PHARRELL

Pharrell Williams Taps Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z & Snoop Dogg For “Piece By Piece”: What We Know About His Lego Movie

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Pharrell Williams is tackling his life story via LEGO animation. The musician and producer, 51, lends his voice to the new film Piece By Piece, which debuted its first trailer on Thursday, June 6. Described as a “unique cinematic experience,” the movie, directed by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville, delves into a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. The synopsis teases a story told through LEGO animation, celebrating the evolution of one of music’s most innovative minds. The star-studded cast includes Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Busta Rhymes.

Read More: Pharrell Williams Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Megastar

Pharrell’s Vision Brought To Life

When the project was announced in January, Pharrell expressed his excitement in a statement. “When I had this crazy vision to tell this story through LEGO bricks, I couldn’t have imagined a better partner than [director] Morgan. He is a legend,” said Williams, per PEOPLE. The collaboration promises a groundbreaking cinematic experience that blends Neville’s acclaimed directorial skills with Pharrell’s innovative storytelling.

Pharrell added that he felt “honored to share this with the world and bring people into my universe.” His enthusiasm is palpable, as he aims to showcase his journey in a format that encourages creativity and imagination. The idea of using LEGO bricks as a medium reflects Pharrell’s playful yet profound approach to art and life.

A Star-Studded Cast

Piece By Piece boasts an impressive lineup of voices from the music industry. Alongside Pharrell, the film features Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Busta Rhymes. Each artist brings their unique flair to the project, enhancing the film’s dynamic narrative. This diverse cast ensures a rich, multifaceted exploration of Pharrell’s life and career. The inclusion of these big names highlights the significance of Pharrell’s influence across the music industry. Their participation not only adds star power but also deepens the film’s connection to the cultural landscape that Pharrell has helped shape.

Read More: Pharrell Williams Stuns With Family In Photo From His Louis Vuitton Show

The Creative Team Behind The Film

CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 13: Director Morgan Neville attends day four of Ebertfest on April 13, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Roger Ebert’s Film Festival)

Williams and his creative collective i am OTHER teamed up with director Morgan Neville’s company Tremolo Productions, the LEGO Group, Focus Features, Pure Imagination Studios, and creator platform Tongal to bring Piece By Piece to life. This collaboration combines expertise from various creative fields, promising a high-quality production that pushes the boundaries of animated filmmaking.

Neville, known for his Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, brings a wealth of experience and a unique storytelling perspective to the project. His involvement ensures that Piece By Piece will not only be visually stunning but also emotionally resonant.

An Ode To Imagination

Pharrell’s choice to use LEGO animation is a nod to his lifelong love for creativity and innovation. “Building with LEGO bricks encourages us to follow our imagination … who would’ve thought that playing with these toys as a kid would evolve into a movie about my life,” Williams said. He sees the film as proof that anyone can turn their passions into reality, regardless of where they start.

The film’s release on October 11 positions it as a potential highlight of the fall movie season. Piece By Piece follows in the footsteps of successful LEGO films like The LEGO Movie and its sequel, as well as The LEGO Batman Movie but its biographical nature sets it apart. It promises to be an inspiring and entertaining journey through the mind of one of music’s most creative talents.

[Via]

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Pharrell Williams Tells His Story With Lego In ‘Piece By Piece,’ The Most Unique Biopic Ever

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Leave it to Pharrell to find the cure to the musical biopic overload Hollywood is currently suffering from. Today, the pioneering producer shared the first trailer for Piece By Piece, his biographical movie that is one part traditional biopic, one part documentary, and one part animated Lego adventure.

Wait, what?

Yep, you read that right. Look, there’s just no way the man who fronted The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., who made “Happy” and “Get Lucky,” and who can’t be stopped from wearing those big-ass hats would ever just hire some good-looking actor to recreate his come-up. Instead, Piece By Piece is a colorful, animated feature directed by Morgan Neville in which Pharrell is rendered as a minifigure whose imagination blurs the lines of reality — along with a cast that includes some of the biggest names in music, from Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg to Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar. I’m buying a ticket just to see Lego Jay-Z give his signature chuckle. (Lego, if you’re reading this… You know what to do. We NEED IT.)

