| Pharrell Williams | |
|---|---|
Pharrell Williams performing with N.E.R.D in Pori Jazz 2010. |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Skateboard P, Pharrell, Sk8brd (mononym) |
| Born | April 5, 1973 |
| Origin | Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop, pop, funk, rock, pop rap, R&B, electro |
| Occupations | Producer, musician, songwriter, singer |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards, guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Star Trak, Interscope, i am Other |
| Associated acts | Robin Thicke, Game, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, The Neptunes, N.E.R.D, Justin Timberlake, Skillz, Timbaland & Magoo |
| Website | pharrellwilliams.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Piano, keyboards, Drums | |
Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973), commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of hip-hop band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He released his first single "Frontin'" in 2003 and followed up with his first album In My Mind in 2006.[1]
As part of The Neptunes, Williams has produced numerous hit singles for various musicians.[2] The two have earned three Grammy Awards amongst ten nominations. He is also the co-founder of the clothing brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Clothing. He is a member of the supergroup V.A. Playaz with Fam-Lay, Clipse, Skillz, Missy Elliott, and Timbaland & Magoo.
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Pharrell Williams was born on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia,[3][4] the eldest of three sons of Carolyn, a teacher, and Pharrell Williams, a handyman. [5] He met Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp where Williams played the keyboards and drums and Hugo played tenor saxophone. They were also both members of a marching band; Williams played the snare drum while Chad was student conductor.[6][7] With Hugo, Williams attended Princess Anne High School where they played in the school band; there he got the name Skateboard P.[8]
In the 1990s, Hugo and Williams formed a four-piece "R&B type" group, The Neptunes, with friends Shay Haley and Mike Etheridge. They later entered a high school talent show where they were discovered by Teddy Riley, whose studio was next to Princess Anne High School.[9] After graduating from high school, the group signed with Riley.[10]
Through working with Maddison Harper, Williams went on to write a verse for Wreckx-N-Effect's 1992 hit "Rump Shaker".[11] That same year, he also performed a small rap solo on SWV's second hit, "Right Here (UK Remix)". In 1994, Hugo and Williams had established themselves as a production duo under their old name "The Neptunes", and produced "Tonight's The Night" from Blackstreet's self-titled album. Over the next three years they continued to produce occasionally. Some of the results had little resemblance to the Neptunes sound of today. However, some like Mase's 1997 song "Lookin' at Me" from his album Harlem World, and the most definite beginning of the distinctive "Neptunes sound", came with N.O.R.E.'s "Superthug" in 1998, reaching number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, and gaining them widespread attention for the first time. In 1999, the duo worked with Kelis, producing her first album Kaleidoscope.
At this point The Neptune's were gaining a wide fanbase and audience. In 2001, The Neptunes produced Britney Spears' single, "I'm a Slave 4 U" gaining their first worldwide number one.[12] The same year, N.E.R.D, consisting of Williams, Hugo and Haley, released their first album, In Search of..., in Europe, where the first Kelis album was better received. The album sounded very much like their previous production work; the group decided that they should make their work as N.E.R.D sound different, and re-recorded the album with the rock band Spymob. Williams and Hugo met rap duo Clipse in Virginia Beach in 1993, where they were signed to Arista Records through Williams' Star Trak Entertainment imprint.[13][14]
Then in 2002 their re-produced album was released worldwide, and The Neptunes reached number one in the U.S. with Nelly's single, "Hot in Herre". In August of the same year, The Neptunes were named "Producers of the Year" at both The Source Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. Clipse released their commercial debut album Lord Willin' in August 2002. The album started at number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number four on the Billboard 200, fueled by its first two singles, "Grindin'" and "When the Last Time", which peaked at number 34 and number 19 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Neptunes released a self-credited album called The Neptunes Present... Clones in 2003, with songs and remixes from various artists. This topped the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums Chart. The Neptunes and Williams specifically were also kept in public eye largely due to ties with Jay-Z, producing several hit singles for him and two tracks on his The Black Album. The track "Frontin'" was a big hit (the 34th biggest of 2003 according to Billboard). A survey in August 2003 found the Neptunes produced almost 20 percent of songs played on British radio at the time, a survey in the US had them at 43 percent.[6] The same year, The Neptunes remixed the Daft Punk song Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger for the duo's poorly-received remix album Daft Club. The track also had a brief rap section performed by Williams.[15]
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 with Sting, Dave Matthews, and Vince Gill. Williams received 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 hit album Justified. They also gained their first UK number one, again with Nelly, and Flap Your Wings.
