Forget 2018, Justin Timberlake is fast forwarding to a bright AI future.
The singer and In Time actor returns with “Filthy,” the first song lifted from his Man of the Woods album, due out next month. The track splashed at midnight with a big budget video, directed by the legendary Mark Romanek (Nine In Nails, Johnny Cash, JAY-Z) who collaborated with Timberlake on the 2016 video for “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”
Set 10 years from now and touted as a “colorful” and “futuristic” escapade, “Filthy” sees Timberlake channel Steve Jobs as a charismatic inventor who presents his ultra-sophisticated creation — a funky robot — to an audience of “deep learning” professionals. Of course, Timberlake’s prototype has all the right moves.
“Filthy” fuses anthemic rock with slappy electro and was co-produced by Timberlake and his longtime partner collaborator Timbaland (as well as Danja), with additional writing credits from James Fauntleroy and Larrance Dopson.
Timberlake will drop three additional videos following “Filthy” in the lead-up to the album’s Feb. 2 release, each with their own “individual style and color” from three different directors, according to a statement. The three songs will be released every week beginning Jan. 18. And, in case you forgot, Timberlake will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl LII halftime show on Sunday, Feb. 4, just two days after Man is released.
Check out the sci-fi clip below.