In late 1999 , Timberlake appeared in the Disney Channel movie '' Model Behavior '' . He played Jason Sharpe , a model who falls in love with a waitress after mistaking her for another model . It was released on March 12 , 2000 . The rise of his own stardom and the general decline in the popularity of boy bands led to the dissolution of NSYNC . Band member Lance Bass was openly critical of Timberlake 's actions in his memoir '' Out of Sync '' . By 2002 , when the group went on a hiatus and members were following individual projects , he partnered with Pharrell Williams of the producing team The Neptunes – and Timbaland to start working in new music . The idea of going solo was strengthened a year earlier . Timberlake originally wrote the single " Gone " around 2001 for Michael Jackson , but he turned the song down , and was instead recorded by NSYNC . After released , however , Jackson contacted him . Timberlake declared in a later interview that the first time he felt confident to go solo happened after that conversation : In August 2002 , Timberlake performed at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards , where he premiered his debut solo single " Like I Love You " ; it peaked at number 11 on the '' Billboard '' Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart . His debut solo studio album '' Justified '' was released in November and debuted at number two on the '' Billboard '' 200 with first-week sales of 439,000 copies , fewer than previous 'N Sync releases . It went on to sell over three million copies in the U.S. and more than ten million copies worldwide . Its R&B influence , provided by hip-hop producers The Neptunes and Timbaland , was complimented by music critics . About the musical direction of the record , he commented , " I just want to do R&B . It 's what I grew up listening to " . The album spawned the top-five singles " Cry Me a River " and " Rock Your Body " . In summer 2003 , Timberlake and Christina Aguilera headlined the Justified/Stripped Tour . Later that year he recorded a song " I 'm Lovin ' It " , used by McDonald 's as the theme to its " I 'm Lovin ' It " campaign . The deal with McDonald 's earned Timberlake an estimated $ 6 million . A tour titled Justified and Lovin ' It Live was included with the deal , following his initial Justified World Tour . Timberlake was featured on Nelly 's song , " Work It " , which was remixed and included on Nelly 's 2003 remix album
2002 MTV Video Music Awards
2002 MTV Video Music Awards
Justin Timberlake