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Pharrell Williams gives an arrangement of flowers at his NYC Piece By Piece Premiere

The New York City red carpet premiere of Piece By Piece, held on Wednesday, October 9th, at Jazz at Lincoln Center, was an unforgettable evening filled with stars, nostalgia, and unexpected moments. Among the celebrities in attendance were Pharrell Williams, A$AP Ferg, Pusha T, N.O.R.E, Bianca Lawson, Teddy Riley, and Nigel Sylvester. However, one of the most touching moments of the night came when Pharrell paused an interview to give journalist Courtney Brown her well-deserved “flowers” for the role she played in his early career.

DSC 2863 — *Courtney Brown and Pharrell Williams*

During the red carpet interview, Pharrell surprised Brown, a former music industry insider who spent years with Pharrell in the studio, by taking the microphone and reflecting on the pivotal influence she had on his journey. In an emotional tribute, Pharrell said, “So, y’all gotta understand. Courtney was there in the very beginning. She was there when Rob discovered Kelis and introduced her to me, you were her best friend. But what I will say is The Source is so lucky to have this person that not only knows about rap music but music period. I know this because I was there, I remember you asking all of the questions then—I should have known that this is what you were gonna do, but I didn’t.”

Pharrell continued, praising Brown’s deep curiosity and knowledge about music culture, adding, “You asked all the most amazing questions, always so inquisitive about culture. If there was something I wasn’t up on, you were like telling me all about it. I heard about the A$AP crew through you. So many things I learned through you. I really did. And so I just want to make sure that I give you flowers—not flowers, but an arrangement—a bouquet of everything I know of you that I experienced myself.”

For Brown, who spent her early years in the industry as Kelis’s best friend and a fixture in Pharrell’s studio sessions, the moment was both surreal and heartwarming. She recalled watching Pharrell’s journey from those early days in the studio, where he would juggle working on multiple songs at once, his creativity and talent already evident.

DSC 2873 — *Producer Teddy Riley and Courtney Brown*

The premiere of Piece By Piece was a testament to Pharrell’s remarkable career, from his roots as a young producer to becoming a global superstar. The film, directed by Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville, is a unique LEGO®-animated biopic that delves into Pharrell’s evolution as an artist, producer, and cultural icon. Featuring appearances by Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg, the movie explores Pharrell’s journey with vibrant, joyful storytelling.

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As Brown watched the film, she was moved to tears, reminiscing about the many moments she shared with Pharrell during the early days of his career. She reflected on his unique style and creativity, and how he introduced his N.E.R.D. and “Skateboard P” to the world. The film beautifully captures Pharrell’s sensitive, introspective side, showcasing the doubts and fears that only a true empath like him could reveal.

Pharrell’s tribute to Brown on the red carpet was a fitting reminder of the impact they had on one another. His heartfelt words, combined with the inspiring narrative of Piece By Piece, made it clear that Pharrell’s journey is not just about his individual success but also about the people who influenced him along the way.

As Pharrell concluded his tribute, he reflected on the significance of the film, saying, “And that is the reason why we did this film—because it gives me a platform to give flowers to all the things that have influenced me, all the people, all the situations, all the moments, and you were definitely one of those people. Harlem once again. Thank you for everything.”

Piece By Piece is now in theaters, offering a captivating blend of LEGO animation and Pharrell’s iconic music. The film is a must-see for fans of all ages, as it celebrates the creative genius of Pharrell Williams and the people who helped shape his extraordinary career. Prepare to be inspired by this one-of-a-kind cinematic experience, which merges breathtaking animation with an exploration of Pharrell’s journey from a small-town dreamer to a global icon.

Watch the lost audio files of the interview below.

Watch the trailer for Piece By Piece below.

In theaters now!

photos by: Shots By Sean Bell

For more information, please follow the film on social:

Official Site | Facebook | X | Instagram | Threads

#PieceByPiece

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The birth of Hip-Hop infused a flavor element into the world that not everyone was prepared for. As hip hop turns 50 years old today, huge corporations, giant companies, and everyone in between is celebrating a genre of music that once was deemed a fad. No one could anticipate the soul-filled, compassionate talent that would soon become a force to be reckoned.

As a self-certified hip-hop head myself, I personally feel a sense of gratitude for the music that raised me. As a troubled child abandoned by my parents and raised by my granny, I always searched for something to love. My grandma, her mother, and my aunt raised me in the church, hoping to keep me from falling to the streets and setting a solid foundation that would one day come in handy. Hip-Hop wasn’t played in my home, and the first glimpse I received was from my older brother, who was seven years my senior and brought my first Janet Jackson Control tape from the mall. One day in 1986, when I was just seven years old, I went to my father’s side of the family, which was a lot more colorful, to say the least. My cousin Sharon ushered me to her grandma’s old wooden record player and played ‘La Di Da Di’ by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. We played the record the entire day. I was sad to go home because none of that was cooking in my house, and I wanted more. I found my aunt Mildred’s electric can opener, which had a radio attached to it, and discovered DJ Red Alert, and it was over. I was addicted to hip-hop. My big brother, who was way cooler than me, would tell me what was ‘real’ and who was biting, and I listened. For the next few years, I soaked up every snare, R&B remix, and lyric hip hop had to offer. I’d race home to adjust the hanger on the TV to watch Video Music Box on that in-between channel, and that was the highlight of my day. But when I fixed my brother’s broken cassette tape and popped his NWA Niggaz4Life in my headphones—I couldn’t believe the nasty filth that came out of their mouths. And I loved it. I would rap all the lyrics in school and church to my friends and indefinitely get into trouble after.

Hip-Hop kept me busy and somewhat out of trouble. I waited for the hottest releases and saved up money for what are now considered classics. For me, it was Queen Latifah who inserted a pride into me I never had before. MC Lyte’s style and flow let me know it was OK to be different. I even listened to everyone from Snow Informer to Lil Vicious Freaks against my older brother’s advice because I listened to it all.

When my mother resurfaced back into my life seven years later, and I moved to New York City, and could never fathom how far hip-hop would carry me. From working at the Mart 125 on 125th Street at 14 years old doing nails for Dr. Khalid Muhammad and Bobby Brown to meeting Monifah and Marquee there, who introduced Kelis and I to a new producer named Pharrell. From working at Rawkus Records and traveling the world with Talib Kweli, Slaughterhouse, Kelis, and MF DOOM to hosting a hit show on XM radio with one of my favorite journalists, Bonz Malone, called Spitkickers where we had classic rappers freestyle live on air to now writing at the magazine I once hoarded.

As hip-hop turns 50 years old, I want to thank ALL the hip-hop artists who spent countless hours in the studio and away from their families creating music that we connected to….music that made us feel, love, and gave many of us a reason to live.

From The Notorious B.I.G., Salt N Pepa, J.J. Fad, Public Enemy, Nas, Black Sheep, Wu-Tang, Lil Kim, DMX to Royce Da 5’9”, The Roots, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, 2pac, M.O.P., The Lox,—-too many to name.

We Salute and love you, and we give a huge Happy Bornday to HIP HOP!

Check out some of the hip-hop songs below that changed my life.