"Suit &Tie" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake for his third studio album,The 20/20 Experience (2013). Featuring a rap verse by fellow American rapper Jay-Z,the song was written and produced by Timberlake,Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley,and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon,with additional writing from James Fauntleroy and Jay-Z. It contains a portion of the 1972 song "Sho' Nuff" by Sly,Slick and Wicked,whose members are credited as co-writers on "Suit &Tie". The song was released on January 14,2013,by RCA Records,as the lead single from The 20/20 Experience. It serves as Timberlake's highly anticipated musical comeback following a six-year hiatus. During this time,he pursued an acting career and developed his skills as a record producer and songwriter for other artists.
Musically,"Suit &Tie" is a mid-tempo R&B and soul song that incorporates a "slow-drawl" consisting of slowed-down synths and "slightly out of time" drum claps,similar to the chopped and screwed remixing style. Lyrically,the song is an ode to the joys of "being handsome and well-dressed". Upon release,the song received positive reviews from critics,who praised both the song and Timberlake for representing R&B in a way many contemporary songs could not. Commercially,"Suit &Tie" was a success,selling 315,000 first-week downloads in the US,surpassing the 250,000 debut of "SexyBack" in 2006 and becoming Timberlake's highest sales week for a download at the time,until the release of "Can't Stop the Feeling!" in 2016. The song went on to peak at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached the top five in both the UK and Canada,peaking at number three in both regions. As of 2018,it has sold 3.3 million downloads in the US.
An accompanying music video for "Suit &Tie" was shot on January 25,2013,and was directed by David Fincher,whom Timberlake had previously worked with in The Social Network. To promote the song,Timberlake and Jay-Z performed "Suit &Tie" at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards on February 10,2013. They performed the song again during Timberlake's hosting of Saturday Night Live on March 9,2013. The music video was released on Timberlake's Vevo page on Valentine's Day 2013. It won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background and inspiration
In June 2011,Specific Media Group and Timberlake jointly purchased Myspace for approximately $35 million.[1] Timberlake started writing and recording for his third studio album in the "late part of May,first week in June" and concluded in July 2012.[2] The project was produced in a span of 20 days.[3] In August 2012,producer Jim Beanz reported that Timberlake started work on his new music project.[4] However,at that time,shortly after the announcement,Timberlake's publicist revealed that there were no current plans for a new Timberlake album,affirming instead that Timberlake was working with Timbaland on songs for his upcoming project Shock Value III.[4] Although,originally planned for release in October 2012,the album's date was postponed because of the singer's wedding with actress Jessica Biel.[2] Timberlake's manager,Johnny Wright,stated that although the project involved artists who are primarily Timberlake's friends,it was tough keeping the album a secret,making them use codenames for the project.[2] The album was released on March 15,2013,under the title The 20/20 Experience.[5]
According to Timberlake:"The inspiration for this really came out of the blue and to be honest,I didn't expect anything out of it. I just went into the studio and started playing around with some sounds and songs. It was probably the best time I've had in my career... Just creating with no rules and/or end goal in mind and really enjoying the process."[6]
Writing and production
"Suit &Tie" was written by Timberlake,Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley,Shawn Carter,Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon,James Fauntleroy,Terrance Stubbs,Johnny Wilson,and Charles Still.[7] The song was produced by Timbaland,Timberlake,and Harmon.[7] Timberlake arranged and produced his vocals,which were recorded at Larrabee Studios in North Hollywood,California.[7] Harmon provided keyboards for the song,while Elliott Ives played the guitar.[7] The song was engineered by Chris Godbey,with assistance from Matt Weber.[7] The song was mixed by Jimmy Douglass,Godbey,and Timberlake at Larrabee Studios.[7] The song contains a portion of "Sho' Nuff" by Sly,Slick and Wicked.[7]
"Suit & Tie" is a mid-tempo R&B and soul song, with a length of 5:26 (album version) and 4:29 for the radio/single version.[8][9][10] The song, written in the key of D major, begins with a "slow-drawl" intro consisting of slowed-down synths and "slightly out of time" drum claps, reminiscent of the Chopped and Screwed style of DJing.[11][12] A distorted Timbaland growls "awoo", before he and Timberlake sing: "I be on my suit and tie shit". After a brief pause, the song settles into a "rolling, laidback" groove, featuring finger clicks and old-school horn blasts that add a layer of sophistication.[11][13] Timbaland's "shiny collection" of percussion congeals on the track.[6]Jay-Z's appearance is a single verse which appears roughly two-thirds of the way into the track.
