Pharrell Williams is a multi-talented American artist renowned for his work as a singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. His career took off as part of The Neptunes, a hip hop and R&B production duo formed with Chad Hugo, which achieved mainstream success with 15 singles reaching the Billboard Hot 100's top ten. He later formed the band N.E.R.D. alongside Hugo and drummer Shay Haley, showcasing his vocal talents. Pharrell is widely recognized as a pioneering figure in 21st-century music production, having significantly shaped the landscape of popular music.
April 5, 1973: Birth of Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams was born on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
1977: Release of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up"
Marvin Gaye's iconic song "Got to Give It Up" was released in 1977, becoming a soul music classic. Years later, its influence would become a point of legal contention with the release of "Blurred Lines."
1990: Release of A Tribe Called Quest's Debut Album
The year 1990 saw the release of "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm," the groundbreaking debut album by A Tribe Called Quest. Pharrell Williams has cited this album as a pivotal influence on his musical journey, describing it as a turning point that opened his eyes to the artistry of music.
1991: High School Graduation
Pharrell Williams graduated from Princess Anne High School in 1991.
1992: Formation of The Neptunes
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo formed the hip hop and R&B production duo, The Neptunes, in 1992.
1992: Songwriting for Wreckx-n-Effect
Pharrell Williams wrote the verse for Riley's part in Wreckx-n-Effect's hit "Rump Shaker" in 1992.
1998: Production of Noreaga's "Superthug"
As The Neptunes, Williams and Hugo produced the single "Superthug" for rapper Noreaga in 1998.
1999: Formation of N.E.R.D.
Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shay Haley formed the alternative band N.E.R.D. in 1999, with Williams as the lead vocalist.
1999: Production for Kelis's First Two Albums
The Neptunes produced Kelis's debut album, "Kaleidoscope" (1999), and her second album, "Wanderland" (2001).
2001: Signing of Clipse and Production for Various Artists
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo signed the rap duo Clipse to Arista Records through their Star Trak Entertainment imprint. The Neptunes also produced songs for Babyface's album "Face2Face" and Britney Spears' album "Britney" in 2001.
2001: Founding of Star Trak Entertainment
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo co-founded Star Trak Entertainment, a record label imprint under Arista Records, in 2001.
2002: Release of Clipse's Debut Album and Production for Justin Timberlake
Clipse, produced entirely by The Neptunes, released their debut album, "Lord Willin'," in 2002. The Neptunes also worked on Justin Timberlake's debut solo album, "Justified," that year.
August 2003: The Neptunes' Dominance
In August 2003, The Neptunes were incredibly influential, with surveys indicating they produced a substantial percentage of songs played on British and US radio.
2003: Release of "Frontin'"
Pharrell Williams released his debut single, "Frontin'," featuring Jay-Z, in 2003.
2003: Release of "Clones" and The Neptunes' Dominance
The Neptunes released the compilation album "Clones" in 2003. They were highly sought-after producers, with their music featured prominently on British and US radio.
2004: Production on Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot"
The Neptunes produced Snoop Dogg's hit single "Drop It Like It's Hot," which featured Pharrell Williams's vocals, in 2004.
April 2, 2005: Release of Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl"
Gwen Stefani's single "Hollaback Girl," produced by The Neptunes, was released on April 2, 2005 and quickly rose to the top of the charts.
2005: Pharrell Williams Launches Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Footwear
In 2005, Pharrell Williams partnered with Nigo to establish the streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream footwear.
2005: Pharrell Williams Named "Best Dressed Man in the World" by Esquire
Pharrell Williams was recognized for his style by Esquire in 2005, being named "Best Dressed Man in the World."
December 2006: Performance at Concert for Diana
Pharrell Williams was announced as a performer for the Concert for Diana, scheduled for July 1, 2007, at Wembley Stadium in London.
2006: Release of "In My Mind", "Hell Hath No Fury", and "The Sweet Escape"
Pharrell Williams released his debut solo album, "In My Mind," in 2006. The Neptunes produced Clipse's second album, "Hell Hath No Fury," and worked on Gwen Stefani's second album, "The Sweet Escape."
2006: Release of "In My Mind"
Pharrell Williams released his debut studio album, "In My Mind", in 2006.
July 1, 2007: Performance at Concert for Diana
Pharrell Williams was announced as a performer for the Concert for Diana, scheduled for July 1, 2007, at Wembley Stadium in London.
June 2008: Interest in Producing The Strokes' Album
In June 2008, it was reported that Pharrell Williams was interested in producing the next album for the American rock band The Strokes.
