Hip-hop icons Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2021. The ‘90s R&B star Brandy Norwood honors the two super producers in her write-up, commemorating the two for creating the hip-hop phenomenon, Vezuz.
On September 15, 2021, Time released their list of The 100 Most Influential People of 2021, and the Verzuz creators were mentioned for the creation of their game-changing hip-hop battle series. Brandy, who recently featured in her own Verzuz against Atlanta songstress Monica.
Brandy appreciates the producers for creating a series for hip-hop heads while showcasing and highlighting icons while giving them their flowers. As the series started in the early stages of COVID-19, it worked as an escape for music fans and artists alike. “They found a way to give artists their flowers while they’re still here and to bring us all together, and it’s brilliant.”
“It’s such a beautiful experience, and with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the live battles on Instagram, it’s clear that it’s also something people really needed—the series got us through a difficult time,” Brandy writes for Time.
“And Timbaland is one of my favorite producers of all time,” she continues. “When they asked me to go on Verzuz for a battle with Monica—an amazing artist—last year, I was very nervous because I didn’t want it to be competitive; I like to share the light. But they assured us that it would be a fantastic experience. It was exactly that. I didn’t want the night to end.”
Verzuz has been killing it with back-to-back fan-favorite shows; with The LOX and Dipset and the most recent Fat Joe Verzuz Ja Rule, the two producers show no sign of stopping anytime soon. Congrats to Swizz Beatz and Timbo for being named as two of this year’s most influential people.
— SWIZZ BEATZ (@THEREALSWIZZZ) September 15, 2021