Duran Duran's CD “Red Carpet Massacre” — includes three songs co-written and co-produced by Timbaland. One of those songs, “Nite-Runner,” also includes contributions from pop superstar Justin Timberlake.

Timberlake also co-wrote and performs on a second track on “Red Carpet Massacre,” “Falling Down.” In addition, Timbaland’s right-hand man, Nate “Danja” Hills, lent his production and writing skills to 11 of the12 songs on the CD.

Given the contrasting styles between Duran Duran’s glossy, electronic-infused pop sound and the hip-hop of Timbaland and Hills, it’s no surprise that “Red Carpet Massacre” offers some fresh stylistic twists, especially with the trio of songs involving Timbaland.

The hip-hop beats that inhabit “Nite-Runner” and “Skin Divers,” — along with some rap vocals on the latter track –immediately give these songs a funkier edge than one might associate with Duran Duran. On “Zoom In,” the collaboration, perhaps surprisingly, produces a catchy, driving electro-rock track.

“The way that most of the songs were done is he (Timbaland) would come up with some beats and things with his machines, and then we’d all sort of jam together and see where it took us,” Rhodes said. “So he’d literally be jamming with us.”

The Timberlake collaborations had been in the works since 2003, when the pop star met Duran Duran at the MTV Video Music Awards. Once Timberlake heard that the band was in the studio with Timbaland, he wanted in and helped write “Nite Runner,” while adding vocals to the song.

The collaboration on “Falling Down” came about at the end of the recording sessions after Timberlake said he felt like the CD needed a tempo ballad.

“We literally sat in a room with Justin and a piano and all the instruments and carved out that song within a 36-hour period when he had a day off in Manchester on his British tour,” Rhodes said.

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