Pharrell
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Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973) is one half of -- and the songwriter for -- the primarily hip-hop production duo, The Neptunes (with Chad Hugo). Pharrell is also the lead singer and drummer, in the funk and rock group N*E*R*D, with Hugo and Shae Haley, as well as a solo artist (singer/rapper). As of 2004, in the song Drop It Like It's Hot, he has refered to his rapping persona as Skateboard P. As a part of The Neptunes Pharrell has produced numerous hit singles for various music [megastars]. He plays the drums, keyboards and guitar.
Biography
Early life
Pharrell was born to Pharoah Williams Jr. and Carloyn Hoggard (who later became Mrs. Williams) in Virginia Beach, VA. Despite going to different schools, aged 12, during grade school, Pharrell met Chad at a Jazz workshop, Williams was a drummer; Hugo played tenor saxophone.[link]They were also both members of a marching band together, 'P' on the snare drum; Chad being a student conductor. In 1990 they formed a 4-piece "R&B type" group along with friends Shae and Mike Etheridge and were discovered by Teddy Riley, who's studio was close to Pharrell's school, at a talent contest[link]. After graduating from High School, they signed with Riley as a group.[link]
Pharrell as part of The Neptunes & N*E*R*D
Through working with Riley, Pharrell went on to write part of Wreckx-N-Effect's '92 #2 (billboard hot 100) hit "Rump Shaker". In '94, Hugo and Williams had established themselves formally as a production duo under the previously used name "The Neptunes", and produced "Tonight's The Night" from BLACKstreet's self-titled debut (Riley being a member of BLACKstreet). Over the next three years they continued to produce occasionally. Some of the production had little resemblense to the Neptunes sound we know today, such as the productions for SWV (1996), however, some like Mase's '98 No.8 (Billboard hot 100) hit "Lookin' at me" (from the Harlem World album, 1997) showed clear signs the Neptunes sound was developing.
Their first major production hit, and the most clear beginning of the distinctive Neptunes sound, came with N.O.R.E.'s Superthug in 1998, reaching #36 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the first time Pharrell's voice was featured on a record, talking in the intro.
The duo then went on to work heavily with Kelis, producing her first album Kaleidoscope and Ol' Dirty Bastard's record Got your money, on which she featured. Mystikal's Shake Ya Ass and (a then newly-renamed) Diddy's single Diddy were the first songs on which Pharrell sang, singing the hook on both in 2000 and 2001 respectively.
In 2001 Pharrell, Chad and Shae released their first album as N*E*R*D; In Search Of... (electronic), in Europe (where the first Kelis album was better received), with a style similar to their Neptunes production. However, the group decided that they should make their work as N*E*R*D sound different, and re-recorded the album, with the funk-rock band Spymob, for worldwide release in 2002.
In August 2002, The Neptunes were named Producers of the Year at both The Source Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. Also in 2002, Williams wrote and produced rapper Nelly’s single, "Hot in Herre", the single hit No.1 in the U.S..
He repeated the success by doing the same with Britney Spears' single, "I'm A Slave 4 U". But it wasn't until the summer of 2003 that Pharrell released his first solo single, "Frontin'" featuring Jay-Z. At the time he insisted the single was a one-off, and that he was purely a producer and not a rapper/singer in his own right. The album The Neptunes Present... Clones was then released, featuring Neptunes production on tracks from various Star Trak artists, debuting at number one in August 2003.
"Frontin'" was a big summer hit (the 34th biggest single of 2003 according to Billboard Magazine), and kept Williams' momentum running up to the release of N*E*R*D's second funk/rock-oriented album, Fly Or Die, released in March 2004. Williams' rock credentials were further bolstered by his appearance at the 2004 Grammy Awards, performing The Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" on drums along with Sting, Dave Matthews, and Vince Gill. Pharrell went home with two Grammy Awards that night, one for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and another for Best Pop Vocal Album for his work on Justin Timberlake's No.2 Billboard hit Justified. [link]
On September 9, 2005, Pharrell performed the opening single from his debut solo album "In My Mind". The song, titled "Can I Have It Like That", featuring Gwen Stefani. "In My Mind" will have 14 tracks, 7 hip-hop tracks and 7 R&B tracks; featuring numerous musical guests such as Gwen Stefani (on 'Can I Have It Like That' ), Vanessa Marquez, Jay-Z and Kanye West (on 'Number 1' ). The album cover for In My Mind is slated to be designed by Japanese brand "A Bathing Ape". The album "In My Mind" is scheduled for release July 25, 2006.
