Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague
Chad Hugo, he formed the
hip hop and
R&B production duo
the Neptunes
The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music video ...
in the early 1990s,
with whom he has
produced songs for various recording artists. In 1999, he became lead vocalist of the band
N.E.R.D.
N.E.R.D. (stylized as N⋆E⋆R⋆D and N.E.R.D, a backronym of No-one Ever Really Dies) is an American hip hop and rock band, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1999. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were signed by Teddy Riley to Virgin Recor ...
, which he formed with Hugo and drummer
Shay Haley. Williams has been widely referred to as one of the most influential and successful music producers of the 21st century, having had a significant impact on the sound of modern popular music.
Williams released his debut solo album, ''
In My Mind'', in 2006. In 2013, he produced and was featured alongside
T.I. on the song "
Blurred Lines" by
Robin Thicke and his song "
Happy
Happiness, in the context of mental or emotional states, is positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia.
Sin ...
" was the lead single for the
soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrac ...
of the film ''
Despicable Me 2''. In the same year, he was featured on
Daft Punk
Daft Punk were a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 in Paris by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. Widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in dance music history, they achieved popularity in the late 1990s as p ...
's single "
Get Lucky", which won
Record of the Year and
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the
56th Annual Grammy Awards. His second album, ''
Girl'', was released in 2014.
Williams has received
numerous accolades and nominations. He has won 13
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
, including three for
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (one as a member of the Neptunes). He is also a two-time
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
nominee: in 2014 for
Best Original Song, for "Happy" (from ''Despicable Me 2''); and in 2017 for
Best Picture, as a producer of ''
Hidden Figures''.
Early life
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
was born in
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous city ...
, on April 5, 1973,
the eldest of the three sons of teacher Carolyn and handyman Williams.
[Stated on '']Finding Your Roots
''Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'' is a documentary television series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that premiered on March 25, 2012, on PBS. In each episode, celebrities are presented with a "book of life" that is compiled wi ...
'', February 16, 2021 His ancestry goes back many generations in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...
and
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...
. One of his ancestors journeyed to
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali ...
in 1831, prompting other relatives to emigrate from the U.S. to
Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to Guinea–Liberia border, its north, Ivory Coast to Ivory Coast� ...
in 1832. Williams met
Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp, where Williams played drums and Hugo played
tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while ...
.
They attended
Princess Anne High School where they were in the school band. Williams graduated from high school in 1991 and he attended
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
for two years before dropping out.
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,
Timbaland, and Magoo; they disbanded before making any records.
He then formed a four-piece "R&B-type" group,
the Neptunes
The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music video ...
, with friends
Shay Haley and Mike Etheridge.
They entered a high school talent show, where they were discovered by producer
Teddy Riley, whose studio was next to the school.
After graduating, the group signed with Riley.
Williams wrote Riley's verse on
Wreckx-n-Effect's 1992 hit "
Rump Shaker".
As the Neptunes, Williams and Hugo produced
Noreaga's 1998 single "
Superthug".
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
''Exclusive Audio Footage'' is the debut studio album from Virginia hip hop duo Clipse. The album spawned one single and music video "The Funeral", which hit airwaves in 1999. Promotional CD and vinyl copies exist and the LP has been leaked online ...
'', which was not released.
The Neptunes produced
Mystikal's single "
Shake Ya Ass
"Shake Ya Ass", also known by its clean title, "Shake It Fast", is the first single released from American rapper Mystikal's album, '' Let's Get Ready''. It also features uncredited vocals from Pharrell. It was released July 18, 2000 and produc ...
" (2000),
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one o ...
's single "
I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" (2000), and
Nelly's single "
Hot in Herre
"Hot in Herre" is a song by American rapper Nelly, released as the first single from his second studio album ''Nellyville'' (2002). It was released on May 7, 2002, by Universal Records. It was written by Nelly, Charles Brown, and the producers ...
" (2002).
They worked with singer
Kelis, producing her first two studio albums, ''
Kaleidoscope'' (1999) and ''
Wanderland'' (2001).
