Justin Timberlake has issued a tongue-in-cheek apology for his early 2000s beatboxing habit, responding directly in the comments of a viral Instagram video that poked fun at the trend.
Creator Hannah Young posted a video joking that Timberlake frequently broke into beatboxing during his NSYNC days and the early years of his solo career, often without anyone questioning it at the time. Timberlake saw the post and weighed in himself.
What Justin Timberlake Said
Justin Timberlake joked about his early 2000s beatboxing habit in an Instagram comment, responding to a viral video that roasted the trend.Too many boots. Too many cats. I hope you can forgive me,”Too many boots.
Too many cats. I hope you can forgive me,” Timberlake wrote in the comments, referencing the classic vocal percussion sounds associated with beatboxing.Too many boots.
Too many cats. I hope you can forgive me,” Timberlake wrote in the comments. Timberlake wrote, referencing the classic vocal percussion sounds associated with beatboxing.
He continued with a more reflective admission: “I often look back on that time as well. I still haven’t come up with any answers. I don’t know how to apologize enough for whatever those ambitions were.”
Timberlake did leave the door open for a repeat performance, adding, “Also, I can’t promise I won’t do it again. God help us all.”
How Justin Timberlake Beatboxing Shaped His Biggest Hits
The comment reveals how beatboxing was central to some of his biggest early hits. Beatboxing featured on NSYNC’s 2001 track “Pop” and helped shape the sound of his solo career.
It played a direct role in the creation of “Cry Me a River,” the breakout single from his 2002 debut solo album Justified.
Timberlake recalled on Hot Ones that producer Timbaland beatboxed the song’s foundation before the two built out the track together in the studio. From there, the song came together fast.s 2001 track “Pop” and helped shape the sound of his solo career.
It also played a direct role in the creation of “Cry Me a River,” the breakout single from his 2002 debut solo album, Justified. Timberlake recalled that producer Timbaland beatboxed the song’s foundation. “The crazy thing about ‘Cry Me a River’ was he beat-boxed it first,” Timberlake said on Hot Ones. “I came into the studio and I was like less than thrilled and I think he saw my mood and he just started, like, [beat-boxing].”s foundation before the two built out the track together in the studio.
“The crazy thing about ‘Cry Me a River’ was he beat-boxed it first. I came into the studio and I was like less than thrilled and I think he saw my mood and he just started, like, [beat-boxing],” Timberlake said, according to Billboard.
“Four hours later it was, like, written and recorded and then we started working on post-production,” he recalled.
Background And Context
“Cry Me a River” became one of Timberlake’s signature early hits, helping establish him as a solo artist following his years with NSYNC. The beatboxing habit he is now joking about apologizing for was, by his own account, woven into some of the music that built that career.
Reporting from Billboard contributed to this story.
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