Timbaland almost died of an overdose of painkillers

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he 45-year-old record producer - who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Jay Z, Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry has revealed he came perilously close to losing his life three years ago after overdosing on OxyContin, which he became addicted to. Of his near-death experience, he shared: “All I can tell you is that there was a light. I woke up trying to catch my breath, like I was underwater.” Timbaland started taking painkillers over a decade ago because of nerves issue, which he explained stemmed from a gunshot wound he suffered during his teens. But over a period of time, the chart-topping star developed an addiction to the potentially dangerous painkillers. He told Rolling Stone magazine: “Music is a gift and curse. “Once you’re not popping, it plays with your mind. The pills helped block out the noise - I’d just sleep all day. I remember Jay Z told me one time, ‘Don’t do no more interviews’ because I was saying crazy s**t.” The producer’s addiction eventually started to impact his career, with Timbaland’s ability to produce hit records waning. But having survived his near-death experience, the music star claims he now has a completely different perspective on his life and his career. Timbaland - whose real name is Tim Mosley - explained: “Through that whole thing I saw life - I saw where I would be if I don’t change, and where I could be if I did. “I thought about Michael Jackson ... I didn’t want to be old and taking these pills.” Timbaland currently had a number of projects in the pipeline, but the producer says he’s also determined to work with up-and-coming artists, too. He said: “Right now, I feel like what I can do with my legacy is to give back. “Which means finding the youth of today. Look at Quincy Jones - he was 50 when he did ‘Thriller’! What’s my ‘Thriller?’”