Justin Timberlake Tells DJ Khaled He’s “The Best A&R Guy” In The Business

Justin Timberlake hopped on the phone with DJ Khaled to praise their collab on “Just Be” from the A-list aggregator’s latest, Khaled Khaled. “Bro, first off, you’re the best A&R guy in the game”, Timberlake said in a minute-long video Khaled posted on Tuesday night (May 4). Wearing a knit cap and a white t-shirt, Timberlake gave props to Khaled for his uncanny ability to ask the right questions at the right time.

“Your timing right now, and what you sent me and where I’m at in my life?” Timberlake added. “And I know it’s where you’re at in your life. We’ve been knowing each other for a long, long time. This record touched me man”. On the pre-chorus to the lush ballad about getting out of your own way and living in the moment, Timberlake croons, “‘Cause things are happening that I can’t see (see)/ And if I got patience, then I got peace (peace)/ I have to lеt go, let go, let go of evеrything (thing)/ And watch what happens when I break free (free)”.

Khaled said Timberlake’s contribution to the album featuring the usual compliment of superstar vocalists and rappers — including Lil Wayne, H.E.R., Migos, Cardi B, Lil Baby, Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Justin Bieber, Drake and Jay-Z, among others — made him cry. “This is an important song”, Timberlake said, suggesting that if Jigga’s 2002 The Blueprint anthem “Song Cry” had never existed, but then Justin and Jay’s 2013 collab “Holy Grail” was “Song Cry” it would sound like this. You follow?

“I got the right rasp in the right spots, bro!” Timberlake enthused. The clip ends with Khaled trying to convince Justin Timberlake that they absolutely must shoot a video for the track. “It’s needed!” Khaled tells him. Justin also posted a video of Khaled singing along and listening to the track in the studio as Timbaland and Swizz Beatz nod their heads.

Big love to @djkhaled for asking me to be a part of this #KhaledKhaled album! 🙌🏻 ALWAYS BE YOU!!! https://t.co/K2h9npJpIq

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) May 5, 2021

Billboard