crowd,
“Timbaland want to talk shit too. So everyone out there tell Timbaland we can have a battle, we can do whatever he want to do.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWgZG58h9p6/
Shots fired!
Timbaland responded via Instagram, while playing the Game of Thrones theme song, referring to himself as Timbo Snow (a reference to GOT main character John Snow if you live under a rock or don’t have your friend’s HBO GO password).
Timbo said he was more than ready for a battle,
“Swizz, you have woken up Timbo Snow. Challenge accepted. I’m with the smoke. That’s right. You hear that Game of Thrones. You have woken up the king.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWib_JAhDGE/
Amazing.
Who knew Timbaland was a Game of Thrones fan? Surely all the GOT heads out there appreciated the reference before the Season 7 premiere.
As for the war of words between Swizz and Timbo, I can’t imagine these dudes actually have beef, but regardless, this is hilarious.
Social media blew up in lieu of Timbaland’s response to Swizz.
Get the popcorn ready!
swizz and timbaland doing a battle of the best beats? well well well… pic.twitter.com/QeaLu7KSw2
— mateo (@mateosounds) July 14, 2017
Is… there real beef or is this just a publicity stunt?
Swizz Beats told me yesterday that Timbaland don't want no smoke pic.twitter.com/lqZhdMZJCK
— Naji (@NajiChill) July 14, 2017
Everyone gonna want to watch this one
Imma be watching the Timbo/Swizz beat battle like… pic.twitter.com/p23nUZ3qkz
— Ron P (@RalphLauRon_P) July 14, 2017
SwiZZ Beats just challenged Timbaland to a beat battle pic.twitter.com/yQbs1WSpLD
— The Puppet Master (@MzRevelaZion) July 14, 2017
timbaland vs. swizz beatz. HERE FOR IT!
— brian b.dot™ miller (@bdotTM) July 14, 2017
The debate was officially on
https://twitter.com/ayeBLOKE/status/885954705486204929
Swizz got it …energy alone
— Ran (@Spanish_Ran) July 14, 2017
Timbo might have the better top 5 but swizz probably has the longer catalog of heat https://t.co/jiafU7nM15
— Jah-Lay The King 👑 (@JaleFountaine) July 14, 2017
This might just be better than Mayweather vs. McGregor…
I rather see Timbo vs Swizz than Money Mayweather vs. Conor Mcgregor
— 🦉 🏁 (@CalledMe_Buskey) July 14, 2017
Wait, weren’t we promised a Timbaland vs. Pharrell battle back in April??
Okay Swizz wants to battle Timbaland BUT WE NEVER GOT OUR TIMBO VS THE NEPTUNES/PHARRELL BATTLE YET pic.twitter.com/4q7BWtW9rq
— Skurttt Loder (@itsmrpibb) July 14, 2017
If you’re wondering exactly what the format of a beat battle is, peep the Just Blaze vs. Swizz Beatz showdown from February.
As you can see these dudes are yucking it up and dapping each other, it’s far from an antagonistic environment.
That makes you suspect the supposed beef between Swizz and Timbo is all for show.
Gotta love hip-hop, man. In no other genre would two producers, the dudes typically lurking in the shadows behind the boards, be able to create such hype and excitement with a challenge like this.
Any Timbaland and Swizz Beatz beat battle would surely only have one real winner: us.