In the famed producer’s animated biopic, Piece By Piece, he showcased his ability to maintain his cool under pressure. Following after the GQ Men Of The Year Party in West Hollywood, California onlookers witnessed it firsthand. As the “Happy” musician attempted to leave the annual shindig, held on November 14, Pharrell was aggressively confronted outside of his car service.
During the exchange, captured by The Hollywood Fix (viewable here), the animal rights advocates can be heard screaming: “Shame on you, you animal murder. You are a loser. What type of person still uses fur?”
Initially, Pharrell lashes back at the protester mocking them repeating back, “Shame on you.” Then as the cameras grew closer, Pharrell let his frustrations go. He then says, “I don’t use fur. God bless you.”
Afterward, Pharrell attempts to cut their tension with a hug. However, the activists were not open to the embrace. Back in September, Pharrell’s Piece By Piece screening, the event was crashed by PETA supporters carrying a sign which read: “Pharrell: Stop Killing Animals For Fashion.”
Pharrell faces a lot of challenges as the men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton, and one of the big ones is the backlash from animal rights protestors. He ran into a group of activists rallying against his use of fur and animal products for his clothing creations – or rather, LV’s – while outside the GQ Men of the Year party at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Thursday (November 14). The PERFECT FANTASY collaborator kept things cool, responding in a calm tone with some repetitions of “God bless you” and even offering one of the protestors a hug. They didn’t appreciate that and rejected it, but he eventually got back into his car. You can check out a clip of the moment by clicking the “Via” link down below.
For those unaware, this is not the first time that Pharrell directly confronted animal rights protestors in a peaceful and amicable manner. A similar situation occurred at a private screening of his Piece By Piece LEGO biopic, where a PETA protestor interrupted the celebration. Regardless, it’s easy to see why he didn’t pay this much mind this time around, as he was too busy celebrating GQ‘s honor of “Designer of the Year.”
Jul 26, 2024; Paris, FRANCE; Pharrell Williams poses for a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower before the Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images
Elsewhere, Pharrell recently ruffled some feathers given a recent interview with GQ, in which he briefly talks about Drake’s beef with him and how he bought P’s jewelry at an auction. “I think beyond all of the on-goings, at the heart of all of it, he’s a fan of music,” he told the outlet. “He’s a fan of the history of what it is, and I happen to be a part of that, and those artifacts are a part of it.” “It didn’t,” the Neptunes producer answered when asked whether or not Drizzy’s comments about having his legacy in his house, melting his chains down, and featuring them in a music video bothered him.
That GQ conversation also saw Pharrell speak on André 3000 and his hiatus from rap, Taylor Swift beef rumors, celebrity endorsements of political candidates, and a whole lot more. It was a very engaging conversation, but hopefully he also takes some time to address the protests against his creative endeavors in advocacy for animal rights.
Drake boasted about buying and melting down Pharrell Williams‘ old chains in a few recent songs, but Pharrell isn’t bothered by the gestures, calling them the actions of a “fan of music.” In a conversation with GQ, Pharrell was asked how he felt about Drake’s verses from songs like Travis Scott’s “Meltdown” and the Kendrick Lamar diss “Family Matters.”
Pharrell responded with a typically even-keeled answer, saying, “No, because I think beyond all of the on-goings, at the heart of all of it, he’s a fan of music. He’s a fan of the history of what it is, and I happen to be a part of that, and those artifacts are a part of it.” He said he was “cool” with Drake buying his chains and didn’t have any thoughts on what the Canadian star melting them down might mean about Drake’s feelings about him.
“I guess some things are not for me to understand,” he admitted. “When you let things go, a huge part of it is actually letting go. Not just of the physical item, but letting go of your connection to what it’s supposed to mean, or the memory. You’re literally letting them go. That was the purpose. It’s like when people sell something and they go, ‘I just want to make sure you take care of it because this is my baby.’ And I’m like, ‘No, no, no.’ This is not my baby. That’s why I’m letting it go.”
While some fans determined Drake’s actions and bars to be disrespectful toward Pharrell (“I melt down the chains that I bought from yo’ boss / Give a f*ck about all of that heritage sh*t” from “Meltdown” and “You wanna take up for Pharrell, then come get his legacy out of my house” from “Family Matters”), it seemed that Williams was merely collateral damage in Drake’s ongoing feuds with Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar — the only ones he is widely believed to have lost. Maybe his first step at making amends could be to mend fences with the Virginia hitmaker.
