Timbaland and Swizz Beatz Partner with Elon Musk’s X for Exclusive Verzuz Deal
In a significant move after regaining control of Verzuz, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz have partnered with Elon Musk for a new distribution deal on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France.
During the conference, Swizz Beatz expressed excitement about the partnership, saying, “We are beyond thrilled to have found the best partner for Verzuz. Not only are we excited to have Verzuz on X, but we’re also excited to help X build the biggest entertainment company in the world. I would like to thank Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Brett Weitz, Mitchell Smith, and the entire X team for believing in the Verzuz vision. We can’t wait to get to work.”
Timbaland added, “We are thrilled to partner with X, the most innovative platform globally. Our goal has always been to bring Verzuz to the world, which we can now do bigger than ever.”
The hip-hop icons also revealed plans to develop new “Entertainment Businesses” on the platform, aiming to redefine how audiences engage with their favorite entertainment.
X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, praised the partnership, stating, “X is so proud to partner with trailblazing creators, artists, and entrepreneurs Swizz Beatz & Timbaland. Our platform stands at the forefront of innovation, and Verzuz defines the essence of an innovative content experience. Together we will redefine how consumers engage with their favorite entertainment, one Verzuz at a time.”
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland initially merged Verzuz with Triller in a lucrative 2021 deal, becoming shareholders. However, they filed a $28 million lawsuit against Triller the following year, alleging the company failed to meet its financial commitments. After settling the lawsuit, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland reacquired full control of Verzuz in early 2024.
Timbaland has promised an exciting return for Verzuz, hinting at a refreshed lineup that will delight fans. “Verzuz is still a baby,” he said in an interview with AllHipHop. “It was something that was built in the pandemic that’s now a household name. We’re trying to get at least one good one before the end of the year to recalibrate what Verzuz is going to be in the future.”
Swizz Beatz also teased an epic return for Season 3, assuring fans that the changes will not alter the essence of the platform. “We have a fantastic lineup with people they wanted to see and even battles they think wouldn’t happen. Announcements will be coming soon,” he told REVOLT.
