2006 Was Defined By This Justin Timberlake Album. 20 Years Later, It’s Still His Best Work

Justin Timberlake is a masterclass in career longevity. In the early 90s, he served as a young Mouseketeer on The All New Mickey Mouse Club, alongside future girlfriend Britney Spears, future singer Christina Aguilera, future bandmate JC Chasez, and future actor Ryan Gosling. He went on to bring his talents to the mega-successful boy band NSYNC alongside Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass, embarking on five nationwide concert tours and selling over 70 million records. Together, they solidified themselves as one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Despite their success, however, he knew there was a path to becoming a solo artist calling him.

Timberlake’s debut album, 2002’s Justified, introduced the world to his abilities on his own, showcasing a tenderhearted side through vulnerable storytelling while enlisting a number of musical features. However, it was his sophomore project, 2006’s FutureSex/LoveSounds, that completely changed everything the industry knew about pop music at large. 20 years later, it continues to hold the crown not only as Timberlake’s most important body of work yet, but one of the most critical albums of the early 2000s entirely. Here’s a deep dive into its legacy and impact, two decades later.

Justin Timberlake's 'FutureSex/LoveSounds'

While Timberlake’s debut project maintained steady in the R&B and pop lane, FutureSex/LoveSounds collected influence from a much wider range of genres. It contained remnants of techno, electro-funk, trance, and rock, challenging the industry trying to define its parameters.

Marking a pivotal turning point in his career, in the 2000s pop and R&B, FutureSex/LoveSounds debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 684,000 copies in its first week. This was one of the strongest solo male pop debuts of the year, which is why it continues to hold such high caliber. It featured guest verses from artists like T.I., Three-6-Mafia, and will.i.am, helping to round out its dynamic soundscape. Many modern acts, from Zayn Malik to Nick Jonas, attempted to try and mirror FutureSex/LoveSounds’ magic, though the global multi-platinum seller was a product of perfect timing and a brave venture into new territory. With audio novellas, interlude twists, eccentric sound effects and an unrelenting falsetto, it was nothing like what the industry had heard before.

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The album produced six hit singles, including “SexyBack,” a bold reinvention of Timberlake’s sound that comfortably sat at the top of the charts for weeks. “My Love” and “What Goes Around… Comes Around” also both reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, though they served far more than just radio staples. Drenched in dance, sensuality, and brash confidence, each song helped build out a world where your ego is the sun and desire is the drive. It proved that male pop stars could experiment outside traditional lines and be reborn through new identities, so long as they were guided by their intuitive compass.

'FutureSex/LoveSounds' Lasting Legacy

Timberlake had previously maintained allegiance to Neptunes production, FutureSex/LoveSounds was entirely Timbaland’s. His magic was a centerpiece in the project, experimenting with sound effects that were eclectic and out of this world. Thanks to his immersive production, FutureSex/LoveSounds helped reshape the sound of mid-2000s pop and R&B, meeting electro-funk, with R&B in a way that few mainstream pop albums had before. Bringing the album alive as it begs to be, Timberlake also embarked on the FutureSex/LoveShow tour in 2007, which became one of his highest-grossing tours of that era. The project’s cultural footprint is undeniably deep.

When it comes to accolades, the album collected countless, including several Grammy nominations and wins. “SexyBack” earned Best Dance Recording, “My Love” won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows” earned Best Dance Recording, and “What Goes Around… Comes Around” went home with Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The album itself also earned the nomination for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, underscoring its critical as well as commercial recognition. The album was also significant enough to be added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s music library and archive, an honor that puts on a pedestal its cultural importance.

Widely considered one of the defining pop albums of the early 21st century, maintaining a comfortable spot on numerous best-of lists, Timberlake has continued to contribute great work to the industry, though nothing touches just how massively impactful and ahead of its time FutureSex/LoveSounds was.