Swizz Beatz Clarifies Justin Timberlake Comments: ‘I Had To Go Hard’

“Until Justin let the world know that he—Justin gotta come out, he’s coming out,” Swizz said. “He gotta admit that he loves the Black culture and he gotta be on this stage. You took from the Black culture, you give to the Black culture. Come to Verzuz and be a part of the Black culture.”

Following some chatter surrounding the subject, Swizz and Timbaland hopped on Instagram Live together, where Timb told Swizz that he went “too hard” on Justin Timberlake. Swizz responded by saying his comments were just part of the competitor in him.

“Look, man, I had to go hard. Did you hear how them songs were sounding on that stage? You and JT, it was like JT was in the building. I was like, man!” he said. “[I] don’t got no problem with JT. … Shout out to JT, we can’t wait to get you on stage having fun, ’cause you deserve it too.”