Opera Noir (Timbaland album)

Opera Noir is the upcoming Fourth Studio Album by American record producer and rapper Timbaland.

Background and production

Originally, Timbaland planned to title his fourth studio album Shock Value III, but he announced his forthcoming album would be titled Opera Noir during his tour with Jay Z in fall 2013. In 2011 and 2012, various songs were released and purported to be on Shock Value III, including "Pass at Me" featuring Pitbull and David Guetta, "Break Ya Back" featuring Dev, and "Red Bone" featuring Petey Pablo. It appears those songs were scrapped and will not appear on Textbook Timbo.

Later, when discussing the name change, Timbaland indicated that there was a reason:

In early December 2013, Timbaland confirmed he was in the mixing stage of his album.

Music and collaborations

Collaborations confirmed for Textbook Timbo include Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, and Drake. Other collaborations include childhood friend Missy Elliott and Cuban-American singer Kat Dahlia, the former who collaborated on various tracks such as "School Bell Ring", "Done Done" and "Lay It Down". Another track featuring Elliott included "This Track Is Stoopid", but was later ReWorked and leaked as a snippet collaboration with Pusha T. There is no confirmation as of yet if Elliott's vocals will be kept in the song's final version.

In discussing "Sorry" featuring Keri Hilson, Timbaland talks AbOUT how the song was written as an apology to both Beyoncé and Jay Z:

Promotion and release

Singles

On November 15, 2013, the song "Know Bout Me" featuring Jay Z, Drake, and James Fauntleroy premiered on Power 106, the Los Angeles hip-hop radio station. The song was later added to iTunes on November 21, 2013. A lyric video for the song was released on December 12, 2013. It is unclear if "Know Bout Me" is the official first single rather than a promotional single.

Guest Stars

The album has Tink, V Bozeman, Andre 3000, Cee Lo Green, among others.

Confirmed tracks

• "Lose The Moment"
• "UFO" with Tink & Andre 3000
• "Earth"
• "TBA" featuring V Bozeman
• "So Good" with Rochelle Jordan
• "TBA" featuring V Bozeman
• "TBA" featuring Tink
• "Found Myself in Autumn" featuring Daughtry