2008: Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh Welcome Their Son, Rocket
Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh's first child, Rocket, was born in 2008. The song "Rocket's Theme" from Despicable Me was dedicated to him.
2008: Collaboration with Madonna
Pharrell Williams collaborated with Madonna on her eleventh studio album, "Hard Candy," released in 2008.
2008: Pharrell Williams Collaborates with Louis Vuitton and Founds FOHTA
Pharrell Williams had a busy year in 2008, co-designing eyewear and jewelry for Louis Vuitton and founding "From One Hand To AnOTHER" (FOHTA), a non-profit organization.
2009: Pharrell Williams and Takashi Murakami Exhibit Collaborative Sculpture
Pharrell Williams and Takashi Murakami unveiled a joint sculpture at Art Basel in 2009, exploring the concept of value.
2010: Composition for "Despicable Me" and Release of N.E.R.D.'s "Nothing"
Pharrell Williams, along with Hans Zimmer and Heitor Pereira, composed the music for the animated film "Despicable Me." N.E.R.D. also released their fourth studio album, "Nothing," in 2010.
2010: Guest Appearance on Uffie's Debut Album
Pharrell Williams made a guest appearance on French singer Uffie's debut album, released in early 2010.
May 2011: Pharrell Williams Named Creative Director of KarmaloopTV
In May 2011, Pharrell Williams joined KarmaloopTV as creative director alongside Greg Selkoe and Katie McEnroe.
2011: Pharrell Williams Announces Plans for $35 Million After-School Center in Virginia Beach
Pharrell Williams shared his plans to build a $35 million after-school center in his hometown of Virginia Beach in 2011.
2011: Collaboration with Mike Posner
Pharrell Williams worked on three tracks for Mike Posner's second album, "Sky High," in late 2011.
May 2012: Pharrell Williams Launches "I Am Other" Social Media Venture
May 2012 marked the launch of Pharrell Williams's social media venture, "I Am Other."
2012: Composition for the 84th Academy Awards
Pharrell Williams, alongside Hans Zimmer, composed and produced the music for the 84th Academy Awards in 2012.
March 2013: Release of "Blurred Lines"
March 2013 saw the release of "Blurred Lines," a global hit written and produced by Pharrell Williams for Robin Thicke. The song topped charts worldwide, including in the UK and US.
August 2013: Busta Rhymes Discusses Unreleased Pharrell Documentary
In August 2013, Busta Rhymes revealed details about an unreleased "documentary album" by Pharrell Williams. The album reportedly explores themes of "inner-city strife and hardship."
August 2013: Pharrell Williams Designs "Moncler Lunettes" Sunglasses
Pharrell Williams designed a line of sunglasses called "Moncler Lunettes" for Moncler in August 2013.
October 12, 2013: Pharrell Williams Marries Helen Lasichanh
Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh wed on October 12, 2013, after a long-term relationship.
November 1, 2013: Performance at Emanuel AME Church
On November 1, 2013, Pharrell Williams delivered a moving performance with a gospel choir at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. This church would tragically become the site of a racially motivated mass shooting in 2015.
November 2013: Release of "Happy" 24-Hour Music Video
Pharrell Williams broke new ground in November 2013 by releasing the first-ever 24-hour music video for his single "Happy." The video featured a star-studded cast, including Magic Johnson, Steve Carell, Jimmy Kimmel, and Odd Future.
December 2013: Seven Grammy Award Nominations
Pharrell Williams earned seven Grammy Award nominations in December 2013, a testament to his musical prowess. This recognition included a nomination for the prestigious Producer of the Year award.
2013: Release of "Blurred Lines"
The song "Blurred Lines," co-written and produced by Pharrell Williams, was released in 2013. While commercially successful, it sparked significant controversy for its lyrical content, which some interpreted as promoting rape culture.
2013: Collaboration with Daft Punk
Pharrell Williams collaborated with Daft Punk on their album "Random Access Memories," contributing to the hit singles "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself to Dance" in 2013.
2013: Collaboration on "Blurred Lines" and "Get Lucky"
Pharrell Williams collaborated with Robin Thicke and T.I. on "Blurred Lines" and with Daft Punk on "Get Lucky" in 2013, achieving major success with both tracks.
February 2014: Pharrell Williams Announces Collaboration with G-Star Raw
In February 2014, Pharrell Williams announced "RAW for the Oceans," a collaboration between G-Star Raw and his company Bionic Yarn, featuring denim made from recycled ocean plastic.
