Timbaland Still Pushing for Anita Baker & Sade #VERZUZ: ‘We Need To Give Them Their Flowers’

If nothing else, Timbaland is consistent.

The multi-Platinum hitmaker – one-half of the masterminds behind the Web sensation #VERZUZ alongside fellow producer extraordinaire Swizz Beatz – has never made a secret of his desire for Queen of Quiet Storm Anita Baker to be a guest on the viral platform.

Just five months ago, the 48-year-old took to Instagram to call for Baker to battle her fellow GRAMMY-winning R&B legend Sade – a post that drew thousands of “likes” and similar calls from his followers.

Fast forward to January 2021 (as both divas celebrated birthdays this month), Timbo took to press to reiterate his wish to have the ladies showcase their respective timeless catalogs on #VERZUZ.

Joined by Beatz, Tim took to ‘The Carlos Watson Show’ earlier this month to discuss the wild popularity of the #VERZUZ series, what the future holds for it, and – of course – their respective dream match-ups.

For him, the answer was simple: Anita and Sade.

When quizzed on the matter, he said:

“We’ve got to give Anita her flowers to tell this woman just how much her music’s done for me. We can’t leave this world without Anita Baker or celebrating Sade.”

Check out the interview highlights (as listed below) to see what else he said.

Interview highlights

1:48 – How the global health crisis shaped the creation of #VERZUZ

4:01 – Their favorite performances

4:51 – The ‘most beautiful’ moments

6:15 – Timbaland on wanting Anita Baker & Sade

9:55 – Timbaland on his musical beginnings with Aaliyah and Missy Elliott

17:50 – On Swizz & Timbaland’s favorite respective production credits to date

[photo source: Getty Images/AP Images/FilmMagic]