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
For more information, please follow the film on social:
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
Pharrell Williams’ LEGO biopic, Piece By Piece, is in theaters as of yesterday, and we want to start off by congratulating him! The actor, producer, rapper, singer, and everything in between has fans and critics raving about the project so far! It has a respectable review from IMD.b of a 7.1 out of 10, and Rotten Tomatoes has a fan score of 91% and a critic score of 81%! We are wishing him nothing but the best going forward with this bold and creative motion picture. In typical fashion, though, Mr. Williams wasn’t just going to gift us a film, we have some new original music accompanying it.
One of the tracks that we have been replaying heavily has been Pharrell and Tyler, The Creator’s “VIRGINIA Boy – Remix.” The influential legend and his modern-day reincarnation are once again having a great time on a track together as they rap about where they’re from and detail it’s vital features. “Hawthorne, Inglewood, West Side, that side / I will kick, kick, kick, push to the other side / South Bay where they drown if they get it out of line / Dark red, light blue, and they keep a magic wand (Boom),” Tyler raps, for instance. Production of the song is handled entirely by Pharrell and its pure excellence. It exudes swagger right from the jump thanks to its bouncy West Coast beat and its saxophone bits. Give the track a spin with the link below.
“VIRGINIA Boy – Remix” – Pharrell Williams & Tyler, The Creator
Quotable Lyrics:
Yes, it is heat magnum, the verb lord Mermaid city is where I was born, off of— I prefer words instead of usin’ swords But heads are comin’ off once I press record First keyboard was Korg, and then Triton I’m simply recitin’, none of this I’m writin’
At around 11 minutes into the interview, host Sean Evans made note of Pharrell’s apparent ability to make accurate predictions about the future. So, on that note, he asked Pharrell for his take on some future predictions. He began by asking if Pharrell thinks there will be a human colony on Mars “in our lifetime.” Pharrell responded, “Yes, because I think that it’s possible to terraform that planet. I think the conditions aren’t too far off for them to do the work that they would need to do to make it happen.”
Evans also asked if there’s anything that excites or scares Pharrell about the future of music and he responded, “You know, creativity bifurcates, and if you were to ask somebody 15 years ago about what music is right now, what is OK to say now, they’d be surprised. What it’s not OK to say right now, they’d be surprised. That’s just an effect of, like, the evolution in humanity.”
Pharrell also discussed his relationship with luxury, saying, “I’m not a materials person in terms of wanting those things as much. I mean, I’m grateful for what I have and I’m cool. I’m not looking for too much more than just experience and the ability to design and do partnerships. I’m enjoying that, I’m enjoying just designing and artistically iterating.”
Lupe Fiasco recently sat down on Sway In The Morning on Friday (October 4) to speak on this history of the supergroup Child Rebel Soldier. For those unaware, the trio consisting of Lupe, Kanye West, and Pharrell released their first single “Us Placers” in 2007, had a few more tracks, and then disbanded in 2013 due to scheduling issues, per Fiasco. They loved to flip Radiohead samples and others from the band members’ solo catalogs, with the Food & Liquor MC even reviving this ethos for his recent “SHRINK” single. When Sway asked him about CRS, he went through many moments across their history.
First off, Lupe Fiasco made it clear on Sway In The Morning that he, Kanye West, and Pharrell are still on good terms, and that “the fans feel betrayed” by the lack of material from them. He also joked that “the two richest n***as in the group” are the reason why they didn’t keep things going. “P’s eating caviar golden sandwiches, Ye is stitching up two different Rick Owens coats to wear in the shower. I’m trying to corral these two.”
The CRS comments begin at around the 23:20-minute mark.
Then, Lupe Fiasco started to talk about the good old days. “There [was] a lot of fan momentum around [Child Rebel Soldier’s “Us Placers”] as a movement,” he remarked. “We always talked about [the group, but] it kind of fell to the wayside… And then again, n***as get rich and crazy and s**t goes left.” However, Lupe also attributed the group’s enduring legacy to how it’s impacted fellow artists. “That whole time, it’s incubating with people like Tyler [The Creator],” he shared. “One of the talks was like, ‘Yo, we old n***as and rich and doing other s**t. Why don’t we just get the dudes who would be us now, and just give them CRS and let them do it? What if CRS was the hip-hop Exile?’”
Sadly, Lupe Fiasco says that prospect “went nowhere.” This year, he put out a solo song called “SHRINK” that revived Child Rebel Soldier without Kanye West or Pharrell, rapping over a sample of Radiohead’s “Optimistic.” “Radiohead was like, ‘F**k all that,’” Lupe joked about the band’s “biggest cease and desist” against CRS. “I tried,” he concluded about the supergroup. We’ll see if they try again in the future…
Pharrell Williams probably isn’t the first musician you would think of to have their life be turned into movie, let alone a Lego movie — until you take a look at how many hits he’s had a hand in.
