With the help of Pharrell and The Neptunes’ iconic production, A$AP Ferg has premiered a new song and video “Green Juice.” The visual is a re-enactment of Harlem life in an apocalyptic and trippy universe. The song also features a verse from Pharrell and marks the start of a new chapter for Ferg, who teased […]
In ASAP Ferg‘s glitchy, trippy video for “Green Juice,” the Harlem rapper gets digitized into a familiar, green-tinged virtual reality. While it’s not technically the Matrix of the sci-fi action series that will be — ahem — resurrected soon, it’s a close enough simulation (no pun intended — that time) that it’s clear the imagery Ferg’s concept is working to evoke. While he stomps his way through a signature brag-filled verse, The Neptunes’ buzzing, booming production, and Pharrell‘s oddly inspirational chorus make “Green Juice” into a futuristic, chest-thumping anthem.
Ferg’s set to perform the new single for the first time this weekend at Rolling Loud New York, where he’ll also be offering his favorite green juice from Pressed Juicery via UberEats. It’s also a buy one, get one free situation, with each purchase adding the customer into a sweepstakes for exclusive signed merch. Technically, this means he and fellow New York rap staple Styles P will be competing for customers, what with Styles’ Juices For Life pop-up also coming to Rolling Loud this weekend. Will we see the first-ever rap beef prompted by competition for juice territory? Probably not, but it’s still a pretty amusing thought.
Watch ASAP Ferg’s “Green Juice” video featuring Pharrell and The Neptunes above.
Pharrell and Dave Chappelle are facing some roadblocks. A Virginia Beach businessman has turned down Pharrell William’s plan to hold an event featuring Dave Chappelle at the historic Cavalier Hotel. Virginia Beach businessman Bruce Thompson recently turned down a plan from Grammy award-winning singer and Virginia Beach native, Pharrell Williams, to hold an event at […]
Pharrell has announced that his massive music festival, “Something In The Water” will not return to the city of Virginia Beach in 2022, and possibly ever again. The artist sent a letter to the city’s government, citing disapproval of their action in the wake of his cousin’s death at the hands of police officers in […]
In 2019, Pharrell invited some of today’s top stars to take the stage in his Virginia Beach hometown for his Something In The Water festival. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021, but in 2022, things will be a little different. The musician has decided to move the festival away from Virginia Beach, citing the city’s “toxic environment” in a letter to officials.
Pharrell’s letter comes as a response to Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney’s memo to the musician dated September 26, which detailed his “immense disappointment” in learning Something In The Water would be moved from the city. In Pharrell’s response to Duhaney, the musician explained that much of his decision to move the festival is due to the city’s response to his cousin’s murder by a police officer who did not have their body camera turned on:
“I love the city of Virginia Beach. I’ve always loved the city of Virginia Beach and most importantly our people. It’s a part of my beloved 757.
When we did the festival, it was to ease racial tension, to unify the region, bring about economic development opportunities and broaden the horizons of the local business community. We achieved those things! I wish the same energy I’ve felt from Virginia Beach leadership upon losing the festival would have been similarly channeled following the loss of my relative’s life.
I love my city, but for far too long it has been run by — and with toxic energy. The toxic energy that changed the narrative several times around the homicide of my cousin, Donovan Lynch, a citizen of Virginia, is the same toxic energy that changed the narrative around the mass murder and senseless loss of life at Building Number 2.
I sang about a room without a roof, but I am tired of kindly and politely being shown the door.
Until gatekeepers and the powers-that-be consider the citizens and the consumer base, and no longer view the idea of human rights for all as a controversial idea… I don’t have any problems with the city, but I realize the city hasn’t valued my proposed solutions, either.”
Read Pharrell’s full letter here.
Now that Tyler The Creator is entering into one of the most powerful phases of his own career, he’s been sharing introspective thoughts on his own evolution as well as the influence of other artists on his thinking. While plenty of people point to Odd Future as the boundary-breakers and blueprint for the next generation of rap, Tyler let fans know that it was Pharrell who pushed him to set goals for his own creative output.
Sharing a throwback photo of himself at 15 on Twitter, he further posted his thoughts on how Pharrell’s album In My Mind was influencing him at the time. “‘In My Mind’ turns 15 today,” he wrote on Twitter. “Came out around the time of this photo. Was at hawthorne high summer school and man I can’t articulate what it means/did for me. I made odd future that summer and set out to be where i am now before 10th grade begun. Very important piece of art to me.’”
‘in my mind’ turns 15 today. came out around the time of this photo. was at hawthorne high summer school and man i cant articulate what it means/ did for me. i made odd future that summer and set out to be where i am now before 10th grade begun. very important piece of art to me https://t.co/klet0z0w0z
— Tyler, The Creator (@tylerthecreator) July 25, 2021
For those who aren’t familiar, Pharrell’s 2006 solo debut featured guests like Kanye, Pusha T, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg and Nelly. It came out on July 25, 2006. The official fifteen year anniversary was yesterday, when Tyler made his post honoring the record. Check it out below if you’ve never spent any time with the project.
Tyler The Creator turned to a new chapter in his career with the 2019 release of Igor, the rapper’s fifth album. It saw him truly putting his artistry on display in the way that he wanted to. Luckily for him, it all paid off as the album would go on to win Rap Album Of The Year at the 2020 Grammys despite Tyler’s ill sentiments with the honor. That’s all in the past now as he’s returned with his latest album, Call Me If You Get Lost.
Across the project’s 16 songs, an eye-catching track on Call Me If You Get Lost comes on “Juggernaut” with Lil Uzi Vert and Pharrell. The track is a bass-knocking number that’s equally chaotic and erratic as it is energetic and bouncy. This is thanks in large part raucous placement of the song’s drums that provide a unique landscape for the three rappers to lay their bars on.
Altogether on Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler invites 42 Dugg, Ty Dolla Sign, NBA Youngboy, Lil Wayne, Teezo Touchdown, Domo Genesis, Brent Faiyaz, Daisy World, and Fana Hues. The project was also led by two singles: “Lumberjack” and “Wusyaname.”
You can press play on “Juggernaut” in the video above.
Call Me If You Get Lost is out now via A Boy Is a Gun/Columbia. Get it here.
Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
