Pharrell Lanscilo Williams is an American musician, record producer, singer, songwriter, rapper, and fashion designer.
Williams first gained recognition as one half of the music production duo the Neptunes, formed with Chad Hugo in 1992.
He has achieved numerous accolades, including 13 Grammy Awards.
He was also nominated for an Academy Award twice, once in 2014 for Best Original Song for Happy, and again in 2017 for Best Picture as a producer of Hidden Figures.
Since 2023, he has been the Men’s Creative Director for Louis Vuitton.
Parents
Williams was born on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
His parents are Pharoah and Carolyn Williams. Carolyn is a teacher and Dr. Carolyn Williams helps 3000 students every year through From One Hand To Another.
Pharoah is a handyman. Pharrell has two younger brothers, Cato, a professional skateboarder, and Psolomon.
Career
Pharrell’s musical journey began in his youth, where he honed his skills playing various instruments. A pivotal moment occurred when he met Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp.
Their shared passion for music led them to form The Neptunes in 1992. Initially, they started as a four-piece band, but eventually, they streamlined into a production duo.
The Neptunes quickly became one of the most sought-after production teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
They were known for their distinctive, futuristic sound that blended elements of hip-hop, funk, rock, and electronic music.
Some of their most notable early productions include N.O.R.E. – Superthug (1998), which is often credited with putting The Neptunes on the map with its raw, minimalist beat; Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Got Your Money (1999), a quirky and infectious track showcasing their ability to create catchy hooks and unique soundscapes; and Jay-Z – I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) (2000), a collaboration that cemented their status as hitmakers.
While The Neptunes continued to dominate the production world, Pharrell and Chad, along with their childhood friend Shay Haley, formed N.E.R.D. (No One Ever Really Dies) in 1999.
N.E.R.D. was a vehicle for Pharrell and Chad to explore their more experimental and eclectic musical tastes.
They blended rock, funk, hip-hop, and electronica into a unique and genre-bending sound, releasing albums like In Search Of… (2001), Fly or Die (2004) and Seeing Sounds (2008).
While Pharrell was already a massive success as part of The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., he also embarked on a successful solo career.
He released his first solo album, In My Mind, in 2006, which showcased his rapping and singing abilities.
However, it was his work on film soundtracks that catapulted him to even greater heights. Happy (2013), from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, became a global phenomenon, topping charts worldwide and earning him an Academy Award nomination.
Riding the wave of Happy’s success, Pharrell released his second solo album, Girl.
The album was a celebration of femininity and featured collaborations with artists like Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys.
