Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (/fəˈrɛl/; born April 5, 1973), often known mononymously as Pharrell, is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, rapper, and fashion designer. He first became known as one half of the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes, which he formed in 1992 with Chad Hugo.[4] They produced 15 singles which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, including four songs that peaked atop the chart.[5][6] He also formed the alternative band N.E.R.D. with Hugo and drummer Shay Haley in 1999, for which Williams serves as lead vocalist. He has been considered one of the most influential music producers of the 21st century for his impact on popular music.[7][8][9][10]
Pharrell Williams
- Pharrell
- Skateboard P
- Sk8brd
- Auto Goon
- Magnum, the Verb Lord
- Station Wagon P
- Record producer
- singer
- songwriter
- rapper
- fashion designer
- film composer
- entrepreneur
1990–present
4
After co-founding the record label Star Trak Entertainment with Hugo as an imprint of Arista Records in 2001, Williams released his 2003 debut single, "Frontin'" (featuring Jay-Z), which peaked at number five on the Hot 100. He released his debut studio album, In My Mind (2006), under Virgin and Interscope Records. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, although critical reception was mixed.[11] Williams produced and guest performed alongside T.I. on Robin Thicke's 2013 single "Blurred Lines", which peaked atop the Hot 100 and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). That year, he won two Grammy Awards—Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance—for his appearance alongside Nile Rodgers on Daft Punk's single Get Lucky", which peaked at number two on the chart. His 2013 solo song, "Happy"—released for the soundtrack to the animated film Despicable Me 2—became his second to peak atop the chart within that same year.[12] It served as the first single for his second album, Girl (2014), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and saw a generally positive critical reception.[13]
Williams has received numerous accolades and nominations. He has won 13 Grammy Awards, including three for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (one as a member of the Neptunes). He is also a two-time Academy Award nominee: in 2014 for Best Original Song for "Happy"; and in 2017 for Best Picture as a producer of Hidden Figures. As sole proprietor, he founded the multi-disciplinary media company I Am Other in 2014, which acts as both a record label and creative umbrella for his other endeavors, including his fashion label and retailer Billionaire Boys Club. [14] He has served as Men's creative director for Louis Vuitton since 2023.[15]
Early life
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams[1] was born on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia,[3][16] the eldest of the three sons of teacher Carolyn and handyman Pharoah Williams.[17][18] His ancestry goes back many generations in Virginia and North Carolina. One of his ancestors journeyed to West Africa in 1831, prompting other relatives to emigrate from the U.S. to Liberia in 1832.[19] Williams met Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp, where Williams played drums and Hugo played tenor saxophone.[20] They attended Princess Anne High School where they were in the school band.[21] Williams graduated from high school in 1991 and he attended Northwestern University for two years before dropping out.[22]
Career
1992–2004: The Neptunes and N.E.R.D.
In the early 1990s, Williams formed a hip hop group named Surrounded by Idiots with Chad Hugo, Magoo, and cousin Timbaland; they disbanded before making any records.[23] He then formed a four-piece "R&B-type" group, the Neptunes, with Hugo and friends Shay Haley and Mike Etheridge.[24] They entered a high school talent show, where they were discovered by producer Teddy Riley, whose studio was next to the school.[24] After graduating, the group signed with Riley.[24]
Williams wrote Riley's verse on Wreckx-n-Effect's 1992 hit "Rump Shaker".[23] As the Neptunes, Williams and Hugo produced Noreaga's 1998 single "Superthug".[23] The Neptunes began working with rap duo Clipse (rappers Pusha T and Malice) in the late 1990s, and worked on Clipse's album Exclusive Audio Footage, which was not released.[25]
The Neptunes produced Mystikal's single "Shake Ya Ass" (2000), Jay-Z's single "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" (2000), and Nelly's single "Hot in Herre" (2002).[23] They worked with singer Kelis, producing her first two studio albums, Kaleidoscope (1999) and Wanderland (2001).[26] In 2001, N.E.R.D., a band composed of Williams, Hugo, and Haley, released their debut album In Search of....[27] Williams and Hugo signed Clipse to Arista Records through Williams' Star Trak Entertainment imprint in 2001.[28] The Neptunes produced songs on singer Babyface's 2001 album, Face2Face, including its lead single "There She Goes".[23] The Neptunes produced the Britney Spears songs "I'm a Slave 4 U" and "Boys" for her third studio album, Britney (2001).[20][29]
In 2002, Clipse released their debut album, Lord Willin', with produced entirely by the Neptunes.[30] That year, the Neptunes produced numerous songs on Justin Timberlake's debut album Justified, including the singles "Señorita", "Like I Love You", and "Rock Your Body".[23] In 2003, the Neptunes released a compilation album, Clones.[31] According to an unnamed August 2003 survey cited by The Age, it was found the Neptunes produced almost 20% of songs played on British radio at the time; another survey in the US found they'd produced 43% of radio songs.[20] The Neptunes produced Snoop Dogg's single "Drop It Like It's Hot" (2004), which also featured vocals from Williams.[32]