The release of the trailer reverses a string of … well, awkward headlines for the musical genius. Up ’til now, he’s seen a string of legal actions filed against him by collaborators including his Neptunes partner Chad Hugo and singer Pink to block him from copyrighting certain brand names and capitalizing from his work with them.

On the bright side, his work at Louis Vuitton — particularly a recent collab with Tyler The Creator — has been well received and he’s got a fun single with Miley Cyrus called “Doctor (Work It Out).” You can watch the Piece by Piece trailer above.

BIA Hints At JID Feature On Her Upcoming Single “Lights Out”

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BIA has been building an excellent career. She signed to Pharrell’s label in 2014, and since then, she’s landed coveted collabs with the likes of Kali Uchis and J Balvin. The remix to her 2021 single, “Whole Lotta Money,” featured a fun verse from Nicki Minaj and peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. BIA is the real deal, which is why fans are so excited about the possibility of collaborating with another established talent: JID. She posted a video of her and JID conversing, and now the world desperately wants them to link up on a song.

BIA posted the video on May 28. The singer is on the set of a music video with a green screen. She’s talking with makeup artists about the set up of a particular shot, and who else but JID wanders into the frame. The rapper is impressed with what he sees, calling it “fire.” BIA then gives him a hug before she hits her mark. The video is brief, but it definitely seems like BIA is teasing JID’s involvement in her new song. She announced the release of her single “Lights Out” on June 7. The general consensus (or hope) is that JID will be featured on it. He’s even listed on the song’s Genius page.

Read More: MGK & Trippie Redd Sneak In A Subtle JID Feature On “Who Do I Call”

BIA Posted Footage Of Her And JID On A Video Set

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

BIA has aimed to get the focus back on her music since the social media controversy that went down in April. The singer was accused of lying about her lineage. Fans began to question her ethnic background, which led to her firing back with proof. “U still don’t know the difference between race and ethnicity,” she tweeted at a user. “B*tch pick up a book. It’s called Afro Latina stupid.” She also dragged those who tried to suggest she was not Black. “Are you really that slow,” she asked. “How did biracial ppl even get here? Do you know what Puerto Rican are? African Taino and European. There are Jamaican Indians you f*ckin idiot pick up a book.”

JID, meanwhile, is riding a critical high. His last release, The Forever Story, was hailed by many as the best album of 2023. He’s teased a collaborative project with Metro Boomin, and he told People that he wants to get involved in filmmaking. “Like I can recall a lot of situations that meant a lot to me and were pivotal in my journey,” he told the outlet. “I’ll do that. And I’ll probably put it in the form of a movie, too. I’m big into directing and all of that stuff… I want to make sure I tap into that before my time is.”

Read More: JID Previews New Song At Dreamville Festival, Predicts Grammy Recognition

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NAV Teases New Pharrell Collaboration After Beefing With Drake

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NAV never leaves the studio. It seems that way, at least. The Canadian rapper has dropped four projects in the last four years, and he’s already announced two more to come in 2024. He plans on dropping the mixtape Nav2, as well as the studio album On My Way 2 Rexdale. The production on NAV’s projects has consistently been a highlight, affirming the rapper’s ear for good beats and collaborators. This is what makes his latest linkup impressive, if not altogether surprising. The Canadian rapper posted photos on his Instagram of him alongside Pharrell Williams.

NAV and Pharrell posed for photos at the Louis Vuitton office in Paris, France. The two men enjoyed the Louis products in stock, but the most exciting aspect of the post was that NAV and Pharrell appeared to be working on music as well. One photo sees Pharrell playing a keyboard at a desk, while NAV sits next to him. The latter didn’t provide any context in the form of a caption, but it’s safe to assume that he has plans for a collab with Skateboard P. This would be the first time the artists appear on the same song.

Read More: Metro Boomin & NAV Spin “Like That” At Coachella, Collaborators Show Love To Each Other On Stage

NAV And Pharrell Linked Up At Louis Vuitton Offices

The timing of the NAV and Pharrell photos is worth taking into consideration. Both men played a role in the recent battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, even if they weren’t putting out diss tracks of their own. NAV unfollowed Drake on Instagram in the midst of the battle, which led to Drake using lyrics from the NAV song “Turks” to troll him. Some fans theorize that the Drake line “head to Delilah with all of my ice” from “Family Matters” was also a dig at his fellow Canadian. Pharrell, meanwhile, has had tension with Drake for over a decade.

