Timbaland.
I like both, but Timbaland gets the edge. It's still funny thoug that people actually think that The Neptunes could do what Timbaland does, but he can't do what they do. The Neptunes weren't as great as Timbaland when it came to R&B. You could argue their work with Kelis (since she's the only artist they produced an entire album or most of it for that could be considered R&B). But are those albums on par or better for what Timbaland was doing with Ginuwine and Aaliyah? In the realm of Pop, do The Neptunes have that one album comparable to Futuresex/Lovesounds?
With Hip Hop, it's actually closer. I think The Neptunes is the favorite based on Lord Willin' and Hell Hath No Fury. It's The Neptunes best work and it's a more grimier sound. Timbaland's best work within Hip Hop is the Missy albums, Tim & Magoo albums, and Bubba's Deliverance. Those albums aren't going to be viewed in the same light as a Clipse album, no matter how great they are. Therefore, Tim erroneously gets the "R&B producer tag". Still within the realm of Hip Hop, Timbaland has been more innovative and diverse than The Neptunes. Dude produced an album that was a mash-up of Country and Hip Hop.
"Where's the soul?" Timbaland has soul in his catalog. They aren't the singles, they are album cuts:
