"Timbaland Presents Shock Value" by Timbaland; Blackground/Interscope Records

Timbaland is the king of top 40 pop. As producer for hits by Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado and Missy Elliott, the 35-year-old Tim Mosley crafts beats like no one else. He's in a whole other universe for what he does with percussion and off-center rhythms. His Rolodex bulges with A-listers clamoring for his services. (Coming, new Timbaland-coated music from Madonna and — gasp — Celine Dion).

So it's disappointing that on his fifth album under his own name, and the first to really capitalize on his cachet, Timbaland resorts to the most trite elements of hip-hop.

Dig the beats, but you'll have to wade through a mess of self-aggrandizing taunts, the moronic overuse of the "n" word and, at 17 cuts, over-length. Memo: It's a singles era again. Trim these bloated albums.

Given his stature, it is unnecessary for Timbaland to use a lyric of his current hit single "Give It to Me" (featuring Timberlake and Furtado on vocals) to further his beef with rival producer Scott Storch, who last year produced albums by Paris Hilton and Brooke Hogan. Let the work prove the point.

Rock, pop and rap marquee stars jostle for space on "Shock Value" — Elton John, Timberlake, Elliott, Furtado, The Hives, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy, She Wants Revenge, Dr. Dre — but Timbaland often misuses them.

John valiantly tries to get his pretty melody across on the piano on "2 Man Show" but he's stymied by Timbaland's inexplicable grunts, "uh-huhs" and constant exhortations — "Come on, Elton, take it to the higher level."

As a rapper, Timbaland isn't nearly as masterful as his sonic touch on the boards.