In 2001,
N.E.R.D.
N.E.R.D. (stylized as N⋆E⋆R⋆D and N.E.R.D, a backronym of No-one Ever Really Dies) is an American hip hop and rock band, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1999. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were signed by Teddy Riley to Virgin Recor ...
, a band composed of Williams, Hugo, and Haley, released their debut album ''
In Search of...''.
Williams and Hugo signed Clipse to
Arista Records
Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertain ...
through Williams'
Star Trak Entertainment imprint in 2001.
The Neptunes produced songs on singer
Babyface's 2001 album, ''
Face2Face'', including its lead single "
There She Goes".
The Neptunes produced the
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage producti ...
songs "
I'm a Slave 4 U" and "
Boys
A boy is a young male human. The term is commonly used for a child or an adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a man.
Definition, etymology, and use
According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a ...
" for her third studio album, ''
Britney'' (2001).
In 2002, Clipse released their debut album, ''
Lord Willin''', with produced entirely by the Neptunes.
That year, the Neptunes produced numerous songs on
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
's debut album ''
Justified'', including the singles "
Señorita
Señorita (the Spanish honorific equivalent of Miss) may refer to:
Film
* ''Senorita'' (film), a 1927 American silent film
*''Señorita'', a 2011 film directed by Isabel Sandoval
Music
* "Señorita" (Don Williams song), 1987
*'' Señorita EP' ...
", "
Like I Love You", and "
Rock Your Body
"Rock Your Body" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake from his debut studio album, '' Justified'' (2002). The Neptunes (consisting of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams) wrote and produced the song. The song features backgroun ...
".
In 2003, the Neptunes released a compilation album, ''
Clones''.
According to an unnamed August 2003 survey cited by ''
The Age
''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'', 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.
[ The Neptunes produced ]Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
's single " Drop It Like It's Hot" (2004), which also featured vocals from Williams.
2005–2009: ''In My Mind'' and collaborations
The Neptunes produced Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani (; born October 3, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer and actress. She is a co-founder, lead vocalist, and the primary songwriter of the band No Doubt, whose singles include " Just a Girl", " Spiderweb ...
's single " Hollaback Girl", which entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 82 on the issue dated April 2, 2005, and topped the chart within six weeks of its release. In 2006, Williams released his debut solo album, '' In My Mind''. It debuted at number 3 on the US ''Billboard'' 200. The Neptunes produced Clipse's second album, '' Hell Hath No Fury''. The Neptunes produced several songs on Stefani's second album, '' The Sweet Escape'' (2006), including the promotional single, " Yummy", which features Williams. In December 2006, Williams was announced as a performer at Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana was a benefit concert held at the newly built Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday. 31 August that year brought the 10th anni ...
in Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
, London on July 1, 2007. In 2007, the Neptunes produced on Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one o ...
's tenth studio album, '' American Gangster''.
Williams worked with Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
for her eleventh studio album, ''Hard Candy
A hard candy (American English), or boiled sweet (British English), is a sugar candy prepared from one or more sugar-based syrups that is heated to a temperature of 160 °C (320 °F) to make candy. Among the many hard candy varietie ...
'' (2008). In June 2008, an article in '' NME'' revealed that Williams was interested in producing the next album of American rock band the Strokes. Later that year, Williams worked on a remix album for Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine (musician), James Valentine, drummer Matt ...
, titled '' Call and Response: The Remix Album''. N.E.R.D. released their third studio album, '' Seeing Sounds'', in 2008.
Williams worked with Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977), professionally known by the mononym Shakira, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she has been referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular ...
on her songs " Did It Again", "Why Wait", "Good Stuff", and "Long Time" for her sixth studio album, ''She Wolf
''She Wolf'' ( es, Loba, link=no) is the eighth studio album and third English-language album by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira. It was released on 9 October 2009, by Epic Records and Sony Music Latin. As executive producers, Shakira and Am ...
