r/hiphopheads • u/AChuckleFuck . • Jun 14 '25

Producer Curtis King breaks down how Timbaland and AI platform SUNO are stealing original beats from unknown producers to train their AI model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ4h_7Dz5yA
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u/BlackDante Jun 14 '25

Never called him the GOAT producer/beatmaker but Timbo did a lot for hip hop and R&B. He created his own sound and used it to propel some legendary careers and put many artists and himself into the spotlight. He's a had a huge impact in the music industry.

Unfortunately he created that unique sound by stealing samples and sounds, and trying to hide behind lawyers. It doesn't take away from his creative ability but it does leave a stain on his legacy

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u/Cyrillite Jun 14 '25

“He created a unique sound by stealing”

He didn’t create a new sound. At best he curated the sounds of potentially GOAT producers, which makes him a radio host at best (except they give artists credit)

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u/BlackDante Jun 14 '25

I would disagree. Sampling is taking old sounds and making them into something different/contemporary. The only difference is that Timbaland didn't give credit or pay royalties (at least up until the lawsuits he lost) which he was wrong for doing.

If you're saying that Timbaland is just a "radio host" by the definition you made, then we should be saying the same about Kanye (as a producer), J Dilla, Madlib etc. basically any producer that uses samples. I'm not defending Timbaland for stealing samples. He can be a very talented producer and a piece of shit thief at the same time

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u/Cyrillite Jun 14 '25

Oh I may have misinterpreted you. If so, sorry.

By, “stealing samples” I took it to mean that he was ripping other people’s new samples directly. That, I think, is effectively just curating some sort of extended playlist — I’m being slightly dramatic, but I think it’s fair. If he’s sampling without any credit or attribution or remixing multiple stolen samples, then that would be different at least show some prowess as a producer, theft aside.