Pharrell Williams

Guide Note

Pharrell Williams is a Hip-Hop producer, rapper and songwriter. He is one half of the production duo The Neptunes, as well as being a member of the group N.E.R.D..

Williams met fellow Neptunes and N.E.R.D. member, Chad Hugo, when they were both in the seventh grade. At the time Williams was a drummer, while Hugo played the tenor saxophone. They were also members of their school's marching band.

In the 90s, Hugo and Williams formed a 4-piece [[Category:R&B|R&B;] group with their other friends, Shay and Mike Etheridge. They named their group The Neptunes. Later the group entered a talent show and that is when they were discovered by Teddy Riley, who signed them once they had finished high school.

After finding success with The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., Pharrell went on to release his first solo album, In My Mind, which reached number three on the US charts. Since then he has recorded another solo album and continued his work with both The Neptunes and N.E.R.D.

In addition to his music career, Williams created two of his own clothing lines that represent his unique style of dress, Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) and Ice Cream. He has also designed sunglasses for Louis Vuitton.

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 5, 1973
2. Birthplace: Virginia Beach, Virginia
3. Years Active: 1992 – Present

The Neptunes have produced some of the hottest songs and remixes to hit the airwaves. Songs like "Hard Or Smooth," "Right Here," "Greatest Romance Ever Been Sold," "The Call," "U Don't Have to Call," "Young'n," "Boys," "I'm a Slave 4 U," "Like I Love You," "Rock Your Body" and "Flap Your Wings."

In 2001, after working on the song "I'm a Slave 4 U", the Neptune boys released their first album in Europe, under the name N.E.R.D. Since the album sounded similar to the work they did as The Neptunes they decided to change things up so their sound would be completely different. They re-recorded the album with funk-rock band Spymob. In 2002, they re-released the album worldwide. N.E.R.D.'s hit singles include "Lapdance," "Rockstar" and "Maybe."

• 2001: In Search Of...
• 2004: Fly or Die
• 2008: Seeing Sounds

• 2006: In My Mind US#3
• 2007: Out of My Mind