'' (2009). The following month, Williams made a guest appearance on French singer Uffie's debut album, which was released in early 2010. The Neptunes produced numerous songs on Clipse's third album, '' Til the Casket Drops'' (2009).
2010–2014: ''Despicable Me'', ''Despicable Me 2'' and solo international success
In 2010, Williams worked on the music score for the animated film ''Despicable Me
''Despicable Me'' is a computer-animated media franchise centering on Gru (Despicable Me), Gru, a reformed super-villain (who later becomes a father, husband, and secret agent), and his yellow-colored Minions (Despicable Me), Minions. It is p ...
'' with composers Hans Zimmer and Heitor Pereira. In 2010, N.E.R.D. released their fourth studio album, '' Nothing'', through Star Trak. In late 2011, Williams worked on three tracks for Mike Posner's second album, ''Sky High''. In 2012, Williams composed and produced the music for the 84th Academy Awards alongside Hans Zimmer.
In 2013, Williams collaborated with French electronic duo Daft Punk
Daft Punk were a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 in Paris by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. Widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in dance music history, they achieved popularity in the late 1990s as p ...
on the songs " Get Lucky" and " Lose Yourself to Dance", both included on Daft Punk's fourth studio album, '' Random Access Memories''. "Get Lucky" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
and number two on the US ''Billboard'' 200.
In 2013, Williams collaborated with Azealia Banks with the song "ATM Jam
"ATM Jam" is a song by American rapper Azealia Banks featuring vocals and sole production from fellow American rapper Pharrell Williams. The track was released in 2013, originally serving as the second single from Banks' debut studio album, ''Brok ...
". The song was initially intended for Banks' debut studio album, '' Broke with Expensive Taste'' (2014), but was later removed from the album after Banks blamed Williams for the song's poor commercial performance. Williams penned three new original songs, included alongside composer Heitor Pereira's score, for the film '' Despicable Me 2'' (2013). These were "Just a Cloud Away", "Happy
Happiness, in the context of mental or emotional states, is positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia.
Sin ...
", and "Scream" (featuring CeeLo Green). His two original songs from the first film, "Despicable Me" and "Fun, Fun, Fun", were also reprised on the ''Despicable Me 2'' soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrac ...
. He also participated in the drummer sessions of the soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrac ...
of '' Man of Steel'' by Hans Zimmer. In March 2013, Robin Thicke's single " Blurred Lines", written and produced by Williams, was released. The song peaked at number one in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. In mid-2013, Williams was involved in two songs that sold a million copies in the UK: "Get Lucky" and "Blurred Lines".
In August 2013, Busta Rhymes talked about an unreleased "documentary album" by Williams where he talks about "inner-city strife and hardship". In November 2013, Williams released the first 24-hour music video for "Happy"; guest appearances included Magic Johnson, Steve Carell, Jimmy Kimmel, Odd Future, among others. On November 1, 2013, Williams performed with a gospel choir at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
, where nine black parishioners were shot and killed on June 17, 2015.
It was announced in December 2013 that Williams had been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year. In the same month, Williams signed a contract with Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
, and announced an album set for release in 2014 that would feature "Happy". For "Happy", Williams was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed ...
. In February 2014, Major Lazer
Major Lazer is an American electronic dance music DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. It originates from Kingston, Jamaica, and was founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving af ...
announced they would be releasing a five-track EP titled ''Apocalypse Soon
''Apocalypse Soon'' is an extended play (EP) by American electronic dance music band Major Lazer. It was released in 2014 after the success of their 2013 studio album ''Free the Universe''.
The EP includes 5 tracks featuring collaborations with ...
'' on the 25th of that month. The EP, released via Mad Decent and Secretly Canadian, features Williams and Sean Paul, among others.[ The first single off the EP, which features Williams, is titled "]Aerosol Can
Aerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. It comprises a can or bottle that contains a payload, and a propellant under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the payload is forced out ...
". Williams contributed a verse to Future
The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that current ...
