The internet’s premier beat making sample challenge is back and with a true legend. Mass Appeal’s Rhythm Roulette kicks off its new season with none other than one of the most influential Hip-Hop and RnB producers of all time—Timbaland.

The Challenge: How Does It Work?

The rules of Rhythm Roulette are simple. Producers go into a record shop, don a blindfold, hover over the funk and soul racks and pluck 3 ‘random’ records. They then return to the lab and proceed to cook up a beat using just these records. The results range from bonafide bangers to experimental misses, but the process is always a joy to watch.

So, How Did Timbaland Do?

With over 100 episodes under its belt, featuring legendary producers like Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, and Eric Sermon, Rhythm Roulette has set a high bar. So how did Timbo fair? Well, if the comments section is anything to go by – Not well.

While some episodes have split opinion the reaction to this episode seems fairly unanimous. Timbaland scored a big fat L. Many viewers were disappointed, citing various concerns. A recurring comment theme was that Timbaland only listened to the first track of the first album he picked—a classic by Gil Scott-Heron. Adding to the criticism, many were shocked that he didn’t seem to recognize the sample he used, one previously flipped by Kanye West in his track “My Way Home.”

As well as scorn being poured on Timbo’s rather lacklustre attempt, other viewers were concerned that this episode seemed like a thinly veiled advert for Timberlands controversial ‘Beat Club’ website. The beat-making community platform has recently faced accusations of being a scam from several influencers, adding fuel to the fire.

All things considered, it seems as though Mass Appeal may well have scored a home goal with this first episode. While they had secured a truly legendary guest his attempt seems to have backfired spectacularly!

The Comments Section Speaks

Of all the episodes in the show’s history, this one seems to have attracted the most negative comments. Part of the backlash could be attributed to the sky-high expectations that come with having such a legendary contestant. Here’s a sampling of reactions from the court of public opinion:

• “This was like having a Michelin star chef serve you a frozen pizza.”
• “Timbo just wacced out his own mural”
• “Ok… I gotta wipe this episode from my memory banks! Where’s that 9th Wonder or Hi-Tek episode?”
• “Not even listening to the other records lets me know he really doesn’t care about this episode. He just wants to advertise his beat club.”
• “Oh nice, a promo for his alleged scam club”
• “He dissed type beats then made a DJ Mustard type beat”

Watch and Decide for Yourself

While the comments are overwhelmingly negative, it’s always best to judge for yourself. Catch the episode and see if you agree with the critics—or if you think Timbaland came through with the goods. Either way, the return of Rhythm Roulette is still worth celebrating for fans of beat-making culture.

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