With The Neptunes, there’s over a dozen top-10 hits, including “U Don’t Have to Call” by Usher, “Hot In Herre” by Nelly, “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake, “Milkshake” by Kelis, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg, “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani, and “Money Maker” by Ludacris. Pharrell also produced “Blurred Lines” and wrote “Happy” (which he also sings) and “Get Lucky,” two impossibly catchy songs that will be played at weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs until the end of time. So, yeah, with that context, the Pharrell movie Piece By Piece makes a lot more sense.
Here’s everything to know about Piece By Piece, including plot details, the voice cast, and when it comes out.
Plot
The trailer for Piece By Piece begins with Pharrell telling Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) that it would be cool “if we told my story with Lego pieces.” It’s not dissimilar from how it happened in real life. “That’s how the conversation went down in my head,” Neville told Variety. “I didn’t know what it was going to be, but it was going to be interesting and I was completely in.”
Pharrell was initially wary of participating in a biopic or documentary about himself because “everyone was doing them at the time, and I was like, ‘Hell no.’ I never want to do what everybody else is doing. Everybody’s taking the Lincoln Tunnel, then I want to take a plane,” he explained. “But when [Neville] finally said the magic words, ‘You can do it any way you want,’ I knew deep down inside that I wanted to do it through Lego.” Sounds like enjoyed Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga as much as I did (fun game!).
Piece By Piece features animated reenactments of key moments in Pharrell’s life and interviews with some of his famous collaborators, including Kendrick Lamar, Gwen Stefani, and Jay Z. Except they didn’t know they were going to appear in Lego form. “We purposely did not tell anyone that that would be the finished product. We wanted people to just answer the questions and really give their full, unedited reactions to the opportunity to do the interviews,” the hit-maker confessed. “Because if we would’ve said, ‘Okay, this is going to be in Lego,’ then people would have sort of curved what they were saying.”
Pharrell’s hope with Piece By Piece is to inspire people to follow their ambitions, as he did. “It’s never too late for you to go pick up a Lego set and make things and be a co-creator. It’s never too late to wake up to that. It’s never too late to gain that self-awareness,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “This is my dream, for people to have that.”
Cast
The voice cast consists of [famous person] as themselves, beginning with Pharrell Williams as, well, himself. There’s also Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay Z, and Snoop Dogg.
Release Date
It’s surprisingly been five years since the last big-screen Lego movie, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. That streak comes to an end on October 11, when Piece By Piece opens in theaters (the same weekend as Saturday Night, Terrifier 3, and We Live In Time — and they say counterprogramming is dead).
Trailer
You can check out the trailer for Piece By Piece below.
The Weeknd has officially released his latest track, “Timeless,” featuring Playboi Carti, via XO/Republic Records. The song made its electrifying debut during The Weeknd’s sold-out show at Estádio Morumbi in São Paulo, where Carti joined for a surprise performance. The live-streamed event captured over 17 million views and trended in 25 countries worldwide.
Produced by Pharrell Williams, “Timeless” marks The Weeknd and Carti’s second collaboration, following their multi-platinum hit “Popular” with Madonna. The new track showcases their evolving chemistry, offering fans an innovative, boundary-pushing anthem.
“Timeless” sets the stage for The Weeknd’s highly anticipated upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, which will complete his trilogy of projects following Dawn FM (2022) and After Hours (2020). The album is poised to delve into existential and self-reflective themes, making it one of the year’s most awaited releases.
As annoying as social media has made some things, there’s one place the concept still absolutely excels: Hoisting goofballs on their own petards with a timely “this you?”
Pharrell may have some egg on his face after claiming “I don’t do politics” in a recent interview. After decrying celebrities who “tell you who to vote for” — at a time when the fabric of democracy of itself is on the line — fans were quick to remind the producer that he does, in fact, “do politics,” pulling up his photos for the “Vote Or Die!” campaign of 2004 on Twitter. They also resurfaced a tweet from Pharrell’s account endorsing former NFL player Aaron Rouse for Virginia State Senator in a special election in 2022. “Virginia! Let your voice be heard, VOTE NOW,” he wrote, adding a very clear suggestion of whom to vote for with a #TeamRouse hashtag (were we still doing those in ’22?).
Speaking of choosing sides, Pharrell’s antics of late might just have fans claiming #TeamChad in Hugo’s lawsuit against his former production partner for control over The Neptunes name. There’s no telling how Pharrell’s upcoming Lego-animated biopic Piece By Piece will affect that outcome, other than continuing to convince people that Pharrell Williams might just be a deeply unserious person.
At this point in the 2024 presidential election cycle, most celebrities have made it clear where they stand when it comes to their candidate of choice. Pharrell, though, would prefer that most of those celebrities pipe down.
“I don’t do politics. In fact, I get annoyed sometimes when I see celebrities trying to tell you [who to vote for]. There are celebrities that I respect that have an opinion, but not all of them. I’m one of them people [who says], ‘What the heck? Shut up. Nobody asked you.’ When people get out there and get self-righteous and they roll up their sleeves and sh*t, and they are out there walking around with a placard: ‘Shut up!’ So, no, I would rather stay out of the way, and obviously, I’m going to vote how I’m going to vote. I care about my people and I care about the country, but I feel there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and I’m really about the action.”