On September 9, 2005, Williams performed the opening single from his first solo album In My Mind, "Can I Have It Like That", featuring Gwen Stefani. The single did poorly in the US, reaching only number 48. It fared better in the UK, reaching number three. Between then and the July 25, 2006 release of "In My Mind", he released "Angel" (in Europe only), and later "Number One" with Kanye West. Several songs leaked to the internet before the album release, most notably "Mamacita" featuring Daddy Yankee, which was subsequently cut from the final version. "That Girl" featuring Snoop Dogg was the final single.
In 2006, Williams, with Chad Hugo, produced Clipse's second album Hell Hath No Fury. Most critics labeled the album Williams's best production in years, and put the duo back in the charts.[16]
On May 16, 2007, for seven days only, the first of two expected collaborations with Madonna, titled "Hey You", was made available for free download from the MSN website. MSN, with Madonna, gave 25 cents for each of the first one million downloads to the Alliance for Climate Protection, in support of Live Earth.[17] Later that year, Williams performed songs at the Concert for Diana on July 1, 2007. Then, on July 7, 2007, he performed at the Brazilian leg of Live Earth in Rio de Janeiro.
A second album, titled Out of My Mind, was recorded with his newly formed band "The Yessirs" featuring Questlove of The Roots. However, Williams' record label did not think that a companion album to the first would sell well.[18] He also produced Beyoncé's version of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend". He then wrote and produced "Why Should I Be Sad" on Britney Spears' fifth studio album, Blackout. He also produced two songs from The Hives album, The Black and White Album, titled "Well All Right!" and "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.".
In April 2008, Madonna released her eleventh album, Hard Candy, with vocals from Williams and production from The Neptunes on several tracks. In June, an article in NME revealed that Williams was very interested in producing The Strokes' fourth album.[19] Williams, with other musicians, is to work on a remix album for Maroon 5's Call & Response.[20]
Pharrell worked with Shakira on the songs 'Did It Again', 'Why Wait', 'Good Stuff' and 'Long Time' for her sixth studio album, She Wolf. This was released in October 2009.[21]
Williams will collaborate with Lindsay Lohan on her third studio album Spirit in the Dark. He will also provide guest vocals on the album's first single, "Playground".[22]
In September 2009, it was announced that Williams co-wrote and produced a song titled "Fresh Out the Oven" for Jennifer Lopez.[23] It was released as a buzz single from Lopez's upcoming seventh studio album Love?, which is due for release in the Summer of 2010.
In October 2009, it was announced that he would make a guest appearance on French indie/electronic rapper Uffie's first album, due in early 2010.[24]
He has also worked with rapper Snoop Dogg and singer Brandy on the song "Special" in Snoop Dogg's album Malice 'n' Wonderland.
Pharrell has been featured on an unofficial remix/mash-up of "Arab Money" featuring Busta Rhymes.
Pharrell and Kid Cudi collaborated on an untitled song for Kid Cudi's second studio album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr.Rager. Cudi described the song as a "club hit".[25]
In late 2009, Williams also started working with the rapper Game for his fourth studio album, The R.E.D. Album. He returned to work with US singer Justin Timberlake, whom he hadn't worked with for nearly eight years after he was a producer on Timberlake's first solo album Justified.
In July 2010, Williams composed one of the soundtracks in the movie Despicable Me at the Hollywood Studio Symphony.
Williams collaborated with Swedish house music group the Swedish House Mafia on the song "One" from their first album Until One. The released song featuring Pharrell's vocals was renamed "One (Your Name)."
Williams and his group N.E.R.D supported Gorillaz on their Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour. On the tour, Damon Albarn used his iPad to record and compose the Gorillaz album The Fall. Pharrell recorded a track with Albarn, but this did not appear on The Fall; it may appear on a future album.[26]
He will be featured on Gucci Mane's second album The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted on a track titled "Haterade" with "Nicki Minaj".