's February 2014 single " Move That Dope", which also featured Pusha T and Casino over production from Mike Will Made It.
On February 18, 2014, Williams announced via Twitter that his second album, '' Girl'', would be released on March 3, 2014. The album was supported by a European concert tour, Dear Girl Tour. At the 86th Academy Awards
The 86th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2013 and took place on March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. ...
on March 2, 2014, Williams's song "Happy" lost to " Let It Go" from '' Frozen''. Afterwards, when '' GQ'' magazine asked Williams "how badly" did he want the Oscar, he responded: "When they read the results, my face was...frozen. But then I thought about it, and I just decided just to...let it go". At the Oscar Awards that same year, he wore a controversial outfit consisting of a tuxedo with shorts. In May 2014, Williams received an Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
2014–present: ''The Voice'', ''Something in the Water'' and other ventures
In March 2014, it was announced that Comme des Garçons would be releasing a unisex fragrance with Williams, named after his album ''Girl''. On March 31, 2014, Williams was announced as a new coach for the seventh season of '' The Voice'', replacing CeeLo Green. In June 2014, it was announced that Williams would make a guest appearance on the docu-series '' Sisterhood of Hip Hop''. Williams co-composed the score for ''The Amazing Spider-Man 2
''The Amazing Spider-Man 2'' (internationally titled ''The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro'') is a 2014 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The film was directed by Marc Webb and produced by Avi ...
'' (2014) with Hans Zimmer, Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr (born John Martin Maher, 31 October 1963) is an English musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has since performed with numerou ...
, Michael Einziger, and David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart (born 9 September 1952) is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for Eurythmics, his successful professional partnership with Annie Lennox. Sometimes credited as David A. Stewart, he won Best British ...
. Williams was the executive producer of Atlanta rapper T.I.'s ninth studio album, ''Paperwork
Paperwork refers to written documents or the work needed to create them.
Paperwork may also refer to:
* Paperwork reduction, loosening or reducing documentation requirements
** Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (Pub. L ...
'', which was released on October 21, 2014, by Grand Hustle
Grand Hustle Records (formerly Grand Hustle Entertainment), also known as Hustle Gang Music, is an Atlanta, Georgia-based hip hop record label, founded in 2003, by American rapper T.I. and his manager Jason Geter. Up until December 2012, the la ...
and Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
. In May 2014, Williams curated an art show named after his album, ''Girl'', at the Galerie Perrotin
Perrotin is a contemporary art gallery founded in 1990 by Emmanuel Perrotin, at the age of twenty-one. He has since opened over eighteen spaces, with the aim of offering increasingly vibrant and creative environments in which to experience art. H ...
in Paris, France. The show included artists Takashi Murakami, JR, Daniel Arsham, and Marina Abramović, among others. Williams collaborated with Gwen Stefani with the song " Shine" for the animated film ''Paddington
Paddington is an area within the City of Westminster, in Central London. First a medieval parish then a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Three important landmarks of the district are Padd ...
'' (2014).
In January 2015, Williams was announced as the musical director for a 7-continent Live Earth concert on June 18, 2015, to raise awareness about and pressure governments to act on climate change. On February 8, 2015, Williams made a cameo in an episode of ''The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, ...
'' entitled " Walking Big & Tall" where he comes to Springfield to write a new anthem for the town. Williams recorded three songs for the soundtrack to the 2015 animated film '' The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water''. On May 18, 2015, Team Pharrell had 16-year-old Sawyer Fredericks
Sawyer Christopher Fredericks (born March 31, 1999) is an American blues singer–songwriter who won the 8th season of ''The Voice'' in 2015. Choosing Pharrell Williams as his coach, Fredericks set series iTunes sales records and became the youn ...
win the eighth season of '' The Voice''.
At the 2015 Grammy Awards
The 57th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 8, 2015, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The show was broadcast live by CBS at 5:00 p.m. PST ( UTC−8). Rapper LL Cool J hosted the show for the fourth consecutive time. ...