When you are the GQ Designer of the Year, you deserve to act cool and confident. That’s exactly the type of energy that Pharrell Williams is exuding right now in his feature for the recognition. Overall, you really can’t argue for anyone else given how big of a year he’s having. His impact as Louis Vuitton men’s creative director has been astounding so far and he’s sure to continue growing the department. While congratulations are in order for the Virginia multi-talent, the Piece by Piece creative is sparking some reactions thanks to a quote from the feature. During the Q&A, Pharrell was asked about his Joopiter auction platform and the lavish custom jewelry he sold.
If you remember, Drakegot his hands on some of the pieces, leading the interviewer to ask how he felt about that. Pharrell showed class as usual, replying, “No, because I think beyond all of the on-goings, at the heart of all of it, he’s a fan of music. He’s a fan of the history of what it is, and I happen to be a part of that, and those artifacts are a part of it.” Overall, he had no problem with The Boy being the buyer and that response had the GQ writer following up with a heavy-hitting question.
“And then when he was rapping about melting the jewelry down and saying, “Come get his legacy out my house” and all that stuff, how did that strike you?” “It didn’t,” Pharrell replied. “That didn’t strike you?” the reporter asked. “No.” If there were a definition of a mic drop, this would be it.
Of course, this is all a reference back to Drake’s fiery bars for Pusha T (and Pharrell to an extent) on Travis Scott’s “MELTDOWN” from UTOPIA. “Man, f*** all that spinnin’ the narrative s*** / I melt down the chains that I bought from yo’ boss / Give a f*** about all of that heritage s*** / Since V not around, the members done hung up the Louis, they not even wearing that s***.” Overall, it seems like Pharrell and Drizzy’s relationship may never be repaired, but it seems like that really isn’t weighing too much on the former one bit.
Pharrell Williams’ non-profit, Black Ambition, is gearing up to host its highly anticipated 4th Annual Demo Day on Friday, November 15, where the winners of the 2024 Black Ambition Prize Competition will be announced. The event will showcase the top Black and Hispanic-founded startups, awarding over $2.7 million in funding to companies that exemplify innovation and potential in Consumer Products, Healthcare, Media, Technology, and AI. Key sponsors, including Visa, Comcast, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas, support this exciting initiative, which aims to break down barriers and advance diversity in entrepreneurship.
This Demo Day marks the culmination of a rigorous nine-month journey for these emerging businesses, with eight finalists vying for a grand prize of $1 million. These promising founders have undergone a 3-month mentorship program, public voting, and pitch training to prepare them for the big stage. Beyond the national competition, Black Ambition’s HBCU Pre-Accelerator also prepared top innovators from Historically Black Colleges and Universities for a chance to join the final cohort and secure awards of up to $250,000.
“With mentorship to over 1,000 founders and generating over $265 million in revenue, we’re excited to continue showcasing the next generation of innovative companies,” said Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition. “As other corporations scale back support for businesses of color, Black Ambition is doubling down on its commitment to accelerated growth for Black and Hispanic business owners.”
The day’s program will feature a live pitch competition judged by prominent CEOs and industry leaders, with the grand prize awarded to one outstanding venture. Following the pitch, Pharrell Williams and Hatcher will lead a discussion on the future of Black Ambition and the ongoing mission to support underrepresented entrepreneurs. The celebration will continue with a cocktail hour and VIP networking reception, inviting attendees to connect with the Black Ambition founders and network partners.
“Each year, the pool of talented innovators, thought leaders, and business owners grows,” Williams said, “further affirming Black Ambition’s mission to unlock the potential of underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Since its inception in 2020, Black Ambition has awarded $10 million in capital to 101 entrepreneurs, extending beyond financial support to include holistic business development resources. From executive coaching and mental health workshops to bi-weekly office hours with industry experts from brands like Heineken, Adidas, and Microsoft, Black Ambition ensures that founders are well-equipped to tackle entrepreneurial challenges.
The impact of the Black Ambition Prize is profound. “Winning the 2023 Black Ambition Prize has been transformative,” said Antoinette Banks, CEO of Expert IEP. “The prize provided essential funding and an empowering community that drives our positive impact forward.”
As Black Ambition prepares to crown this year’s top innovators, it continues to make strides in bridging the gap for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs, laying the foundation for a more inclusive future in business.
To connect and learn more about Black Ambition, please visit www.blackambitionprize.com. Follow us on Facebook (@blackambitionprize)Twitter/X (@blackambitionpz) and Instagram (@blackambitionprize) to stay up to date with the Black Ambition community.
Pharrell Williams wasn’t “happy” working at McDonald’s. McDonald’s wasn’t particularly pleased with him, either. The super-producer and subject of the Piece By Piece biopic recently recalled being fired by the fast food king.
