In a developing trend of artists entertaining people while they’re staying indoors because of the pandemic, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland had a beat battle on Instagram Live Tuesday, March 24.
“Attention, attention, attention … It’s official. We doing this for the culture,” Timbaland said in an Instagram video. “Me and Swizzy gon’ go at it 10:00, baby. IG Live. I done have the red blood in me. It’s gonna be a good one.”
“Tell Timbo I’m getting the wine ready for the zone like he asked 🍷,” Swizz responded.
The battle was split into rounds. In the first, both superstar producers played some of their most well-known beats; in the second, they played never-before-heard beats.
“Just zones you never heard … the zones, zones, zones,” Swizz explained on Instagram Live before things began.
The two men appeared on a split screen for the battle. At one point, Swizz moved from his house to his car for a better Wi-Fi connection.
Timbaland played a string of classic tracks that he produced, including Aaliyah‘s “One in a Million,” Jay-Z‘s “Picasso Baby,” Missy Elliott‘s “Get Ur Freak On” and Ginuwine‘s “Pony.”
Swizz, meanwhile, treated viewers to songs that he produced, like Jadakiss’ “All For the Love” and N.O.R.E‘s “Banned from TV,” featuring Big Pun, Styles P, Nature, Cam’ron and Jadakiss.
At the battle’s peak, 23,000 people joined to watch, including celebrities like Sean “Diddy,” Combs, Jermaine Dupri, Fat Joe, Joey Badass and Funkmaster Flex.
Afterward, some said Swizz was the victor, while others named Timbaland and some couldn’t call it either way.
“This is dope 💜,” someone wrote about the battle on Instagram.
“Swizzy ate him,” another stated.
“Timbo all DAY!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾 #legendary,” read a third comment.
“This hard 💙,” wrote a fourth.
Timbaland and Swizz also battled each other in 2018 at Hot 97’s Summer Jam concert.