, Williams performed an orchestral rendition of "Happy" with Hans Zimmer and pianist Lang Lang
Lang Lang (; born 14 June 1982) is a Chinese pianist who has performed with leading orchestras in China, North America, Europe, and elsewhere. Active since the 1990s, he was the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, ...
that included a tribute to the Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter (abbreviated BLM) is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people. Its primary concerns are incidents of police bruta ...
movement, inspired by Eric Garner's death and the Ferguson unrest. In 2015, a unanimous jury determined that " Blurred Lines", which Williams co-wrote and produced, was an infringement of the 1977 Marvin Gaye song "Got to Give It Up
"Got to Give It Up" is a song by American music artist Marvin Gaye. Written by the singer and produced by Art Stewart as a response to a request from Gaye's record label that he perform disco music, it was released in March 1977.
Upon its releas ...
". The jury awarded the Gaye family $7.4 million in damages for the copyright infringement based on profits generated. In October 2015, the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, th ...
named Williams as their artist-in-residence
Artist-in-residence, or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs which involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs which provide artists with space a ...
. He gave the 2017 commencement address at the university and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) is a doctoral degree in fine arts, may be given as an honorary degree (a degree ''honoris causa'') or an earned professional degree (in the UK).
Description
Doctoral programmes leading to DFAs are of equivalent level ...
degree on May 17, 2017. In 2018, Williams worked with Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande-Butera ( ; born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four-octave vocal range has received critical acclaim, and her personal life has been the subject of widespread media attention. She has received ...
for her fourth studio album, ''Sweetener'' (2018). He produced several songs on the album, and is featured on the song "Blazed".
In March 2019, Williams and the city of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous ci ...
announced the launch of a three-day music and cultural festival titled ''Something in the Water'', to be held during College Beach Weekend, April 26–28, on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The festival lineup included Travis Scott, Migos
Migos () is an American hip hop trio from Lawrenceville, Georgia, founded in 2008. The group was originally composed of Southern rappers Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset. Quavo is from Athens, Georgia; Offset and Takeoff were born and raised in Law ...
, Janelle Monáe, SZA
Solána Imani Rowe (born November 8, 1989), known professionally as SZA ( ), is an American singer and songwriter. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she began making music in the early 2010s, releasing two extended plays before signing with the h ...
, Rosalía, Anderson .Paak, Jhené Aiko
Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (; born March 16, 1988) is an American singer who embarked on her music career contributing vocals and appearing in several music videos for R&B group B2K. In an effort to promote Aiko and cultivate a following for he ...
, Mac DeMarco
MacBriare Samuel Lanyon DeMarco (born Vernor Winfield MacBriare Smith IV; April 30, 1990) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. DeMarco has released six full-length studio albums, his debut '' Rock and Roll Night ...
, Maggie Rogers, Lil Uzi Vert
Symere Bysil Woods ( ; born July 31, 1995), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. They are characterized by their facial tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles and androgynous fashion, im ...
, Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
, Pusha T, Dave Matthews Band, and DRAM
Dynamic random-access memory (dynamic RAM or DRAM) is a type of random-access semiconductor memory that stores each bit of data in a memory cell, usually consisting of a tiny capacitor and a transistor, both typically based on metal-oxid ...
. The first day of the festival was cancelled due to severe storms. The "Pharrell and Friends" set that closed the festival's second day, featured Williams and a lineup of guests, including Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one o ...
, Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Usher, Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Charlie Wilson, and Tyler, the Creator. The festival's final day featured Trey Songz
Tremaine Aldon Neverson (born November 28, 1984), known professionally as Trey Songz, is an American R&B singer and rapper. His debut album, ''I Gotta Make It'', was released in 2005 through Atlantic Records. His follow-up album, ''Trey Day'', ...
, Chris Brown
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. According to ''Billboard'', Brown is one of the most successful R&B singers of his generation, having often been referred to by many contempor ...
, Lil Duval, and members of SWV and Blackstreet. Williams produced five songs for Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film production company and subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company. The studio is the flagship producer of live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Studios unit ...
