In a world where hip is synonymous with hop and a drum machine can make you a millionaire, the culture breathes fresh air with The Neptunes(also NERD): responsible for most of the hits playing on Rap, R&B, Pop and Alternative stations the Neptunes can not be pidgeon-hold to any specific genre(although Critics love to do so).
Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo, first made their impression on the world in '99 with Nore's Super Thug (what what). And quickly followed up with hits from Mystikal, JayZ, Nsync, No Doubt, Sade and yes, Marilyn Manson.
Pharell Williams the public figure of the duo is the face most associated with the Neptunes but he is also the main writer. He has won the BMI songwriter award. Chad the NERD responsible for the Funk-meets-Acid-meets-Rap beats has won the ASCAP award for his signature sounds. Their group N.E.R.D. (Noone Every Really Dies) has won the shortlist award which is given to artist who have sold fewer than 500,000 copies. Although at the time of receiving the award the album had broke the Certified Gold mark.
As is the natural progression, the dynamic duo has moved into their own label venture with Arista called Star Trak. The label like the group spands many cultures and artistic expressions from Rap Group Clipse to Spymob, the four man rock group from Minneapolis, too the newly revamped Supercat, the legendary(?) dancehall artist of the 90's.
Released August 19, 2003 is a collection of the Neptunes Sound featuring The Clones (label artists) and guess appearances by everyone from Busta Rhymes to Vanessa Marquez. The album takes you on a journey to different planets; stopping at the Hip Hop Solar Saloon, so Busta can 'Light your ass on fire'. Then you lift off to Riff where The High Speed Scene encourages you to' Fuck and Spend'. Of course no exploration is complete without going to the Land of Funk'em where the beats are crazy 'hot' as in 'Hot Damn!'
All in all the Neptunes are necessary even though you can pick their sound out of any line up, you can do so because it is so different. So the next chance you get, blast off to planet Neptunes.
Article comments
1 - Hip Hop Music
Top 5 Hip Hop Producers -
1)Dr.Dre
2)Lil Jon
3)The Alchemist
4)Kanye West
5)Pharell Williams
2 - Dew
Lil Jon and Kanye West lack the impact to compensate for their lack of experience. Time is a big factor also and they have not been doing it long enough (counting the underground years) where as Pharell more than qualifies because his impact has been widespread. Dr. Dre is an absolute on this list but the Alchemist is rather iffey. It seems you are judging on maybe your favorite records over all but I think to make a greatest Producer like this you have to take into fact so much more. Where is Missy and Timbo or DJ Premier, what about Pete Rock who I ma not as fond of but I recognize he deserves his place here. What about Rick Reuben and Russell Simmons they were pioneer producers to Hip Hop not just moguls?
3 - kj
I am the biggest admirer of pharrel. Our style is simmular and i'm not a grouppie i sing and i know i am just what he is looking for right now in a artist. some true exentric funk! holla for da future kj
4 - romain
I'm french and y don't skeak english very well but I all neptune production and specialy chad hugo and pharell williams, I think they are the best producer of u.s and I like pharell voice
5 - Kneita
please Pharell write me, i love u..... soooooooo mutch!!!
6 - Bob A. Booey
In terms of number of hits and catchy, instantly recognizable beats written for other artists, Pharrell is right up there with Dre these days as 1A to Dre's #1.
Kanye's huge and popular as an artist in his own right these days. I don't really feel his beats and melodies, but he's probably #3 biggest as a producer.
After that, you can talk about someone like Lil Jon as #4 for the crunk sound.
That is all.
7 - neka
Huge fan of Pharell Williams and was interested in knowing his nationality. Thanks a lot.
8 - neka
Pharell Williams is so beautiful to me and I was interested in knowing his nationality. Thank you!
9 - Bob A. Booey
I'm pretty sure Pharell is a brotha.
That is all.
10 - johny
why is anyone puttin lil jon and dr dre up there over neptunes. i feel people don't look into how much music this team has produced in the last 5 years. Not to mention they jumped straight into white pop music and made stars outta timberlake, spears etc. Like their music or not, but every 5 songs on the radio is a npetunes song. period. its been like this for 4 years now. Now we hear cloning of their style coming up (wait - ying yang twins, play - david banner, shut up - lil kim), people think its the neptunes and like but its not. Its reach the point that theyve influenced the industry nothing short of what nirvana did to rock in the 90's, maybe surpassinng. give it 5 more years and we'l see how rediculous this group really was. not to mention they are doing the score for the next voltron movie ( they play like 12 instruments almost classically trained in piano not suprised).