Trivia
- Pharrell is an owner of 1 of the 399 Ferrari Enzo's.
- He has a half-pipe inside his home, and is one of the few skateboarding rappers.
- In 2005, Williams was voted "Best Dressed Man in the World" by Esquire magazine. His look has inspired such acts as Mario and Eric West.
- Pharrell owns two clothing brands: Billionaire Boys Club & Ice Cream (also Ice Cream Board Flip Shoes by RBK).
- Pharrell, through his role as a producer, has collaborated with more than 30 artists/rappers.
- He is often seen wearing a trucker hat.
- Has 4 brothers who are Pharoah Williams III, David Williams, Cato, and Psoloman. Cato is a professional skateboarder. David is a Business Owner in Delaware, and Pharoah III is an up and coming music producer. He also has two sisters: Hope Williams and Carrie Parks.
- He is a big fan of Star Trek, hence his choice of label name.
- A survey in August 2003 found the Neptunes produced almost 20% of songs played on British radio, a survey in the US had them at 43%.[link]
Discography
Solo albums
- 2006: In My Mind (The Prequel) (Mixtape with DJ Drama)
- 2006: In My Mind (due 25th July 06)
Solo Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | UK Singles Chart | |||
| 2003 | "Frontin'" (feat. Jay-Z) | #5 | #1 | #1 | #6 | The Neptunes Present... Clones |
| 2005 | "Can I Have It Like That" (feat. Gwen Stefani) | #48 | #32 | #20 | #3 | In My Mind |
| 2005 | "Angel" | - | - | - | #15 | In My Mind |
| 2006 | "Number 1" (feat Kanye West) | #95 | #50 | - | - | In My Mind |
Features (singles)
All feature Pharrell Williams (singing/rapping).
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | UK Singles Chart | |||
| 2000 | "Shake Ya Ass" (Mystikal) | #13 | #3 | #7 | #30 | Let's Get Ready |
| 2001 | "Diddy" (P Diddy) | #66 | #21 | #23 | #19 | The Saga Continues |
| 2002 | "From Tha Chuuuch To Da Palace" (Snoop Dogg) | #77 | #31 | #16 | #27 | Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$ |
| 2003 | "Excuse Me Miss" (Jay-Z) | #8 | #1 | #2 | #17 | |
| 2003 | "Change Clothes" (Jay-Z) | #10 | #6 | #4 | #32 | Black Album |
| 2003 | "Beautiful" (Snoop Dogg) | #6 | #3 | #3 | #23 | Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$ |
| 2003 | "Light Your Ass On Fire" (Busta Rhymes) | #69 | #23 | #12 | #62 | The Neptunes Presents... Clones |
| 2003 | "Nas' Angels... The Flyest" (Nas) | ? | #72 | ? | ? | Charlie's Angels II Soundtrack |
| 2004 | "Drop It Like It's Hot" (Snoop Dogg) | #1 | #1 | #1 | #10 | R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) The Masterpiece |
| 2005 | "Let's Get Blown" (Snoop Dogg) | ? | ? | ? | ? | R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) The Masterpiece |
| 2005 | "Wanna Love U Girl" (Robin Thicke) | ? | ? | ? | ? | The Evolution of Robin Thicke |
| 2006 | "Kick Push" (Lupe Fiasco) | ? | ? | ? | ? | Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor |
Neptunes and N*E*R*D tracks
For N*E*R*D tracklistings see N*E*R*D Discography. For complete Neptunes discography see The Neptunes discography or [Neptunes Produced tracks]See also
External links
- [Star Trak official site]
- [PharrellWilliams.com]
- [N*E*R*D official site]
- [Official list of all neptunes produced tracks]
- [Neptunes production techniques; an interview with Chad Hugo]
- [Yolk Magazine interview with Chad]
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