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Pharrell Runs the Music Industry! 27 Mind-Blowing Facts About the Man Behind It All
![Pharrell Gallery 18](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/480x251/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/640x335/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/768x402/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/1024x536/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/1280x670/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/1440x753/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/1600x837/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/wrKDKb9F5/2160x1130/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg?position=top 2160w)
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 Gallery 1](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/480x316/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/640x421/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/768x505/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/1024x673/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/1280x841/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/1440x946/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/1600x1051/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/AU-aSj-TL/2160x1419/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-1.jpg 2160w)
Pharrell met his Neptunes partner Chad Hugo at band camp when they were in seventh grade. They started making music immediately!
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The Neptunes signed with legendary hip-hip producer Teddy Riley right after they graduated from high school.
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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 Gallery 4](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FhXg-nFfi/334x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-4.jpg 334w)
Pharrell helped produce the debut album of Mase in 1997, Puff Daddy's protege and biggest priority on Bad Boy Records at the time.
![Pharrell Gallery 5](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/480x339/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/640x452/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/768x542/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/1024x722/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/1280x903/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/1440x1016/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/1600x1128/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ZnIFnN_An/2160x1523/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-5.jpg 2160w)
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 Gallery 6](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2xEzqxzNZ/334x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-6.jpg 334w)
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."
![Pharrell Gallery 7](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/480x344/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/640x459/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/768x551/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/1024x734/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/1280x918/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/1440x1032/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/1600x1147/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ExrBhylLT/2160x1548/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-7.jpg 2160w)
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.
![Pharrell Gallery 8](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ROkFG3dyN/363x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-8.jpg 363w)
"Blurred Lines" isn't Pharrell's first inescapable summer song. He also produced Nelly's 2002 song "Hot in Herre."
![Pharrell Gallery 9](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/480x321/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/640x428/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/768x514/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/1024x685/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/1280x856/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/1440x963/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/1600x1070/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aygtQo0as/2160x1444/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-9.jpg 2160w)
These two must really get along well. Pharrell and Chad released their first album under their Neptunes moniker in 2003.
![Pharrell Gallery 10](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/480x340/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/640x454/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/768x544/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/1024x726/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/1280x907/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/1440x1020/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/1600x1134/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/jrE-rE9VV/2160x1530/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-10.jpg 2160w)
The Neptunes produced two songs on The Black Album, considered by many to be Jay Z's finest album.
![Pharrell Gallery 11](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Eq8mTC_Fo/375x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-11.jpg 375w)
"Get Lucky" wasn't the first smash collab between Pharrell and Daft Punk. He also remixed their jam "Harder Better Faster Stronger."
![Pharrell Gallery 12](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/480x313/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/640x418/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/768x501/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/1024x668/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/1280x835/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/1440x939/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/1600x1043/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/1t0jGr2zY/2160x1408/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-12.jpg 2160w)
Pharrell performed the Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There" at the 2004 Grammys with Sting and Dave Matthews.
![Pharrell Gallery 13](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/vNhIqykp8/367x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-13.jpg 367w)
That same night, he took home a Grammy for producing most of Justin Timberlake's debut album, Justified.
![Pharrell Gallery 14](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/480x320/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/640x427/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/768x512/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/1024x683/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/1280x854/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/1440x960/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/1600x1067/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/JeLNBAR5-/2160x1440/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-14.jpg 2160w)
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.
![Pharrell Gallery 15](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/tI_K02OTp/332x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-15.jpg 332w)
In 2005, Esquire named Pharrell the best-dressed man in the world.
![Pharrell Gallery 16](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/YCmROpzOG/458x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-16.jpg 458w)
Pharrell released his debut solo album in 2006, with Kanye West rapping on his single "Number One."
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He performed at the commemorative Concert for Diana in London in 2007, on what would have been Princess Diana's 46th birthday.
![Pharrell Gallery 18](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/xIDXgi9LI/333x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-18.jpg 333w)
He designed a line of accessories for Louis Vuitton in 2008.
![Pharrell Gallery 19](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/480x368/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/640x491/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/768x589/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/1024x786/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/1280x982/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/1440x1104/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/1600x1227/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/s1Ifdu_xD/2160x1656/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-19.jpg 2160w)
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 Gallery 20](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/480x344/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/640x458/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/768x550/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/1024x733/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/1280x916/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/1440x1030/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/1600x1144/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/BCjxFhRmm/2160x1545/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-20.jpg 2160w)
Pharrell wrote several songs on She Wolf with Shakira in addition to producing songs.
![Pharrell Gallery 21](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/480x320/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/640x427/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/768x512/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/1024x683/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/1280x854/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/1440x960/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/1600x1067/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2prFcKX5Y/2160x1440/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-21.jpg 2160w)
Pharrell created a sculpture with Takashi Murakami, which was unveiled at Art Basel in 2009.
![Pharrell Gallery 22](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D6UI0zuwT/313x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-22.jpg 313w)
Pharrell wrote two songs for Adam Lambert's second album, Trespassing.
![Pharrell Gallery 23](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/480x268/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/640x357/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/768x428/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/1024x571/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/1280x713/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/1440x802/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/1600x891/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/RExbhK4l2/2160x1203/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-23.jpg 2160w)
Sit down for this one. Pharrell created the new theme music for Chelsea Lately in 2012.
![Pharrell Gallery 24](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/azTJjZvUj/332x499/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-24.jpg 332w)
Obviously he had a hand in the biggest R&B debut in years. He produced two songs on Frank Ocean's beloved Channel Orange.
![Pharrell Gallery 25](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/480x269/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/640x359/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/768x431/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/1024x574/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/1280x717/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/1440x807/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/1600x897/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Jnaoa3IOC/2160x1210/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-25.jpg 2160w)
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."
![Pharrell Gallery 26](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ww7XIvYeC/447x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-26.jpg 447w)
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!
![Pharrell Gallery 27](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5h5NwBc6z/346x500/2013/08/pharrell-gallery-27.jpg 346w)
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.