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VIRGINIA BEACH \u2014 Wide-eyed students packed the bleachers on both sides of the gym. The marching band played in tribute and the dance and cheer teams took turns showing off routines set to the hip-hop producer\u2019s music.<\/p>\n
Then, Principal Carey Manugo presented the hometown celebrity a gift: a custom-made, black and scarlet letterman\u2019s jacket.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means so much to Sun Devil nation,\u201d Manugo said, \u201cfor you to come back and honor your roots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Timbaland, surrounded by 1,700 cheering students at his teenage stomping grounds and alma mater, described the welcome home as \u201ca moment of awe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite all his previous accolades, the four-time Grammy winner knew the moment was special. The Friday morning pep rally at Salem High School was the first event in a three-day celebration of the Virginia Beach native called \u201cTimbaland Way Weekend.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n This month, the Virginia Beach City Council unanimously approved giving Bridle Creek Boulevard the new honoree title of Timbaland Way<\/a>, and on Saturday, the new street sign will be unveiled at a public ceremony<\/a> where Timbaland, 53, will be presented with a key to the city.<\/p>\n Timbaland, born Timothy Mosley, grew up in Virginia Beach. He started DJing during high school and was in a performance collective called S.B.I. (Surrounded By Idiots) with fellow Virginia Beach native, artist and producer Pharrell Williams.<\/p>\n After graduating from Salem, he developed a signature sound in the \u201990s and became famous for his later collaborations with pop and hip-hop stars \u2014 such as Portsmouth native Missy Elliott \u2014 on hit songs including \u201cWork It\u201d and \u201cGet Ur Freak On.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019ll participate in a parade Saturday while riding on a float \u2014 designed by students from the Salem High Visual and Performing Arts Academy \u2014 featuring paintings of musicians with whom he\u2019s associated, including Elliott, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake and Aaliyah.<\/p>\n Around 9:50 a.m. Friday, Salem High students started filing in for the rally.<\/p>\n Senior athletes donning football jerseys, peach fuzz-faced freshmen and groups of girls walked to their seats past the excited and nervous school marching band gearing up for its performance of \u201c4 Minutes,\u201d a Madonna song co-produced by Timbaland and featuring him and Timberlake.<\/p>\n Oliver Phillips, a 17-year-old senior, stood next to his bass drum.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a little nervous,\u201d Phillips admitted. \u201cBut I think as a band, I know we can pull through and do well.\u201d<\/p>\n Standing nearby, Solise Diggs, a 16-year-old junior and member of the band\u2019s color guard, explained the excitement percolating throughout the student body as students realized who was coming.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, obviously, it\u2019s a celebrity coming to a high school. It\u2019s gonna be interesting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n At 10 a.m. students were informed they\u2019d be allowed \u2014 this one time only \u2014 to break the academic institution\u2019s cellphone policy and turn on their devices\u2019 flashlights.<\/p>\n The gym went dark. The flashlights flicked on. The stands twinkled.<\/p>\n Timbaland walked out to screams of adulation.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s up Salem High School?\u201d he said to more screams.<\/p>\n \u201cThis school\u2019s still looking the same,\u201d he continued. \u201cDo y\u2019all still got the red lockers?\u201d<\/p>\n Students laughed and clapped in recognition.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to say this,\u201d the alumnus said. \u201cDon\u2019t ever stop dreaming. Don\u2019t ever lose hope. You can make it.\u201d<\/p>\n For more information on \u201cTimbaland Way Weekend\u201d events, visit thetimbalandway.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n