February 2014: Collaboration with Major Lazer and Feature on Future's "Move That Dope"
Pharrell Williams's collaborative spirit shone in February 2014. He joined forces with Major Lazer for their EP "Apocalypse Soon" and lent his vocals to Future's single "Move That Dope," also featuring Pusha T and Casino.
February 18, 2014: Announcement of Second Album, "Girl"
Pharrell Williams took to Twitter on February 18, 2014, to announce the upcoming release of his second studio album, "Girl." This highly anticipated album was set to drop on March 3, 2014.
March 2, 2014: "Happy" Nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars
Pharrell Williams experienced the highs and lows of awards season on March 2, 2014. While his hit song "Happy" was nominated for Best Original Song at the 86th Academy Awards, it ultimately lost to "Let It Go" from Disney's "Frozen."
March 3, 2014: Release of "Girl"
Pharrell Williams's second studio album, "Girl," hit the music scene on March 3, 2014, captivating fans worldwide. The album's release was followed by the "Dear Girl Tour" across Europe.
March 2014: Collaboration with Comme des Garçons on "Girl" Fragrance
March 2014 marked the unveiling of a unique collaboration between Pharrell Williams and the fashion house Comme des Garçons. They released a unisex fragrance aptly named "Girl," drawing inspiration from Williams's album of the same title.
March 31, 2014: Announced as Coach on "The Voice"
Pharrell Williams added another feather to his cap on March 31, 2014, when he was announced as a new coach for the seventh season of the popular singing competition show, "The Voice." He replaced CeeLo Green.
April 2014: Pharrell Williams Launches "i am OTHER" Collection with Uniqlo
Pharrell Williams, in collaboration with Nigo, released the "i am OTHER" collection for Uniqlo's UT T-shirt division in April 2014.
May 2014: Curates "Girl" Art Show in Paris
Pharrell Williams showcased his artistic vision in May 2014 by curating an art exhibition titled "Girl." The exhibition, held at the Galerie Perrotin in Paris, France, featured works by renowned artists like Takashi Murakami, JR, Daniel Arsham, and Marina Abramović.
May 2014: Receives iHeartRadio Music Awards Innovator Award
Pharrell Williams's innovative contributions to the music industry were recognized in May 2014 when he received the prestigious Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
June 2014: Guest Appearance on "Sisterhood of Hip Hop"
Pharrell Williams made a special guest appearance on the docu-series "Sisterhood of Hip Hop" in June 2014, offering insights into the music industry.
June 2014: Pharrell Williams Contributes to FriendsWithYou Book
The book "We Are Friends With You," featuring contributions from Pharrell Williams, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Peter Doroshenko, was published in June 2014 by Rizzoli.
October 21, 2014: Executive Producer of T.I.'s Album "Paperwork"
Pharrell Williams lent his production expertise to T.I.'s ninth studio album, "Paperwork," released on October 21, 2014. The album was a joint venture between Grand Hustle and Columbia Records.
2014: Pharrell Williams Featured on Adon Magazine Cover, Collaborates with Uniqlo and Domeau & Pérès
Pharrell Williams was featured on the cover of Adon magazine, designed by Grégoire Guillemin, in 2014. The same year, he released the "i am OTHER" collection with Uniqlo and worked on art with Emmanuel Perrotin and Domeau & Pérès.
2014: Release of "Happy" and "Girl"
Pharrell Williams released the hit single "Happy" and his second album, "Girl," in 2014.
2014: Academy Award Nomination and Founding of I Am Other
Pharrell Williams received an Academy Award nomination for "Happy" and founded the multimedia company I Am Other in 2014.
January 2015: Records Songs for "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water"
Pharrell Williams contributed to the soundtrack of the animated film "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water" in January 2015. He recorded three songs for the movie, further expanding his musical repertoire.
February 8, 2015: Cameo Appearance on "The Simpsons"
Pharrell Williams made a memorable cameo appearance on the animated sitcom "The Simpsons" in the episode "Walking Big & Tall" which aired on February 8, 2015. In the episode, Williams is tasked with creating a new anthem for the town of Springfield.
May 18, 2015: Team Pharrell Wins "The Voice" Season Eight
Pharrell Williams celebrated a victory as a coach on "The Voice" on May 18, 2015. His team, led by the talented 16-year-old Sawyer Fredericks, emerged victorious in the eighth season of the competition.
