PHOTOSPharrell Runs the Music Industry! 27 Mind-Blowing Facts About the Man Behind It All
Pharrell Williams was impossible to escape this summer. When even your grandmother can sing "Blurred Lines," you know the man has made a major impact on popular culture. But his influence is even greater than you may realize! Check out what he's accomplished over the years.
Pharrell met his Neptunes partner Chad Hugo at band camp when they were in seventh grade. They started making music immediately!
The Neptunes signed with legendary hip-hip producer Teddy Riley right after they graduated from high school.
Remember the classic early '90s song "Rump Shaker," by Wreckx-N-Effect? Pharrell wrote a verse and produced the song in 1992, when he was still a teenager.
Pharrell helped produce the debut album of Mase in 1997, Puff Daddy's protege and biggest priority on Bad Boy Records at the time.
The Neptunes met Kelis when she was a completely unknown bartender with a dream. They produced her whole debut album, which came out in 1999.
Pharrell and Chad Hugo are directly responsible for Britney Spears' most salacious song of all time. They wrote the lyrics and produced "I'm a Slave 4 U."
Around the time of the smash success of "I'm a Slave 4 U," the Neptunes released their first album with their side project, N.E.R.D.
"Blurred Lines" isn't Pharrell's first inescapable summer song. He also produced Nelly's 2002 song "Hot in Herre."
These two must really get along well. Pharrell and Chad released their first album under their Neptunes moniker in 2003.
The Neptunes produced two songs on The Black Album, considered by many to be Jay Z's finest album.
"Get Lucky" wasn't the first smash collab between Pharrell and Daft Punk. He also remixed their jam "Harder Better Faster Stronger."
Pharrell performed the Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There" at the 2004 Grammys with Sting and Dave Matthews.
That same night, he took home a Grammy for producing most of Justin Timberlake's debut album, Justified.
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He's not just a producer, obviously. Let's not forget the verse he raps on "Drop It Like It's Hot," which was named the most popular rap song of the decade by Billboard.
In 2005, Esquire named Pharrell the best-dressed man in the world.
Pharrell released his debut solo album in 2006, with Kanye West rapping on his single "Number One."
He performed at the commemorative Concert for Diana in London in 2007, on what would have been Princess Diana's 46th birthday.
He designed a line of accessories for Louis Vuitton in 2008.
Go ahead, try to think of a popular artist he hasn't worked with. Pharrell produced and rapped on Madonna's 2008 album Hard Candy.
Pharrell wrote several songs on She Wolf with Shakira in addition to producing songs.
Pharrell created a sculpture with Takashi Murakami, which was unveiled at Art Basel in 2009.
Pharrell wrote two songs for Adam Lambert's second album, Trespassing.
Sit down for this one. Pharrell created the new theme music for Chelsea Lately in 2012.
Obviously he had a hand in the biggest R&B debut in years. He produced two songs on Frank Ocean's beloved Channel Orange.
Oh, maybe you've heard this song? Pharrell stepped out from the studio to show his face in a video for the first time in a while for "Blurred Lines."
Capping off his hugely successful summer, Pharrell arrived at the 2013 VMAs with a bike gang... wearing jorts. And a straw fedora. Only this man could do it!
Just days before the VMAs, Pharrell married his long-time girlfriend Helen Lasichanh in a tiny ceremony in France. They have a 4-year-old son named—wait for it—Rocket Man Williams.