Kendrick Lamar criticized Drake’s beef with Pharrell on the song “Euphoria” and announced his plan to inherit it. Drake fired back on the aforementioned “Family Matters,” telling Lamar to come get Pharrell’s “legacy” out of his house. The “legacy” in question is jewelry designed and owned by P prior to Drake purchasing it. NAV and Pharrell have very little in common as musicians (outside of working with The Weeknd), but the shared enemy gives their prospective collaboration an interesting additional layer.

Read More: OVO Chubbs Laughs Off Drake’s Beef With Metro Boomin & Supposed NAV Rift

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Don Toliver Previews A New Song With A Classic Snoop Dogg Sample

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Don Toliver is instantly recognizable. He has one of the most distinct voices in all of hip-hop, and the ability to sound good alongside pretty much anybody. Metro Boomin called Toliver the Nate Dogg to his Dr. Dre, and the comparison has been apt so far. Toliver recently teased a new song during a live show, and he sampled a different member of the Death Row family. A different member of the Dogg family, too. Don Toliver flipped a classic Snoop Dogg record and fans are itching to find out when it will officially be released.

The song is titled “Attitude,” and Toliver hyped up the crowd right before playing it. “If you got a shot or something, you better that motherf*cker,” he stated. “I’m ready to go up.” The DJ then cuts in the iconic Snoop Dogg and Pharrell single “Beautiful.” Toliver’s version starts off the same, with Pharrell’s isolated vocals, but the rest of the song is completely different. “Attitude” chops up the Pharrell hook with some glitchy trap drums, and the effect is mesmerizing. Toliver doesn’t even bother singing at first, he just lets the beat shine.

Read More: Don Toliver & Kali Uchis Relationship Timeline

Don Toliver Flips The Chorus To Snoop’s “Beautiful”

“Attitude” is produced by Cash Cobain and features backing vocals from Charlie Wilson. That’s the way the song has been credited so far, at least. It’s unclear whether Uncle Wilson contributed new vocals to the song, or if he’s credited because he appeared on the original Snoop Dogg song. Either way, the live snippet has gone viral on social media, with some claiming that Don Toliver has a potential “song of the summer” on his hands. It’s hard to disagree once one listens to “Attitude.”

Don Toliver and Cash Cobain aren’t the only artists who have flipped “Beautiful” in recent years. The 1998 smash served as the musical basis for Jack Harlow’s 2022 album cut “Side Piece.” The general consensus among fans, however, was that Harlow’s take was too reliant on the original, and failed to carve its own musical path. Cobain’s flip of the original on “Attitude” sounds inspired by comparison. Toliver has been teasing the release of his upcoming album since March, and it’s safe to assume this track will make the cut.

Read More: Don Toliver Arrested For DUI: Report

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Missy Elliott Joins The Cast Of Pharrell’s Upcoming New Movie

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Last year, Missy Elliott accomplished something incredibly impressive. Her career was honored with a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. She lit up the stage during her induction unpacking some of her greatest hits. Despite the honor it was her mother who stole the show for a number of fans watching. She officially became the first ever female rapper to be inducted into the Hall. Just a few months later she performed at the Kennedy Center Honors alongside Rapsody to pay tribute to Queen Latifah.

Now the multi-medium talent is once again stretching her creative potential. According to Deadline, she’s joining the cast of an upcoming film Pharrell is in the process of creating. The film doesn’t have a title yet but it does have a director. The film will be helmed by legendary director Michel Gondry. The story of the movie is set to revolve around the producers childhood in Virginia Beach. She isn’t the first musical star to join the cast as Halle Bailey was also tapped to act in the film. Check out the full report of details known about the film so far below.

Read More: Cardi B Gets Love From Missy Elliott & Timbaland For “Like What (Freestyle)”

Missy Elliott To Star In Upcoming Pharrell Movie

Later this year, Missy Elliott will break new ground by taking off on her first ever headlining tour. Tickets for the tour went on sale last month and the tour itself will get underway in July. Stretching until mid-August she will play a number of dates in both American and Canadian cities. She’s also bringing Busta Rhymes, Timbaland, and Ciara along for the ride as opening acts in the highly-anticipated road show. Fans who have been eagerly awaiting the chance to see her live for years now finally have the chance to enjoy the dynamic performer.

