Pharrell Williams

b. 5 April 1973, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Williams rose to fame as one half of the Neptunes, probably the most influential production/songwriting team of the early 00s. Williams and his Neptunes partner Chad Hugo began working together at the start of the 90s, and after a number of years behind the scenes moved into the rap mainstream at the end of the decade with a series of hit productions and writing credits for artists including Jay-Z, Kelis, Ma$e and Mystikal. The charismatic Williams quickly became the public face of the Neptunes in the new millennium as the duo began to work with a wider range of artists, including pop starlet Britney Spears and former *NSYNC vocalist Justin Timberlake. Williams popped up regularly in videos by clients as his vocals assumed a more prominent role in the Neptunes' productions. In summer 2003, his first solo single (credited to Pharrell) "Frontin'" was a major transatlantic hit. Two years later he returned as a solo artist with the quirky "Can I Have It Like That" (featuring Gwen Stefani), the first single to be lifted from his much-delayed debut album In My Mind, which was finally released in July 2006. Williams also works with Hugo and Shae Haley in the rap/rock crossover band N*E*R*D.