Executive Overview
In a revealing sit-down interview with Complex on November 5, pop icon Justin Timberlake looked back across a storied career defined by 39 Billboard Hot 100 entries as a solo artist and 13 additional chart appearances as the falsetto-driven anchor of *NSYNC. Asked to evaluate and re-rank the premier tracks of his decorated catalog, Timberlake surprised some fans by awarding the crown not to his signature club-igniter "SexyBack," nor to the emotional tour de force "Cry Me a River," but to his 2007 Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper, "What Goes Around…/…Comes Around."
Co-produced by the legendary Timbaland alongside Danja, the sweeping, cinematic anthem served as the final commercial single from Timberlake’s landmark sophomore solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds. During the interview, Timberlake peeled back the curtain on the track’s rapid 20-minute genesis, debunked a nearly two-decade-old tabloid rumor regarding its subject matter, and reflected on how the song—alongside its star-studded, 10-minute short-film music video—cemented his transition from a boy-band alumnus to an undisputed, genre-defining auteur of 21st-century pop and R&B.
Detailed Chronology: The Making of a Masterpiece
From Concept to Record in Twenty Minutes
To understand the gravity of "What Goes Around…/…Comes Around," one must trace the timeline back to late 2005 and early 2006. As Timberlake and his core production team—chiefly Timbaland and Nathaniel "Danja" Hills—began mapping out the sonic landscape for the follow-up to his 2002 multi-platinum debut, Justified, the goal was clear: push pop music into uncharted, futuristic territories textured with heavy synthesizers, acoustic guitar accents, and stuttering, syncopated rhythms.
Timberlake revealed to Complex that "What Goes Around…/…Comes Around" was the very first track written for what would become FutureSex/LoveSounds. Rather than being labored over for weeks, the song materialized with frightening speed.
"I just went in and again, this song was written in damn near 20 minutes," Timberlake recalled. "It was just flowing. The interlude that goes with it and then you put the video with it… We shot a 10-minute video we shot for it. This just hit on all cylinders for me."
The track’s unique structure—split cleanly between a driving, mid-tempo revenge anthem and a haunting, psychedelic outro—showcased a maturing artist willing to challenge conventional radio formats. Propelled by Timbaland’s razor-sharp drum programming and Danja’s atmospheric synth pads, the song captured a tense, dramatic narrative that immediately resonated with listeners worldwide.
Debunking the Tabloid Myth
For nearly two decades, entertainment journalism and celebrity gossip columns operated under the unwavering assumption that "What Goes Around…/…Comes Around" was an auto-biographical confession. Pop culture sleuths persistently linked the song’s themes of betrayal and heartbreak to Timberlake’s high-profile, highly publicized split from pop star Britney Spears.
However, Timberlake used his Complex retrospective to definitively set the record straight, dispelling the rumor once and for all:
"Maybe I should dispel a rumor at this point, which has gone around forever, which it’s not a personal story of mine; it’s actually a personal story from a friend."
Timberlake elaborated on the genesis of the lyrics, pointing to a conversation with his close friend, Juan "Trace" Ayala:
"He was going through it and telling me what had happened. I said, ‘Do you mind if I write about this?’ And I quote, my friend said, ‘Yeah, torch that bi—. What goes around comes around.’ I was like, ‘I have to go. Thank you, I have to go.’"
While internet sleuths had long speculated that the song was inspired by Ayala’s turbulent relationship with The Girl Next Door actress Elisha Cuthbert, Timberlake’s revelation confirms that the emotional core of the song was born out of empathetic observation rather than personal score-settling.
The Cinematic Visual and Commercial Peak
No retrospective of "What Goes Around" is complete without examining its companion visual. Directed by veteran music video director Samuel Bayer—known for his gritty, cinematic work on Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit"—the 10-minute short film paired Timberlake with Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson.
Shot in Los Angeles, the mini-movie featured dramatic dialogue, moody lighting, and a tense narrative involving love triangles, illicit gambling, and a tragic car crash. The cinematic approach was a deliberate artistic statement, elevating music videos from mere promotional tools to high-art mini-features.
The strategy paid massive dividends commercially. Following its release as the third official single from FutureSex/LoveSounds, "What Goes Around…/…Comes Around" stormed up the charts, eventually dethroning Akon’s "Don’t Matter" to secure the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2007. It earned Timberlake a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, while the album itself garnered multiple nominations, including Album of the Year.
Supporting Context & Metrics: A Catalog of Excellence
In ranking "What Goes Around" at the very top of his personal catalog, Timberlake weighed it against an embarrassment of riches. His top five choices—spanning his career-defining solo outputs—represent some of the most influential pop and R&B recordings of the 2000s and 2010s:
- "What Goes Around…/…Comes Around" (2007) – The dramatic, Timbaland-produced epic characterized by its acoustic guitar flourishes and cinematic scope.
- "Mirrors" (2013) – The sweeping, eight-minute progressive-pop masterpiece from The 20/20 Experience, dedicated to his grandparents.
- "My Love" (2006) – Featuring T.I., this stuttering electro-R&B track showcased a masterclass in vocal layering and innovative beat-boxing cadences.
- "SexyBack" (2006) – The earth-shattering lead single from FutureSex/LoveSounds that single-handedly shifted the soundscape of American Top 40 radio toward electronic-dance-infused hip-hop.
- "Cry Me a River" (2002) – The moody, melancholic breakup anthem that established Timberlake as a formidable solo force away from NSYNC.
The Kanye West Connection: Graduation and "Stronger"
Timberlake’s influence during this era extended far beyond his own tracklist. During his Complex interview, he reflected on a mutual creative exchange with Kanye West, who was deeply inspired by the sonic direction of FutureSex/LoveSounds while recording his watershed 2007 album, Graduation.
West famously modeled his massive hit "Stronger"—which sampled Daft Punk’s "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"—after the rhythmic innovation of Timberlake’s "SexyBack." Seeking authenticity in his production, West brought in Timbaland to fine-tune the drum programming on the track.
"You could probably find it, Kanye came to one of the shows on the FutureSex/LoveShow Tour," Timberlake reminisced. "I had him come up and we did ‘Stronger’ together. He showed up and was suited up like I was. It was a moment. I remember talking a lot about that song."
This cross-pollination of ideas underscored the dominant cultural currency Timberlake and Timbaland held over mid-2000s popular music, bridging the gap between urban R&B, electronic music, and stadium hip-hop.
Future Outlook: New Collaborations and Horizons
While looking backward offered a nostalgic trip through pop history, Timberlake’s recent activities prove he remains actively engaged in shaping contemporary music.
During the conversation, Timberlake dropped news regarding his ongoing creative partnerships. Following a surprise guest appearance at Don Toliver’s Miami tour stop in August—where the "Can’t Say" rapper performed "BODY," a standout track from his OCTANE album that prominently samples Timberlake’s 2002 hit "Rock Your Body"—the two artists immediately headed into the studio.
"I was like, ‘Don’t you have a studio on the road?’ He was like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘Cool, take a shower. Let’s work.’ We stayed at the arena for a couple hours. We did a few ideas," Timberlake teased.
This impromptu studio session highlights Timberlake’s enduring appeal to younger generations of hip-hop and R&B artists. By continuously embracing modern sampling culture and collaborating with contemporary hitmakers, Timberlake bridges his legacy as a 2000s pop titan with the forward-looking sounds of today’s streaming era.
As fans pore over his catalog re-rankings and re-examine the intricate storytelling behind "What Goes Around…/…Comes Around," Justin Timberlake remains a defining architect of modern American pop music—an artist whose past triumphs continue to inform the evolving soundscape of tomorrow.
