Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Tracee Ellis Ross, Naomi Osaka Daniel Kaluuya, & Stacey Abrams Make ‘TIME’ Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People List

Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Tracee Ellis Ross, Naomi Osaka Daniel Kaluuya, & Stacey Abrams Make ‘TIME’ Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People List

TIME magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People has arrived!

Producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, Naomi Osaka, Tracee Ellis Ross, Daniel Kaluuya, and Stacey Abrams have all secured a coveted position on the list.

Super-producers and masterminds behind Verzuz, Timbaland, and Swizz Beatz were honored by singer and actress Brandy, as ‘Titians.”

Timbaland and Swizz Beatz

While discussing her relationship with Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, Brandy said,

“Two great artists coming together to celebrate other artists? You can’t beat that.” 

She continued,

“I go way back with both Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, as a hip hop head in the ’90s, Swizz work spoke to me. And Timbaland is one of my favorite producers of all time.”

During the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Timbaland and Swizz Beats created Verzuz, an online battle between artists to showcase their talent and hits. On her own experience, Brandy said,

“When they asked me to go on for a battle with Monica, an amazing artist, last year, I was nervous because I didn’t want it to be competitive; I like to share the light. But they assured us that it would be a fantastic experience. It was exactly that.” 

Brandy, Monica

Brandy said she felt Timbaland and Swizz Beatz were humble for creating this platform and finding a way to give artists their flowers. She added,

“We need people like Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, people who care about artists because artists are the people who move our emotions. They carry us through hard times. 

Also making this year’s list is tennis champion Naomi Osaka, actress, and activist Tracee Ellis Ross, Oscar award-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya, and political leader Stacey Abrams, who helped flip the state of Georgia blue by ensuring everyone were registered to vote and that all votes were counted.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Naomi Osaka

Honored by Harry Belafonte, the legendary actor wrote,

“The inordinate strength revealed by Black people in America – in their capacity to survive the harsh political journey they experience in this country, is in large part due to the fortitude black women. The power to exercise this resistance is in no small part to leaders like Stacey Abrams.” 

Harry Belafonte

He continued,

“Stacey embodies the enormousness of this gift: alongside a diverse coalition of organizers and volunteers, she spent years working and empowering the Georgia electorate. That work resulted in recorded voter turnout in recent elections. Thank you, Stacey, for all that you have done.” 

Nominated as an influential artist by director Ryan Coogler is Daniel Kaluuya. About the actor he said,

“To have a conversation with Daniel Kaluuya is a unique experience. He watches you with intense eyes and listens seemingly without fear or judgment, only attention, and empathy.” 

Ryan Coogler

He continued,

“I think his performances register on such a deep level because Daniel is a watcher, a listener, and an empathic soul committed to relating to other human beings, no matter who they are or where they are from.”

Others making the list include Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, Lil Nas X, and Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. 

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry

What are your thoughts on TIME’s list? Tell us in the comments. 

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