Justin Timberlake unveiled new material from his upcoming album FutureSex/LoveSounds on Friday at Los Angeles' House of Blues with a little help from some superstar artists. The trek continues tonight in San Diego.

Black Eyed Peas principal will.i.am took the stage for "Damn Girl," while Three 6 Mafia appeared on an unidentified new song that found Timberlake rapping. Producer Timbaland appeared for a short version of Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous," with Timberlake doing his best Furtado impression, as well as the show-closing "SexyBack."

"Like I Love You" had a short blast of the arrangement for the Emotions' "Best of My Love" wedged into its makeup, only to shift into heavy metal guitar chording, followed by the raucous instrumental riff of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

Elsewhere, the opening hook from Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze" was grafted onto "Take It From Here," a one-verse take on the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" opened "SexyBack" and Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" echoed in the hypnotic tension and descending chorus of the new song "What Come Around Goes Around."

When Timberlake released his first solo album in 2002, numerous observers pointed out the Michael Jackson influences--including high-pitched shrieks and tight melodies--despite Timberlake's insistence that he was drawing on even earlier R&B icons.

If Friday's show is any indication, the comparisons this time around might well center on another black '80s icon: Prince. Timberlake spent an increased amount of time flitting around in his falsetto voice with the same steamy, seductive approach that has characterized much of the Purple One's work. Timberlake followed that path even further by applying the simple signature guitar rhythms from "Kiss" into a slightly altered version of "Rock Your Body."

Timberlake's skillful blend of past references with current hip-pop demonstrates impressive artistic growth and focus. He came to prominence eight years ago as a member of 'N Sync, a boy band whose overaffected choreography and initial connection to svengali Lou Pearlman made the group appear more like controlled puppets than self-guided artists.

Any doubts about Timberlake's vision have disappeared. He writes most, if not all, his own material, which oozes with rhythmic chording and evocative melodies. He plays keyboard and guitar in addition to playing frontman. And his moves are no longer blocked out in detail for the entire show; instead, he bounced, rocked, and swiveled with the natural, confident spontaneity of a man in control of both his abilities and his audience.

The multiple influences are obvious, but Timberlake has become his own brand of pop royalty.

As previously reported, FutureSex/LoveSounds hits stores September 12.