He will also be featured on Swizz Beatz' upcoming album Haute Living.
On August 1, 2011, Williams announced his new label, i am Other.
Williams often sings in a falsetto, particularly during the hook of a song.[27] Critics often say that Williams cannot rap or sing well,[28][29][30] but that his singing is better than his rapping.[31] Alasdair Lees of The Independent thought Williams "strives for the Prince effect", but sounds like Bobby Valentino "on work experience".[30] Anthony Henriques of PopMatters noted that Williams is not a "technically gifted rapper", "does not have a beautiful voice" and his lyrics are "typically inconsequential in a "saying shit just to sound cool' sort of way", but found strengths in his choruses, which "typically use a catchy phrase or recognizable melody as an anchor for his nonsensical verses".[32]
Pharrell also did music for the Universal film Despicable Me. The film makers liked his genre of music for the movie. Williams has encompassed a broad range of genres, including hip hop, R&B, pop, rock, and funk.[3][33] His lyrics often pertain to his childhood, family, religious faith and sexuality.[34] In the review of Seeing Sounds by N.E.R.D, Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone said he learned nothing from his lyrics except that Williams was sexually aroused.[35]
Williams has stated that he does not have any direct influences,[36] but has expressed his admiration of several musicians, including Michael Jackson, J Dilla, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Rakim and Q-Tip.[36][37] Williams described A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, as a "turning point" in his life, which "made me see that music was art".[37] His style of production includes very unusual sounds, which give a feeling of being extra terrestrial. His beats have heavy percussions and synths.
Williams met Nigo, a Japanese record producer and creator of the clothing line A Bathing Ape, in Japan and bonded through similar interests, where they began working together on their fashion lines.[4] Williams later co-founded the clothing brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Footwear. He has a store in New York City. In 2008, he co-designed a series of jewelry ("Blason") and glasses for Louis Vuitton.[38] He has also worked on furniture with Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin and a French manufacturer, Domeau & Pérès. One of his works, a molded plastic seat with human legs, was created because he "wanted to know what it was like to be in love." The chair depicts a sexual scene with a pair of female legs and male legs.[39]
In 2010 Williams founded Kidult, a news and entertainment website for teens. Inspired by his young fans, Williams believed they deserved a website that respected their intelligence and covered their diverse interests—from science to fashion.
Williams recorded four songs for the computer animated film Despicable Me. Some of the songs are used in the trailers, and are also in the movie.
In 2011 Williams designed and released a cream liqueur named QREAM. The "Q" stands for "Queen" and the liqueur comes in two different flavors, strawberry and peach. Williams was approached by Diageo to collaborate; Williams found that the female audience were being neglected, and therefore made a cream liqueur for women. He mentioned the taste being an ambient of an ice cream, but the liqueur contains fewer calories than wine.
In 2005 Williams was voted "Best Dressed Man in the World" by Esquire.[40] He is a fan of the science fiction series Star Trek,[41] as indicated by his consistent use of the Vulcan salute to signify his label name, Star Trak. He also enjoys the works of the late astronomer and science lecturer Carl Sagan, whom he calls "a genius".[42] Williams is a skateboarder and has a half-pipe inside his home.[43] In April 2009, Williams underwent a skin procedure for tattoo removal. It was to have most of his tattoos removed.[44] Williams Has Also Dated Supermodel Jessica White In The Past
| Grammy Awards | ||||
| Year | Category | Genre | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Producer of the Year (with Chad Hugo) | N/A | — | Won |
| Best Pop Vocal Album | Pop | Justified | Won | |
| Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Rap | "Frontin'" (with Jay-Z) | Nominated | |
| Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Rap | "Beautiful" (with Snoop Dogg) featuring Terrence Campbell | Nominated | |
| Best Rap Song | Rap | "Beautiful" (with Snoop Dogg) | Nominated | |
| Best Rap Song | Rap | "Excuse Me Miss" (with Jay-Z) | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | Rap | "Drop It Like It's Hot" (with Snoop Dogg) | Nominated |
| Best Rap Song | Rap | "Drop It Like It's Hot" (with Snoop Dogg) | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Best Rap Song | Rap | "Money Maker" (with Ludacris) | Won |
| Best Rap Album | Rap | In My Mind | Nominated | |
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