What do you think of Missy Elliott showing off her acting skills in an upcoming Pharrell-produced movie? Are you planning on seeing the movie when it eventually drops? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Missy Elliott Remakes Her Own Classic Music Videos After Finding The Original Outfits

[Via]

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Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo’s Fight Over The Neptunes, Explained

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As any hip hop head is aware, The Neptunes were a prominent hip hop and R&B production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. Pharrell frequently provides vocals in tracks produced by The Neptunes and serves as a frontman for the group, while Hugo tends to remain behind the scenes. Recently, the duo have been on bad terms, with Chad Hugo claiming that Pharrell fraudulently sought sole ownership over the brand without his consent. As a result, the rap pioneers find themselves deadlocked in an ongoing legal battle, which has unsettled frequent collaborators close to the pair, such as Pusha T.

Will this case be the end of a decades-long friendship and creative partnership? While there’s no definite way to know, speculation among insiders suggests that Pharrell and Hugo may be experiencing exploitation by their respective legal teams. Let’s dive into the details surrounding the Neptunes’ legal dispute between Pharrell and Chad Hugo and uncover some of the finer points.

Pharrell & Chad Have An Existing 50/50 Agreement

Chad Hugo’s concerns appear to stem from a trio of applications filed by Pharrell’s company in 2022. These applications were for trademark registrations related to The Neptunes and the band N.E.R.D., of which Hugo was also a founding member. The filings sought to vest The Neptunes trademark for applications such as live performances, streaming services, and music videos. A legal rep for Hugo claimed that these filings were made without the producer’s knowledge or consent in an intentional move to cut him out of the brand.

Per reports filed last week at a federal tribunal, Chad Hugo claims that Pharrell has infringed upon an agreement that the pair already have to split The Neptunes’ trademark equally. Representatives from Pharrell Williams claim the 50-year-old producer is surprised by these allegations, arguing that they have reached out to Hugo to strike a shared trademark deal on multiple occasions. According to a report in People, Pharrell’s reps have stated, “The goal here was to make sure a third party doesn’t get a hold of the trademark and to guarantee Chad and Pharrell share in ownership and administration.”

Pusha T Weighs In

Frequent Neptunes collaborator Pusha T weighed in on the Pharrell and Chad Hugo case via social media, writing, “There’s not a dollar involved in this stupidity. Just a lawyer looking to drain Chad’s pocket. Unreal.” If these comments are accurate, it would suggest that Pharrell and Hugo aren’t really duking it out behind the scenes, as the case would suggest. Push further cemented this theory by co-signing another social media user’s claim: “This is foolish. It’s akin to when Ralph & Johnny bought the right to the name New Edition. Not for the purposes of greed but to keep it out of someone else’s hands. If it was all so bad then why did he not sue for N.E.R.D. too??”

This raises a fair point, as Chad Hugo has a one-third stake in both N.E.R.D. and Star Trak Entertainment alongside Pharrell, neither of which seems to be the source of a legal battle like The Neptunes brand. For now, there’s no way of knowing the whole truth regarding the legal matter, though it would undoubtedly be a shame to see Pharrell and Hugo throw away one of the longest and most worthwhile bonds in hip hop history over the trademark dispute.

[Via]

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Pharrell Williams Dropped A New Album, ‘Virginia: Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1,’ While You Were Arguing About Kendrick Lamar And J. Cole

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pharrell williams
Getty Image

One of music’s biggest artists just pulled a Beyoncé, quietly dropping a new album without warning in the middle of the night. No, it wasn’t J. Cole, whose mixtape Might Delete Later has been dominating social media discussion today as a result of his “7 Minute Drill” call-out of Kendrick Lamar. While y’all were arguing about whose entry in the Burn Book was more vicious (smh), Pharrell Williams released Virginia: Black Yacht Rock, Vol. 1 —City Of Limitless Access for his 51st birthday. It sounds exactly as its title suggests.