Featuring a portion of Sly, Slick and Wicked's 1972 recording "Sho' Nuff", produced by James Brown,[14] "Suit & Tie" is a sleek dance number with several start-stop components arranged in a way similar to his debut single "Like I Love You" (2002).[6] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News wrote that the song is in the "classic" style of Curtis Mayfield, yet "isn't in any way conventionally retro".[13] The song "floats along" like a song from The Whispers, but according to Melinda Newman of HitFix, Timbaland's production manages to pay homage without sounding dated.[15] The song then goes into a hypnotic, engaging outro before a great, cold ending.[15] Lyrically, the song is an ode to the joys of "being handsome and well-dressed".[16]
Release
Jay-Z's contribution on the song received mixed reviews
In early January 2013, via his official Twitter account, Timberlake posted a tweet, "I think I'M READY", before posting a link to a YouTube video which shows him walking into a studio and explains his absence from releasing new songs.[17] In the minute-long video, a camera follows Timberlake as he walks through a recording studio, while the singer's voice-over discusses why it's been so long between albums.[17] In the video, he reveals that he is not interested in releasing something he doesn't love. The video closes with Timberlake entering a recording booth, putting on headphones, and saying, "I'm ready."[17] Subsequently, on the singer's official site, a countdown leading up to Monday, January 14, at 12 a.m. ET appeared, and so there was speculation of a new single and album to break Timberlake's hiatus.[17] That timing coincided with a tweet that Power 105.1 radio personality Charlamagne posted, saying, "Justin, Jay-Z Timbaland. New record Monday".[17]
Following months of private beta testing, Myspace was relaunched on January 15. The site's front page featured an image of Timberlake in a suit and tie. In addition, a chance to stream or download "Suit & Tie" for joining or signing into Myspace was given.[18]Wired magazine wrote that by doing this, the site, which was completely revamped to focus on "assisting artists in sharing their music with passionate fans", is sending a "clear message" about what the network is good for: "posting music for free, and trying to upsell it to downloads".[18]
Critical reception
Timberlake performing the song at DirecTV Super Night in New Orleans on February 2, 2013.
The song received positive reviews upon release.[19] Michael Cragg of The Guardian wrote that "Suit & Tie" feels like the work of someone "luxuriating in the fact they're making music again" and not someone "desperate to redefine pop in the face of its recent club-related slump". He stated that the song is not a "sound-redefining, statement-making, globe-conquering comeback single" like "SexyBack" (2006) was, but "more of a midway point" between his previous singles "Señorita" and "Summer Love".[11] A reviewer from The Independent wrote that Timberlake appears to have "gone up an octave" since he last released new music. The reviewer also compared the song to "Rock Your Body" and "SexyBack".[16]
Stephen Deusner of Pitchfork awarded the track their Best New Track tag, praising Timberlake's vocal performance and Timbaland's production by saying, "Timbaland creates a smooth beat out of a marimba roll and harp glissando that Marvin Gaye must have left on the cutting-room floor, and Timberlake rides it with that fluid, effortless falsetto." Deusner, however, noted that the feature verse from Jay-Z is "another in a string of uninspired cameos," but it couldn't "sink the song's slinky vibe."[20]Popjustice, in the same vein, claimed that the song was "officially, and very disappointingly, mediocre" and "it could make a decent third single from an album, if they were struggling".[21]
Melinda Newman of HitFix said to "leave it to Timberlake" to represent R&B in a way that "few contemporary artists are today", noting Bruno Mars and Miguel being a few exceptions.[15] Kia Makarechi of The Huffington Post wrote that "Our expectations are our greatest enemy. ... If we ditch the notion that Justin needs to reinvent dance music every time he drops an album (a tall order for any artist), 'Suit & Tie' may actually give us a lot to look forward to".[22]
Commercial performance
A few hours after its release, "Suit & Tie" reached the top position on the U.S. iTunes Store.[23] The song debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 based on two days of airplay in the week ending January 26, 2013.[24] "Suit & Tie" also debuted at number 14 on Billboard's Pop Songs chart with 6,045 plays, the highest detections total by a new entry in the chart's history. Only Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift debuted higher at number 12 with "Dreamlover" (1993) and "Shake It Off" (2014), respectively; additionally, Swift's "Bad Blood" debuted at number 13.[25] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 3.[26] As of June 2013, "Suit & Tie" has sold 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[27]
The following week, "Suit & Tie" jumped to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 with 315,000 first-week downloads sold.[28] It was Timberlake's highest sales week for a download, surpassing the 250,000 debut of "SexyBack" in 2006,[29] but later bested by "Can't Stop the Feeling!" in 2016 with 379,000.[30] "Suit & Tie" then fell to number 13 for two weeks, but returned to the top 10 on the week of February 10, 2013[31] after Timberlake performed it at the 2013 Grammy Awards. The song reached a new peak at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its eleventh week due to the album release.[32] The single has reached the number one position on Billboard's Rhythmic Airplay chart in its April 1, 2013, issue.[33] As of March 2014, the single has sold 3,044,000 downloads in the United States.[34] As of 2018, the song has accumulated 4.6 million units in the country, combining sales (3.3 million downloads) and equivalent streams.[35][36]
Music video
Background and release
Directed by David Fincher, the music video highlights his precision with lighting and vintage styling in greyscale, and brings a homage to Las Vegas lounges and the Rat Pack-era glamour.[37]
The music video for "Suit & Tie" was shot in Los Angeles on January 25, 2013.[39] It was filmed by cinematographer Matthew Libatique with Red Epic equipment. June Ambrose, costume designer and celebrity stylist, outfitted Jay-Z in Tom Ford for the video. The music video was released on Timberlake's Vevo page on Valentine's Day 2013.[40] Entirely black and white, it alternates between footage of the song's production in the present day, the artists performing at a bar and at the Hollywood Bowl, and silhouette choreography on a "water set", backed by skypanels.[37]
The music video on YouTube has received over 197 million views as of December 2025.[40]
Timberlake and Jay-Z performing "Suit & Tie" at the Legends of the Summer TourTimberlake performing "Suit & Tie" with the Minnesota Marching Band at Super Bowl LII
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
↑Reed, Ryan (January 31, 2021). "Every Justin Timberlake Album, Ranked". Spin. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2025. Snazzy soul single "Suit & Tie" opens at a squished half time, with Timbaland's voice deepened to monster movie levels...
↑"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 11. týden 2013 in the date selector. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
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