' ''The Lion King
''The Lion King'' is a 1994 American animated musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 32nd Disney animated feature film and the fifth produced during the Disney Renaissance ...
'' (2019), marking his third collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer. In October 2019, Williams stated that he now regrets being associated with the 2013 song " Blurred Lines", which received intense backlash for its apparent sexist themes.
Influences
In the past, Williams has stated that he does not have any direct musical influences, but he has expressed his admiration for several musicians, including Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over ...
, J Dilla, Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, s ...
, Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and arranger whom ''Rolling Stone'' described as a "soul legend". His most popular songs include " The Ghetto", "This Christmas ...
, Marvin Gaye, Rakim, and Q-Tip. 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".
Business ventures
In 2005, Williams partnered with Japanese fashion icon Nigo
is a Japanese fashion designer, disc jockey (DJ), record producer and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of the urban clothing line A Bathing Ape (Bape) and currently serves as creative director for Kenzo. Additionally he is a membe ...
to create the streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream footwear. In 2008, Williams co-designed a series of eyewear and jewelry for Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier, commonly known as Louis Vuitton (, ), is a French high-end Luxury goods, luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton (designer), Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its produc ...
. In 2008, Williams founded a non-profit organization called "From One Hand To AnOTHER" (FOHTA). In 2009, Williams unveiled a collaborative sculpture with Takashi Murakami at Art Basel, which spoke to the metaphor of value. In May 2011, it was announced that Williams would serve as creative director of KarmaloopTV alongside founder and CEO Greg Selkoe
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and former AMC president Katie McEnroe.
In May 2012, Williams launched the social media venture I Am Other
I Am Other (stylized as i am OTHER) is a multi-media creative collective created by Pharrell Williams that serves as an umbrella for all of his endeavors, including Billionaire Boys Club and ICECREAM apparel, textile company Bionic Yarn and a ded ...
. In August 2013, Williams created a line of sunglasses for fashion brand Moncler called "Moncler Lunettes". In 2014, Williams entered a long-term partnership with Adidas
Adidas AG (; stylized as adidas since 1949) is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufacture ...
. His Adidas NMD "Human Race" collection was released on July 23, 2016. 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
The American Museum of Natural History (abbreviated as AMNH) is a natural history museum on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. In Theodore Roosevelt Park, across the street from Central Park, the museum complex comprises 26 int ...
in New York City.
In 2014, Williams appeared on a cover designed by French artist Grégoire Guillemin of New York-based men fashion magazine Adon, covering the collaboration. 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. In 2014, Williams worked on art with Emmanuel Perrotin and a French manufacturer, Domeau & Pérès. 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
Peter Doroshenko (born 1962 in Chicago, Illinois, United States) is the director at The Ukrainian Museum, New York, New York, United States.
Life and career
Before his arrival in New York, Doroshenko was the Executive Director at Dallas Contemp ...
. Williams was the executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights ...
of the 2015 crime
In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in C ...
comedy-drama
Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...
film '' Dope''.
In 2017, Williams designed a €
The euro sign () is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the eurozone and unilaterally adopted by Kosovo and Montenegro. The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. It consists o ...
1,000 sneaker in collaboration with Chanel
Chanel ( , ) is a French high-end luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel in Paris. Chanel specializes in women's ready-to-wear, luxury goods, and accessories and licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear. Chane ...
and Adidas. 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. In November 2020, Williams launched Humanrace, a skin care
Skin care is a range of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance, and relieve skin conditions. They can include nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure, and appropriate use of emollients. Practices that enhance appea ...
brand. In December 2021, Williams would launch the winter line "Premium basics" together with Adidas Originals
Adidas Originals (often stylized as adidas Originals) is a brand of a line of casual and sportswear created by German multinational corporation Adidas. It consists of a heritage line, specializing in athletic shoes, t-shirts, jackets, bags, s ...
.
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.
