HiphopRnbSoul.com

And for good reason.

His career has spanned an amazing 5 decades and brought the unforgettable music of Brazil to the world with classics such as “Mas Que Nada,” “Brasil 66,” and “The Look of Love" hitting the top of US charts. It's been over 20 years since the release of his mega pop hit, 1983's “Never Going to Let You Go,” and over a decade since the release of his Grammy winning 1993 set Brasileiro, but now the music legend is back with the appropriately titled Timeless.

Produced by the Black Eyed Peas Will.I.Am, the massive set is a perfect combination of traditional Brazilian melodies and hip-hop beats. The heavenly guest list include the likes of India.Arie (on the title track) Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Justin Timberlake, Q-Tip, John Legend, Jill Scott and members of The Roots and Jurassic 5. It goes without saying that the Black Eyed Peas also contribute, but fans get an added surprise with the quality of their work echoing the underground flavor they perfected pre-Fergie.

Will.I.Am's enthusiasm for stunning work executed by the iconic pianist rings throughout the album.“It’s good for young people—and also for musicians—to hear Sergio Mendes,” said Will. “Because a lot of young music today, it’s like there’s no melody. There is a big old beat, which is cool. But at the end of the day, it makes me look at my generation and think it’s sad because we’re really not taking time to create beautiful melodies that will last forever. You know? Because a beat’s a beat. But a melody lasts for decades. I’m melody driven and it’s been refreshing to work with someone who is a master at it. When you get to the Sergio Mendes’ level, it’s like you can create these simple, haunting melodies that just, boom, make you melt. And it’s an inspiration for me to try to get to that level. Because that is dope.”

Sergio Mendes had equally flattering things to say about working with Will and he recently took time out from promoting the album to tell us how it all came together.

He also gave a new generation of fans a glimpse into the long-term future of hip-hop/samba and collaborating with Will.

"We're probably gonna start the end of this year the beginning of next year," he confided of the new project. "We don't know yet. I'm sure Brazil will be there and hip-hop will be there, so I'm sure we'll have that combination of different songs, exciting songs, because for me the name of the game is the song."

Sergio Mendes audio interview (Quicktime)

1. How did the collaboration with Will.I.Am come about?
2. What's your favorite song on Timeless?
3. What are your thoughts on today's hip-hop music?
4. What's in the works for the immediate future?