Need a real rap hip/hop superexpert to tell me what the song "Hold On"
on the "Under Construction part 2" cd is about.  Specifically, what
happened between Timbaland and Missy E. and the history, briefly, of
their relationship.

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 22 Sep 2005 20:15 PDT

Would a really good answer by someone who's less than a superexpert be
acceptable?  (For example, I'm not a superexpert -- I know who Missy
Elliot and Timbaland are, but don't know a lot about the history of
their relationship -- at least not until I do the research.)

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 24 Sep 2005 00:54 PDT

The information I'm finding is that "Hold On" relates not to Missy
Elliott, but to another singer.  I believe I have found enough
information to start working on an answer.

Would an answer concerning the meaning of this song, and Timbaland's
connection to this other singer, be sufficient?

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Clarification of Question by johnsurf_okmijn-ga on 24 Sep 2005 09:22 PDT

Well, I'm not really understanding how much interest and knowledge you
have in general about hip hop artists.  How can Timberland not be
talking about Missy E. when he says the name "Lilly" which would seem
to be a likely nickname for her. I really get the feeling you don't
really know what you are writting about. Do some more research if you
want and ask me for more clarification if you want, but as of now I
don't think you can answer this question to my satisfaction.
Thank you,
John R. Singleton

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 24 Sep 2005 10:03 PDT

I'll give away the basic answer to convince you that I know what I'm
talking about: Lele (not Lilly) is a nickname for Aaliyah.  (Don't the
lyrics to "Hold On" make more sense when devoted to someone who has
passed away?)

I can give evidence to back up my claim.  And while I don't want to
say I'm a "superexpert" about rap/hip hop, I've been listening to and
learning about it ever since the days of the Sugarhill Gang.  Calling
myself an expert would be vain; but I do have knowledge.

Should I get started on the full answer?

Dear John, 

The song is not about Missy. It is certainly a memorial to Aaliyah. 

Not only because of the indications that Scott has provided, although
I think these are sufficient: Timbaland sings about someone who had
caused him pain and depression, referring to her as "Lele".

You don't have to take mine or Scott's word for it. "The poignant Hold
On, Timbaland's ode to the late r'n'b songstress Aaliyah, creating a
certain balance within this collection." (SOURCE: Leo Varona,
"Timbaland And Magoo/ Present", db Magazine,
<http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/357/cd-TimbalandAndMagoo.shtml>). In
another review: ""Hold On" cuts the festive mood, as Timbaland
reflects on Aaliyah's death and Magoo addresses his child abuse atop a
violin loop that morphs into an electric guitar, underneath a
reflective Wyclef, for the chorus." (SOURCE:  Jake O'Connell, " "Under
Construction"/ Timbaland & Magoo, Universal" for AP, , as reprinted on
<http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3541300/).

However, there are other evidences out there. 

First of all, the song is featured in a memorial compiliation for
Aaliyah, "Ultimate". It is certainly featured there as a tribute to
Aaliyah.
Ultimate
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007S6892/104-8022318-7662362?v=glance>

As I hope you know, Timbaland had a history with Aaliyah, working
closely with her and producing for her:
" R&B artist Aaliyah contracted Timbaland and Missy Elliott to write
and produce most of her second album, One In A Million. The tracks
that were crafted for Aaliyah featured innovative arrangements similar
to those on Ginuwine...the Bachelor. One In A Million went on to sell
over two million copies, and made superstars out of not only Aaliyah,
but Elliott and Timbaland as well."

[...]  He also contributed three songs--all eventually released as
singles--to Aaliyah's self-titled third album.[..]

"I Am Music" [...] featured Timbaland singing alongside Stastic of
Playa and Aaliyah, who had been killed in a plane crash three months
before the release of the album. The loss of Aaliyah deeply affected
Timbaland, whose work was less omnipresent after 2001." (SOURCE:
Wikipedia article about Timbaland,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbaland>).

In a recent interview, Amerie mentioned in passing, how important
Aaliyah was to Timbaland, to the extent that she is still evident in
his work: " It's like, Timbaland can work with other artists but
there's still some Aaliyah in there." (Tracy E. Hopkins, "R&B artist
Amerie has confidence and a new album", AP, reprinted on The Seattle
Times,  September 6, 2005
<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2002470674_amerie06.html>).

Finally, here are some words he said in tribute: 
"She was like blood, and I lost blood [...] Me and her together had
this chemistry. I kinda lost half of my creativity to her. It's hard
for me to talk to the fans right now. Beyond the music, she was a
brilliant person, the [most special] person I ever met." (SOURCE:
"Timbaland, P. Diddy, Other Artists React To Aaliyah's Death",
<http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/7966/react.html>).

So, while Timbaland and Missy Elliot enjoy long relationships (they
have been friends since childhood), this song is not about Missy.

Hold On Lyrics
<http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/timbalandmagoo/holdon.html> 

I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
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aaliyah, site:www.amazon.com "hold on" "timbaland" aaliyah, "hold on"
"timbaland" lele, "hold on" "timbaland" , "hold on" "Under
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