After a two-year hiatus, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz are set to bring back their popular music battle series, Verzuz. The break followed a 2022 lawsuit settlement with Triller, the social media platform that acquired Verzuz in 2021 and returned ownership to the duo earlier this year. Now, Verzuz is making its comeback with a new partner: Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter.
“We are thrilled to partner with X, the most innovative platform globally. Our goal has always been to bring Verzuz to the world which we can now do bigger than ever,” Timbaland said in a statement.
Swizz Beatz added, “We are beyond thrilled to have found the best partner for Verzuz. Not only are we excited to have Verzuz on X, but we’re also excited to help X build the biggest entertainment company in the world.”
This new partnership aims to leverage the viral nature of Verzuz battles that often took over Twitter conversations. While past battles have been streamed on Instagram Live and Apple Music, amassing millions of viewers and featuring live events at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, the bulk of the social media buzz occurred on Twitter.
With this collaboration, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland will retain ownership and creative control over Verzuz, while X will have exclusive distribution rights. The platform is currently under the leadership of CEO Linda Yaccarino.
Verzuz, known for its head-to-head format where artists compete using their music catalogs, has featured memorable matchups like Brandy vs. Monica, Jeezy vs. Gucci Mane, Ashanti vs. Keyshia Cole, and Mario vs. Omarion. Details about the next Verzuz battle will be announced soon, as mentioned in the press release.
In a 2022 interview with Rolling Stone, Swizz Beatz hinted at a strong return for Verzuz, promising it would come back “harder than we ever went.”
Stay tuned for more updates on the return of Verzuz and its upcoming battles.
