Timbaland Responds After Bryson Tiller Says He Urged Him to Quit Job, Then ‘Abandoned’ Him

Timbaland admitted he told Bryson Tiller to quit his job before he came up with his ht song “Don’t.”

“At that time I just saw a talented kid. I didn’t know if he wanted to be a full-fledged artist, Timbaland told The Shade Room, admitting that at the time he was focused on developing his artist Link. Still, there’s no animosity between the two. “Bryson is one of the illest writers and most talented guys I know,” he said.

Timbaland’s comments come after Bryson Tiller talked about his experience with Timbaland, suggesting the superproducer told him to quit his job and then “abandoned” him.

On Monday, @spadetvofficial shared a recap of Tiller’s recent appearance on The Rory & Mal Show, framing his comments around the idea that Timbaland encouraged him to walk away from his 9-to-5 after “Don’t” blew up, only later to lose interest in his music beyond that hit. The post also noted that while Timbaland gave Tiller a little financial help, the money didn’t last, and the singer struggled to regain his footing once their connection faded.

While he expressed no hard feelings toward Timbaland during the initial interview, Tiller made clear on Instagram that he didn’t appreciate the way his story was spun online, leaving a comment under the post: “Malicious Media. smh I can’t wait for yall to play BRUTAL INDUSTRY!!! @trapsoulgames.”

Timbaland also said Tiller called him to warn him that the interview had been edited.

In the original Rory & Mal interview, the Louisville native explained that Timbaland was the first major figure to urge him to take music seriously after hearing “Don’t.”

“He was like, ‘Yo, quit your job,’” Tiller recalled. Initially unsure how he could juggle work and the opportunity, he asked for clarity: “‘Well what you sayin’, like I should quit my job?’ He was like, ‘Yeah.’”

Tiller said he rushed home from Philadelphia to quit on the spot, joking that his employers likely thought he was leaving to work for the boot company Timberland.

Afterward, he recorded more material, tracks that would eventually appear on TRAPSOUL, but Timbaland wasn’t impressed. “He wanted more songs like ‘Don’t,’” Tiller said, explaining he didn’t want to make more music in the same mold. Songs like “Sorry Not Sorry” and “Been That Way” didn’t win the producer over.

The relationship ended shortly after. Tiller said he returned home with some cash from Timbaland but was left confused about his next move. When he called to clarify if he was even signed, Timbaland allegedly denied ever telling him to quit his job. They never spoke again.

Tiller eventually finished TRAPSOUL in New York, launching his career independently.