Of course, it’s fair if you didn’t realize such a thing happened. I myself didn’t catch on until Pharrell superfan Tyler The Creator posted about it on Twitter, at which point, I scrambled through the DSPs (yes, all of them, music writers can write off all those memberships on our taxes — this is me reminding myself to actuall do my taxes) only to find out that its only available on its own website. Hit up blackyachtrock.com to hear it. Feel free to throw on a linen suit first, make yourself a tropical drink. You can also download it and take it on a yacht with you laters. Whatever… ahem… floats your boat.

Pharrell’s new album arrives, strangely enough, after news of friction between him and his former production partner, Chad Hugo, over the name of their production group, The Neptunes. You can read about it here.

Virginia: Black Yacht Rock, Vol. 1 — City Of Limitless Access is out now via blackyachtrock.com.

Pharrell Williams Stuns Everyone With New Album “Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1”

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What a day for hip-hop. We now have not one, but two surprise albums from some of the best in the business. Legendary producer, singer, and rapper Pharrell Williams has just come through with Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1. That is the hyphenated title for this project, or at least one of the three names you can call it. It is also being referred to as Virginia, Black Yacht Rock, or City of Limitless Access.

This is the Virginia native’s first solo album since 2014’s G I R L and it may be coming before a separate project. He has been dropping some singles such as “Cash In Cash Out,” “Down In Atlanta,” and “Airplane Tickets.” Time will tell when all of those tracks culminate into a full listening experience. For now, let us discuss Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1.

Read More: Diddy’s Twin Daughters Hang Out With LeBron James’ Son On Vacation

Listen To Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1 By Pharrell Williams

black yacht rock
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 9: Pharrell Williams on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 9, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

This album sees Pharrell go into the pop genre and maybe even a bit of pop rock as well. The tape is fully produced by him and there are zero features outside of an adlib from Quavo. The 10-track LP is only available on a website that is named after the project. You can check it out here and it is available for free to download at your convenience. There was zero promotion from Pharrell on social media, so this is definitely something for the true fans to discover.

What are your thoughts on this brand-new album, Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1, by Pharrell Williams? Is this his best body of work ever, why or why not? What songs are you gravitating toward right now? Is he the best producer of all time? What is the best song on the album? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Pharrell Williams. Finally, stay with us for the most informative project posts throughout the week.

Virginia Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1 City of Limitless Access Tracklist:

  1. Richard Millie
  2. Dandy Lying
  3. Come On Donna
  4. Just For Fun
  5. Caged Bird Free
  6. Ball
  7. 11:11
  8. Who Needs Rest?
  9. Cheryl
  10. Going Back To VA

Read More: Bianca Censori Gets Dinner With Ye In Just A Bra And Sheer Pants

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Pusha T Laughs at Drake’s Mob Talk, Says Not a ‘Pinky Nail’ Touched Him

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Pusha-T Claims 'They Won't Publish' a Children's Book He's Been Trying To Write For Years

Pusha T has reentered the chat. With a run of heavy hitters targeting Drake, The Boy’s No. 1 nemesis is laughing off his “Mob Ties.”

A user on X wrote: “I just wanted to point out that after all these years of mob talk from Drake, nobody ever laid a finger on
@PUSHA_T”

And Pusha T had time, writing back, “Not a pinky nail…🤣”

In July 2023, Drake reignited the beef and drug King Push’s longtime friend Pharrell Williams into the drama.

Drake appears on Travis Scott’s UTOPIA album and goes right back at Pusha T, but references the historic chains he purchased that once belonged to Pharrell. Let Drake tell it; he melted them down already.

“Man, fuck all that spinning the narrative shit
I melt down the chains I bought from your boss
Give a fuck about all of that heritage shit
Since V not around the members done hung up the Louis
They not even wearing that shit”

– Drake

Drake purchased the Jacob & Co. skateboard pendant that Pharrell once wore frequently. It was part of an online auction and sold for $103K. Drake was then spotted with the chain in St. Barth’s and the “Jumbotron Shit Poppin” video. He is also believed to have purchased other pieces of Pharrell’s chain.

Drake was done with his jewelry purchases, promoting the single, The Boy showed off Tupac’s ring which soared past $1 million at Sotheby’s to promote the single.

The post Pusha T Laughs at Drake’s Mob Talk, Says Not a ‘Pinky Nail’ Touched Him first appeared on The Source.

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