Artistry
Influences
In the past, Williams has stated that he does not have any direct musical influences,[109] but he has expressed his admiration for several musicians, including Michael Jackson, J Dilla, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Rakim, and Q-Tip.[109][110] Williams explained that A Tribe Called Quest's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990), caused a "turning point" in his life, which "made him see that music was art".[110]
Four-count start
Throughout his career, Williams has been known for his "four-count loops" or "four-count starts" at the start of the beats that he produced, which is considered as a producer signature. The first instance of the "four-count beat" started with SWV's song "Right Here", which Williams was featured on the remix of.[111] Williams has revealed in an interview with Vulture in 2019 that the creation of the four-count loop was unintentional, and the loop was essentially what was left in the song while trying to start a song on the beat instead of using a metronome.[112]
Fashion and business ventures
In 2005, Williams partnered with Japanese fashion icon Nigo to create the streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream footwear.[113] In 2008, Williams co-designed a series of eyewear and jewelry for Louis Vuitton.[114] In 2008, Williams founded a non-profit organization called "From One Hand To AnOTHER" (FOHTA).[115] In 2009, Williams unveiled a collaborative sculpture with Takashi Murakami at Art Basel, which spoke to the metaphor of value.[116][117] In May 2011, it was announced that Williams would serve as creative director of KarmaloopTV alongside founder and CEO Greg Selkoe and former AMC president Katie McEnroe.[118]
In May 2012, Williams launched the social media venture I Am Other.[119] In August 2013, Williams created a line of sunglasses for fashion brand Moncler called "Moncler Lunettes".[120] In 2014, Williams entered a long-term partnership with Adidas.[121][122] His Adidas NMD "Human Race" collection was released on July 23, 2016.[123] In February 2014, Williams announced a collaboration between G-Star Raw and his textile company Bionic Yarn called "RAW for the Oceans," a collection of denim made from recycled plastic that is found in the ocean. The project was presented at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.[124][125]
In 2014, Williams appeared on a cover designed by French artist Grégoire Guillemin of New York-based men fashion magazine Adon, covering the collaboration.[126] Williams released a collection for retail giant Uniqlo in April 2014 entitled "i am OTHER". It was created with Nigo, creative director of UT, the company's T-shirt division.[127] In 2014, Williams worked on art with Emmanuel Perrotin and a French manufacturer, Domeau & Pérès.[128][129] In June 2014, artist collective Rizzoli published a book by FriendsWithYou, We Are Friends With You, that featured contributions from Williams, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Peter Doroshenko.[130] Williams was the executive producer of the 2015 crime comedy-drama film Dope.[131]
In 2017, Williams designed a €1,000 sneaker in collaboration with Chanel and Adidas.[132] Verizon partnered with Williams on April 26, 2019, to launch a tech-fused music curriculum in a nationwide Verizon Foundation Learning schools. The education organization under Verizon Foundation works toward providing free technology, internet access, technology-focused curriculum to under-resourced middle schools.[133] In November 2020, Williams launched Humanrace, a skin care brand.[134][135] In December 2021, Williams would launch the winter line "Premium basics" together with Adidas Originals.[136]
In June 2022, Doodles announced Williams as its Chief Brand Officer. Additionally, Doodles have set a release date for Williams to release a Doodles album that will be available to stream in addition to be sold exclusively as NFTs.[137]
On February 14, 2023, Louis Vuitton announced that Williams had been appointed their new men's creative director, a position left vacant by the death of Virgil Abloh in 2021.[138] Williams displayed his first collection during Paris Men's Fashion Week in June 2023.[139][140]
Personal life
Williams married his longtime partner, model and fashion designer Helen Lasichanh, on October 12, 2013.[141] The couple have four children together: son Rocket (b. 2008) and triplets (b. January 2017).[142][143] The Despicable Me song "Rocket's Theme" was written in honor of their son Rocket.[144]
In 2005, Williams was voted "Best Dressed Man in the World" by Esquire.[145] He is a fan of the science fiction series Star Trek,[146] as indicated by his consistent use of the Vulcan salute to signify his label name, Star Trak.[147] Williams is a skateboarder and has a half-pipe inside his home.[148] In 2011, Williams announced that he is building a $35 million after-school center in his home town, Virginia Beach.[149] In 2015, Williams bought a house in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles.[150] In 2019, Williams offered internships to 144 students at Promise Academy in Harlem, New York City.[151]
On March 26, 2021, Williams' cousin Donovan Lynch was shot and killed by an officer from the Virginia Beach Police Department after "brandishing a handgun" following three shootings in the area. Williams has called for a federal investigation into the incident.[152]