Personal life
Williams married his longtime partner, model and fashion designer Helen Lasichanh, on October 12, 2013. The couple have four children together: son Rocket (born in 2008) and triplets (born in January 2017). The ''Despicable Me
''Despicable Me'' is a computer-animated media franchise centering on Gru (Despicable Me), Gru, a reformed super-villain (who later becomes a father, husband, and secret agent), and his yellow-colored Minions (Despicable Me), Minions. It is p ...
'' song "Rocket's Theme" was written in honor of their son Rocket.
In 2005, Williams was voted "Best Dressed Man in the World" by ''Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
''. He is a fan of the science fiction series ''Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...
'', as indicated by his consistent use of the Vulcan salute to signify his label name, Star Trak. Williams is a skateboarder and has a half-pipe
A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity extreme sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, freestyle BMX, skating, and scooter riding.
Overview
The structure resembles a cross-section of a swimming pool, essentially two concave ram ...
inside his home. In 2011, Williams announced that he is building a $35 million after-school center in his home town, Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous ci ...
. In 2015, Williams bought a house in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
. In 2019, Williams offered internships to 144 students at Promise Academy in Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Ha ...
, New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.
On March 26, 2021, Williams' cousin Donovan Lynch was shot and killed by an officer from the Virginia Beach Police Department
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health, and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and ...
after "brandishing a handgun" following three shootings in the area. Williams has called for a federal investigation into the incident.
Discography
Solo albums
* '' In My Mind'' (2006)
* '' Girl'' (2014)
Collaboration albums
;With N.E.R.D.
* '' In Search of...'' (2002)
* '' Fly or Die'' (2004)
* '' Seeing Sounds'' (2008)
* '' Nothing'' (2010)
* '' No One Ever Really Dies'' (2017)
;With the Neptunes
* '' Clones'' (2003)
Filmography
* ''Despicable Me
''Despicable Me'' is a computer-animated media franchise centering on Gru (Despicable Me), Gru, a reformed super-villain (who later becomes a father, husband, and secret agent), and his yellow-colored Minions (Despicable Me), Minions. It is p ...
'' (2010) – Composer
* '' Despicable Me 2'' (2013) – Composer
* '' The Voice'' (2014–16) – Himself
* ''The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, ...
'' (2015) - Himself (episode "Walking Big & Tall") (Voice role)
* '' Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping'' (2016) – Himself
* '' Hidden Figures'' (2016) – Producer, composer
* '' Despicable Me 3'' (2017) – Composer
* '' The Grinch'' (2018) – Narrator (Voice role)
* '' Black Is King'' (2020) – Special appearance
* '' North Hollywood'' (2020)
* ''A Man Named Scott
''A Man Named Scott'' is a 2021 documentary film centered on American musician and actor Scott Mescudi, better known as Kid Cudi. Directed by Robert Alexander, it was released on Amazon Prime Video on November 5, 2021. The title of the film, which ...
'' (2021) - Himself
* '' Sing 2'' (2021) - Alfonso (Voice role)
Tours
* Dear Girl Tour (2014)
Videography
Awards
See also
* Pharrell Williams v. Bridgeport Music
* List of people with synesthesia
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Pharrell
20th-century American singers
21st-century American singers
1973 births
Living people
African-American male rappers
African-American record producers
American fashion businesspeople
American fashion designers
American male pop singers
American hip hop record producers
American hip hop singers
American music industry executives
American contemporary R&B singers
American textile industry businesspeople
APRA Award winners
Brit Award winners
Businesspeople from Virginia
Columbia Records artists
Grammy Award winners for rap music
Interscope Records artists
N.E.R.D. members
Judges in American reality television series
Songwriters from Virginia
Pop rappers
Musicians from Virginia Beach, Virginia
Rappers from Virginia
Remixers
The Neptunes members
Articles containing video clips
21st-century American businesspeople
21st-century American rappers
Child Rebel Soldier members
Northwestern University alumni
Princess Anne High School alumni
African-American male singer-songwriters
African-American film score composers