June 18, 2015: Musical Director for Live Earth Concert
Pharrell Williams took on the crucial role of musical director for the Live Earth concert held on June 18, 2015. This global event, spanning seven continents, aimed to raise awareness about climate change and urge government action.
October 2015: Named Artist-in-Residence at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts
In October 2015, Pharrell Williams's artistic talents earned him the title of artist-in-residence at New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.
2015: Pharrell Williams Executive Produces "Dope"
Pharrell Williams served as executive producer for the 2015 crime comedy-drama film "Dope."
2015: Pharrell Williams Purchases Home in Laurel Canyon
Pharrell Williams bought a house in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles in 2015.
July 23, 2016: Pharrell Williams Releases Adidas NMD "Human Race" Collection
On July 23, 2016, Pharrell Williams launched his Adidas NMD "Human Race" collection.
January 2017: Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh Welcome Triplets
Pharrell Williams and his wife, Helen Lasichanh, became parents to triplets in January 2017.
May 17, 2017: Receives Honorary Doctorate and Delivers Commencement Address at NYU
Pharrell Williams received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts on May 17, 2017. Adding to the honor, he also delivered the commencement address to the graduating class.
2017: Pharrell Williams Designs €1,000 Sneaker with Chanel and Adidas
Pharrell Williams collaborated with Chanel and Adidas to design a €1,000 sneaker in 2017.
2017: Academy Award Nomination for "Hidden Figures"
Pharrell Williams received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture as a producer of "Hidden Figures" in 2017.
2018: Collaboration with Ariana Grande on "Sweetener" Album
Pharrell Williams joined forces with Ariana Grande in 2018, contributing to her fourth studio album, "Sweetener." He showcased his production skills on multiple tracks and even lent his vocals to the song "Blazed."
March 2019: Launch of "Something in the Water" Festival
Pharrell Williams and the city of Virginia Beach came together in March 2019 to announce the launch of "Something in the Water." This three-day music and cultural festival was set to take place on Virginia Beach Oceanfront during College Beach Weekend from April 26-28.
April 26, 2019: Pharrell Williams Partners with Verizon for Tech-Focused Music Curriculum
Pharrell Williams partnered with Verizon on April 26, 2019, to launch a technology-infused music curriculum in Verizon Foundation Learning schools across the US.
October 2019: Expresses Regret Over "Blurred Lines" Controversy
In October 2019, Pharrell Williams publicly addressed the controversy surrounding "Blurred Lines." He expressed regret over his association with the 2013 song, acknowledging the criticism it received for its perceived sexist themes.
2019: Pharrell Williams Offers Internships to Promise Academy Students
In 2019, Pharrell Williams provided internships to 144 students at Promise Academy in Harlem, New York City.
2019: Pharrell Williams Discusses His Signature "Four-Count Beat"
In a 2019 interview with Vulture, Pharrell Williams revealed that his signature "four-count beat," first used in SWV's "Right Here" remix, was created unintentionally while trying to find the beat without a metronome.
November 2020: Pharrell Williams Launches Humanrace Skincare Brand
Pharrell Williams launched Humanrace, a skincare brand, in November 2020.
March 26, 2021: Pharrell Williams' Cousin, Donovan Lynch, Killed by Police Officer
On March 26, 2021, Pharrell Williams' cousin, Donovan Lynch, was fatally shot by a Virginia Beach Police Department officer. Williams has called for a federal investigation into the incident.
December 2021: Pharrell Williams and Adidas Originals Release "Premium Basics" Winter Line
Pharrell Williams and Adidas Originals launched their "Premium basics" winter line in December 2021.
2021: Virgil Abloh Passes Away
Virgil Abloh, former men's creative director of Louis Vuitton, passed away in 2021.
June 2022: Pharrell Williams Joins Doodles as Chief Brand Officer
Pharrell Williams took on the role of Chief Brand Officer at Doodles in June 2022 and announced the upcoming release of a Doodles album.
February 14, 2023: Pharrell Williams Appointed as Louis Vuitton's Men's Creative Director
Louis Vuitton announced Pharrell Williams as their new men's creative director on February 14, 2023, filling the position left vacant after Virgil Abloh's passing.
June 2023: Pharrell Williams Debuts First Collection for Louis Vuitton at Paris Men's Fashion Week
Pharrell Williams showcased his first collection as Louis Vuitton's men's creative director at Paris Men's Fashion Week in June 2023.
2023: Appointment as Louis Vuitton Men's Creative Director
Pharrell Williams became the Men's Creative Director for Louis Vuitton in 2023.