Pop culture was enjoying a very specific wave of nostalgia, and the sound of “Blurred Lines” was a perfect follow-up to Pharrell’s Daft Punk collaboration. Then came “Blurred Lines,” with TI and Robin Thicke. It would never have been possible without the talent involved, including Nile Rodgers’ disco bona fides and Pharrell’s smooth vocals and production flair. Then in 2013, after creating more music in under two decades than most artists do in a lifetime, Pharrell went from being the man pushing buttons behind the scenes to standing front and center, thanks to a trio of career-defining singles.ĭaft Punk’s “Get Lucky” wasn’t just a comeback single for the French electro-pop duo, but a cultural phenomenon with cross-generational appeal. During this era, Pharrell didn’t have the same cultural clout as he did during the early 00s, but he continued to reshape the future sound of pop, hip-hop, R&B, and everything between, quietly behind the scenes. Coursing through pop music’s 21st-century history, it’s near impossible to trace his full range of influence. Self-proclaimed Pharrell superfan Tyler, The Creator has established himself not just as Pharrell’s heir apparent (if such a thing exists), but he’s enhanced Pharrell’s influence through his own work.įor the next few years, Pharrell and The Neptunes would work with everyone under the sun: Kings Of Leon, Lupe Fiasco, Beyoncé, 50 Cent,and Gorillaz among them. Over the years, however, the album would develop a cult following, and reveal itself as perhaps more influential than anyone, even diehard fans, had suspected. he had been teasing the album for years, and even released a prequel mixtape, In My Mind: The Prequel, a few months prior, Pharrell’s solo effort failed to make the same impact as the Neptunes-produced singles that established him as a kingmaker. In 2005, Pharrell released his long-awaited solo debut, In My Mind. The summer jam went No.1, making The Neptunes became the hottest production team of the era. The production duo would also spawn one of the biggest hip-hop records of the early-00s, Nelly’s infectious “Hot In Herre,” helping to usher in the Dirty South sound in the process. When Jay-Zwas recording his would-be-retirement record, Black Album, he tapped The Neptunes to produce its lead single, “Change Clothes,” featuring Pharrell’s now-classic vocals on the track. He continued to foster relationships with other titans. In the early part of the new millennium, Pharrell would also work with Scarface, Noreaga, and Britney Spears. At the time of the album’s release, Pharrell and The Neptunes were also helping to establish the careers of other future legends, including Kelis and Clipse. For obsessives and completists (Tyler, The Creator among them), the ball was already rolling: both were essential to unlocking Pharrell’s genius. Yet there are two distinct versions of the album – one with electronic production, the other with a rap-rock full-band sound. N*E*R*D’s debut album, In Search Of…, is an influential and genre-bending classic. Pharrell’s career was imbued with intrigue from the moment it began.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |