between 'n sync and lou pearlman. >> when you're getting up at 5:00 in the morning going on the radioakhouses and making 75% of the money, all of a sudden it's like, wait, something's got to change. >> we were generating so much revenue and the stuff. where is all that money? >> he had taken 'n sync to the top of the charts. in 1999, when the group wanted to search record labels, pearlman sued, threatening to tame the name and block them from performing. >> 'n sync countersued. >> it was scary, if we separated from lou, we would lose johnny wright and all of our connections, the record label, we would lose all these things and back at square one singing, you know, at the downtown high school. >> in the end, lawsuits were settled out of court. >> right now it's basically about the fans and our music, and we're so proud that all our fans came out to support us. >> signed to a new record label, they turned their attention to the release of their second album, aptly titled "no strings attached." ♪ baby bye-bye bye ♪ >> it's really cool! [ screaming ] >> in the first week alone, no strings

chris kirkpatrick had been tapped by lou pearlman, the successful founder of the backstreet boys, toed listening. i was like, wow, this kid can sing, and i looked at the head shot, justin timberlake, why does that sound familiar? and it was like, he was on "the mickey mouse club." this guy would want to be in my band? >> was there any kind of, well, he's really young. was there in thought about that? >> there was, there was. ♪ i've been so lonely, baby >> but when i heard him sing, it was just unbelievable. his voice was just -- especially at that age, it was so mature. he had so much control over it. this kid's so unbelievable. i'm going to at least try. i'm going to make an awkward phone call and see if i can get this to work. >> it did work. the group, which would include ex-mouseketeer j.c. chasez, and, joey fatone and lance bass called themselves 'n sync. >> my mother came up with the name. the first time we sang together, she said you sound really in sync. ding ding ding. >> justin and his mom moved into a house in orlando. they recorded their music in a secret hideaway nearby.