“McDonald’s was my first and only job,” Williams told BBC Radio 2, according to Billboard. “I got fired three times. I was eating the chicken nuggets. The first two times it was just because I was lazy. The third was like, ‘What are you doing? You’re just sitting there eating nuggets?’”
Pharrell (who, in a full-circle twist, is a credited producer on a song based on McDonald’s iconic “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle) is in good company: Rachel McAdams was also canned by McDonald’s, although not for eating McNuggets.
“[I worked at McDonald’s] for a good three years. My sister and brother worked there. My sister was my manager,” the Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret actress told Glamour. “It was a great place to work, but I had a little bit of an OCD thing with hand washing and just didn’t have time. They were like, ‘Hey, the drive-through’s backing up. Stop washing your hands!’ I was not a great employee; I broke the orange juice machine one day.”
GRAMMY Award-winning and Academy Award®-nominated musician Pharrell Williams has unveiled the official music video for his new original song, “Piece By Piece.” Directed by Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville, the video blends footage from the animated biopic Piece By Piece and new LEGO® animation.
The music video follows the release of the full soundtrack for the major motion picture Piece By Piece, which includes five original songs by Williams. Among these tracks are “Piece By Piece,” featuring the Princess Anne High School Fabulous Marching Cavaliers, and other songs like “It’s Happening,” “VIRGINIA Boy (Remix)” featuring Tyler, the Creator, “L’EGO Odyssey,” and “For Real.”
In addition to new tracks, the soundtrack features 16 of Pharrell’s greatest hits from his storied career, including collaborations with artists like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, and Gwen Stefani.
Pharrell, who is also the Louis Vuitton menswear Creative Director, continues to expand his artistic influence with this latest venture into film music, blending his distinct musical style with animation in Piece By Piece.
Piece By Piece, the Lego-animated biopic/documentary about the life and career of Pharrell Williams is out now. Although its box office receipts don’t exactly reflect it, it’s one of the most innovative and interesting examples of the genre, even with a growing number of “weird” biopics on the market. The new music video for its title track is a shining microcosm of the vibrancy of the film, including clips from the movie’s musical sequence highlighting the song and bits and pieces (heh) from throughout its colorful narrative.
The film knows it’s an unusual take on the genre, too, pointing out repeatedly that animating a story — with Lego pieces, no less — is a move most musicians wouldn’t take. Pharrell even went so far as hiding its animated format from some of the interview subjects, like Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, to ensure they’d give more naturalistic responses. The result is as visually stunning as Pharrell’s production catalog has been for audiences’ ears for the past 20 years — although it does take a few liberties with the facts of Pharrell’s development as an artist and a pitchman. It’s still fun to see little animated details on the Lego avatars of his collaborators, like Lego Snoop Dogg’s little pocket bandana or Lego Gwen Stefani’s painted-on, Rocksteady-era abs. It’s worth checking it out, when you get some time.
In the meantime, you can watch the “Piece By Piece” video above.
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.
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.”
Courtney Brown and Clipse
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.
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.
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
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Pharrell is celebrating the release of his LEGO biopic Piece By Piece and its accompanying soundtrack, featuring some of his best, biggest, and most iconic hits along with a few new records. Moreover, one of these is the “VIRGINIA BOY” remix with Tyler, The Creator, which fans were very receptive to given their chemistry. But don’t sleep on the expansive and wondrous “L’EGO Odyssey,” which combines the producer and fashion creative’s love of drama and atmosphere with some very interesting percussive choices, otherworldly synths, and his trademark earthy playfulness.
Furthermore, “L’EGO Odyssey” kicks off with a spotlit choir, followed by crisp Latin-inspired percussion and rubbery bass. The “Beautiful” star builds the progressive and ascending instrumental with string arrangements, quirky synths, bit-crushed hits of percussion, a brass section, and eventually, more grand and orchestral drums. In addition, it’s an easy song to get absolutely lost in, something that’s always been a quality of Pharrell’s vibrant and more ambitious production efforts. Fortunately, this being a soundtrack cut doesn’t make it as forced, clean, corporate, or corny as you might expect on paper.
What’s more is that the Virginia native has much more to look forward to soon, as he will co-chair the 2025 Met Gala alongside A$AP Rocky. In all his endeavors, Pharrell stays winning. If you haven’t heard “L’EGO Odyssey” or the Piece By Piece soundtrack yet, you can find it on YouTube below or via your favorite streaming service. Down there, you can also find some standout lyrics and the comments section for you to drop your thoughts on the song. As always, come back to HNHH for the best new music drops around the clock.
Quotable Lyrics Mr. Know-It-All, who wants to show it off, You’re no longer burning, if you know it all, Never too high to fall, you’re gonna blow it all, Don’t you know the law? Only God knows it all
