On December 3 in the Miami Design District, the visual artist Derek Fordjour and the multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and artist Timbaland raised the curtain on “Beatmaker” alongside the leading-edge lifestyle platform 12on12. Music and art lovers alike will revel in this harmonious, determined, and boundary-breaking collaboration, which unfolds as a vinyl record and limited-edition print duo. The fashion and media brand Highsnobiety will champion the vibrant endeavor within their “Not in Miami” series, welcoming guests into a dynamic pop-up shop in the city. A limited in-store release and much-anticipated dialogue between the two visionaries are not to be missed.
Derek Fordjour and Timbaland. Photo by Louis Kassam.
The expressive and historical depth of hip-hop brings the two luminaries together for this imaginative moment, each invoking the prismatic nuances of Black culture and creativity in their respective art forms. The compelling release includes 400 hand-numbered vinyl records, a rigorously curated track compilation by Timbaland, and the soulful artistry of Fordjour gracing each cover and sleeve. 25 limited-edition prints accompany each record as an extraordinary and collectible masterwork.
Derek Fordjour and Timbaland Collaborate with 12on12
Embarking on Fordjour’s visceral art will transport audiences to the fundamental, colorful studio of a budding creative, with lyrical shapes and gestures echoing the classic forms and figures that play across sheets of music. “Our creative lives are both rooted in an obsession that has very humble beginnings,” said Fordjour. “I am grateful to 12on12 for giving us the space and time to reflect on the young boys growing up in the South we once were, locked away in our studios trying to change the world.”
““Our creative lives are both rooted in an obsession that has very humble beginnings,” — Derek Fordjour
Derek Fordjour and Timbaland. Photo by Louis Kassam.
A New Vinyl from Timbaland Unveiled in Miami
Timbaland brilliantly builds on the visual artist’s prowess with deeply felt music exploring the personal and thus the universal, culminating in a profound narrative that bridges the past, present, and future of art, music, and humanity.
“I’m beyond excited to share this 12on12 vinyl, a true piece of my journey as a producer,” added Timbaland. “Each track is a chapter, and with Derek Fordjour’s custom artwork, this collection becomes more than music—it’s a visual and sonic experience. Derek’s artistry brings a unique, vibrant layer to these beats, capturing the spirit and energy of the sounds that defined a generation. Together, the music and artwork create a story that listeners can feel, see, and hold—a piece of history that lives on in a form that’s as timeless and powerful as the music itself.”
“This collection becomes more than music—it’s a visual and sonic experience,” — Timbaland
Front view of vinyl. Courtesy of Derek Fordjour and Timbaland.
