Timbaland and 1K Phew join forces to bring faith to hip-hop

Three years ago, Grammy-winning producer Timbaland was looking for a new creative challenge: making faith-based hip-hop without abandoning the sound that made him one of music’s most influential producers.

The Virginia-born hitmaker, known for his work with Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, found an unlikely collaborator in Stone Mountain native 1K Phew, a Christian rapper whose social media videos retelling Bible Scriptures caught his attention.

“It’s simple obedience. His wittiness was very unique, and he had a gift for how he delivers his message. It’s relatable to a culture that maybe can’t be reached. He was the right vessel to pull what we’re trying to do off with street gospel and get this message to the world,” said Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Mosley.

That collaboration became “Seven Trumpets,” a joint album arriving Friday that pairs Timbaland’s signature syncopated drums, brass melodies and whimsical sound effects with 1K Phew’s rhymes about faith, spirituality and self-discovery.

1K Phew, whose real name is Isaac Gordon, and Timbaland hosted a listening party at Means Street Studios in September.

On “Walk on Water,” 1K Phew harmonizes and raps about choosing faith over following crowds, over a clicking beat with heavy bass. He recites bouncy lyrics about survival while the producer’s ad-libs mimic percussion on the album’s lead single “Safe.”

For 1K Phew the project represents an opportunity to introduce his message to audiences beyond traditional Christian music.

Timbaland made his breakthrough in 1996 when he and Elliott wrote and produced much of Aaliyah’s sophomore album, “One in a Million.” He went on to become one of music’s most sought-after producers, working with artists including Ginuwine, SWV, Brandy, Madonna and OneRepublic. A four-time Grammy winner, Timbaland was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024.

Timbaland and 1K Phew make ‘Seven Trumpets’

“Seven Trumpets” was created after 1K Phew noticed Timbaland was sharing his videos on his social accounts. The rapper sent the beatmaker a message.

For 1K Phew, who’s signed to Atlanta-based Christian hip-hop label Reach Records, it was the chance of a lifetime collaborating with his musical hero.

“He’s a huge key to music and really one of the reasons why I’m intrigued about (hip-hop) culture. God put it together on his timing. He told him a certain vision saying he had to go in a certain direction,” 1K Phew said. “He came, tapped in with me, and God told him to choose me.”

1K Phew also said his goal is to encourage hip-hop fans to connect to their faith.

“It’s being transparent about where I am with my walk and my testimony. It’s a warning call for the whole world,” 1K Phew said. “If you’re going to get right, you need to get right now because on judgment day, it won’t be any sparing.”

1K Phew and Timbaland used video calls, mobile apps and their laptops to record “Seven Trumpets.”

DJ Trendsetter Sense, host of Hot 107.9’s Christian hip-hop show “Chosen Journey” helped market “Seven Trumpets.”

Sense, whose real name is Brandon Douglass, said Timbaland was intentional about involving 1K Phew during the creative process.

“Tim would send Phew beats that weren’t completely finished. Phew would lay the verse, send it back to Tim, and Tim would send it back with all these new sounds in between,” Sense said.

Sense also said Timbaland was invested in elevating 1K Phew’s artistry.

“Phew is unapologetic about his message and has respect with people from different walks of life the same way you see a Kendrick Lamar or J. Cole,” he said. “Tim sees the potential in Phew’s songwriting, delivery, performance and expanded his talent the same way he’s worked with Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott and Nelly Furtado.”

Timbaland said collaborating with artists is about sharing information and getting to know them intimately.

“I just try to show them things they don’t necessarily know but learn more about their skills. We just educate each other’s ear, build a working relationship and keep it moving,” he said.

1K Phew said Timbaland’s constructive feedback pushed him out of his comfort zone.

“Every time I finish something, I send it directly to him. He’d tap in and tell me if it’s not it,” 1K Phew said. “He would send me beats I would’ve never picked and cadences I wouldn’t have never thought of. I’m still learning how to add different effects, textures and approaches to the records.”

Timbaland brings his sound to Georgia

Timbaland also created music with Georgia-based singer and songwriter Keri Hilson, rappers Bubba Sparxxx, Pastor Troy and Ludacris. In June, he produced Atlanta-born singer and actress Chloe Bailey’s mixtape “Resurrection.”

Timbaland said he encouraged Bailey to consider taking creative control of her music.

“Chloe is a jack-of-all-trades, and she was dialed in the same way Phew was dialed in. I was showing her the ropes about production and how she should move when she starts to produce her stuff. We just knocked it out and had a lot of fun doing it, too,” he said.

Timbaland makes a name for himself

Timbaland’s willingness to experiment extends beyond the recording studio.

In 2020, he teamed with former Stone Mountain resident and producer Kaseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean to create Verzuz, an online platform involving two musicians competing by playing or performing their song catalogs.

The producer later co-founded Stage Zero, a digital entertainment company that signed artificial intelligence-generated pop artist TaTa Taktumi.

Timbaland said exploring AI allows him to stay curious about music and technology.

“It’s not a lane. I just like the tool. It’s a great instrument,” he said.

While those ventures explore different approaches to making and presenting music, his collaboration with 1K Phew represents another creative departure, bringing his signature hip-hop production to an artist whose music is rooted in Christian faith.

1K Phew and Timbaland plan to release a second album together next year.

The rapper is also working on a joint album with Atlanta producer Zaytoven as he hopes to bring spiritual themes into mainstream hip-hop.

For 1K Phew, creating music with his hero feels surreal.

“I still haven’t really had the chance to digest it all. It’s confirmation of my purpose, growth, relationship with God and the path he put me on,” he said.

But 1K Phew sees the collaboration as something bigger than his own career.

“I just feel like it’s time. I just got to run, because it’s bigger than me,” he said. “It’s deeper than the project for real. It’s really a moment and a whole movement.”