Pharrell was scheduled to perform at a Formula 1 post-race show in Saudi Arabia. The star cut the show short due to fans throwing items on stage.
According to The Daily Mail, Pharrell asked fans to stop tossing light-up wristbands on stage, which was impacting the dancers.
“This is the liveliest city right now on the planet but we have also got to be the safest,” Pharrell said. “I know you guys are excited and I know you are wanting to throw your wrist gadgets and lights and all that, but you can’t as the girls are dancing. And me? I love women, how about you?
“We must protect our women so if you want to throw them lights you have to throw them the other way, not at the stage. Who understands what I’m saying?”
Pharrell attempted to get the fans to toss them all at once to end the stage toss, but eventually, the show ended.
Pharrell Williams and Miley Cyrus join forces for their highly-anticipated single “Doctor (Work It Out).”
Fresh from her recent GRAMMY wins, Miley stars in the official music video directed by Jacob Bixenman. Originally premiered at Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall/Winter show, the track marks Pharrell’s second release of the year, following “Good People” with Mumford & Sons.
As reported by Variety, Pharrell Williams just announced the fourth annual Black Ambition Prize Competition is back for the 2024 prize cycle and accepting applications.
What’s cool about Black Ambition, outside of being created by Pharrell Williams, is that it’s a non-profit initiative providing a path to success for emerging Black and Latinx entrepreneurs launching tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products services start-ups. The mission of Black Ambition is to operate as a major platform for innovation to close the racial wealth gap through the empowerment of underrepresented founders.
Williams told Variety, “Our Black Ambition entrepreneurs have raised more than $95 million and generated more than $23 million in revenue. There is a growing opportunity here and we need the investment community to continue leaning in. It’s great for people of color to have a seat at the table, but that’s not the only goal — we want to see more people of color at the head of the table.”
This is a big deal when you think about it, as there aren’t many avenues for POC entrepreneurs in these sectors to be set up for success, let alone work with a seasoned visionary such as Williams.
For 2024 prize eligibility, the verticals encompass technology (Web 3.0 inclusive), healthcare, consumer products and services, and media and entertainment. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, that vertical has been added this year.
As Variety reports, up to 250 semi-finalists will be selected to participate in the 3-month “cohort-based mentorship program,” but “only one exceptional winner will receive the prestigious $1,000,000 prize.”
The Black Ambition Initiative has awarded nearly $10 million since 2020 to over 100 Black and Hispanic founders. However, the initiative has vigorously supported 750 entrepreneurs with mentorship to aid in their entrepreneurial ventures. The founders of the Black Ambition network have successfully raised nearly $100 million while generating revenue of over $23 million. Talk about credible big business, Variety reports they “are landing deals with big box retail and being acknowledged for their leadership, with several founders named to the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30.”
“The Black Ambition Prize is more than a competition; the year-round support we provide our entrepreneurs-it’s a movement dedicated to unlocking the potential of underrepresented entrepreneurs and reshaping the landscape of innovation. As we launch our fourth annual prize competition, we reaffirm our commitment to empower diverse founders and to bridge the racial wealth and opportunity gaps. Together, we are getting these entrepreneurs the investments, resources and support they need during a time where the opposite is happening in the ecosystem,” in a statement from Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition.
Hatcher, through the organization, has also announced season 2 of their So Ambitious Podcast, which she hosts. The podcast focuses on stories concerning Black founders and entrepreneurs.
The fourth annual Black Ambition Initiative Applications can be found here.
Chad Hugo is a Virginia-born musician, producer, and songwriter. He is renowned for his role in The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. and has amassed a net worth of $60 million by 2024, according to Alux. Alongside Pharrell Williams, Hugo has been instrumental in shaping the sound of modern pop, hip-hop, and R&B, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry with his innovative production techniques and distinctive sound. His journey from a young musician in Virginia Beach to a globally recognized producer and songwriter demonstrates the power of creativity, collaboration, and innovation in achieving both artistic and financial success.
The Neptunes: Revolutionizing Music Production
US music producer Chad Hugo arrives for the second annual Gold Gala at the Music Center in. Los Angeles, California also on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The partnership between Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, known as The Neptunes, has been pivotal in the evolution of music production over the past few decades. Their groundbreaking work has produced chart-topping hits for many artists. These include Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears. Further, this era of production not only solidified Hugo’s reputation as a master producer but also played a crucial role in his financial success. The Neptunes’ ability to cross genres and create a new sound palette for the 21st century has made them one of the most sought-after production teams in the music industry.
N.E.R.D & Solo Ventures
Chad Hugo & Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D. during 2nd Annual Shortlist Music Awards. Concert at Henry Fonda Theatre also in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by L. Cohen/WireImage)
Moreover, Hugo’s involvement in N.E.R.D, alongside Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley, showcased his versatility. The band’s fusion of rock, funk, and hip-hop also allowed Hugo to explore different facets of his musicality. This further established his credibility and influence in the industry. His solo ventures, including songwriting and production for a diverse range of artists, have contributed to his net worth and highlighted his ability to adapt and innovate across musical genres. Hugo’s dedication to exploring new sounds and collaborations underscores his continuous impact on music and culture.
Influence & Legacy
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 16: (L-R) Jimmy Jam, Fabolous, Chad Hugo and Terry Lewis pose backstage at the. Songwriters Hall of Fame 51st Annual Induction and Awards Gala at Marriott Marquis on June 16, 2022 also in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall of Fame )
Chad Hugo’s influence extends beyond the confines of music production and performance. His contributions to the industry have helped redefine the role of the producer in the creative process, elevating it to that of an artist in its own right. Hugo’s work has inspired a new generation of producers, musicians, and songwriters to experiment with sound and genre, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in music. Additionally, his impact is felt through his mentorship of emerging artists and producers, ensuring his legacy will resonate for years to come.
Ever since Pharrell took over as head of menswear at Louis Vuitton, the brand has had a revitalized connection to music. Last year, he had his debut show and it was absolutely overflowing with musical stars in attendance. He even recruited Pusha T and No Malice to reunite as Clipse and perform a brand new song during the show. He followed it up earlier this year with a show where he debuted an unreleased Miley Cyrus collab. That show even had Pusha T making his runway debut walking as a model.
One person who was present at both shows is Tyler, The Creator. The “EARFQUAKE” rapper is no stranger to fashion having run his own Golf Wang brand for years. But now he’s teaming up with Louis Vuitton under Pharrell’s watch for a new crossover. While the actual pieces aren’t available until next month, Tyler shared some early looks at the clothes and an explanation of the the design philosophy behind them to Instagram. Check out the post he made below.
In the caption of the Instagram post Tyler opens up on the collection. “hand drawn monograms, wavy soles, waffle and butter sandles, dogs, pastel colors all that. i wanted to mix my style and louis vuittons codes together in a way that felt slightly whimsical but could still be worn to the gas station on a tuesday. what an experience being in that office, imagination running wild. have you seen that chessboard?!!!! i had a real late night editing these photos, im happy to finally share this collection and lookbook with you guys. still cant believe it,” his caption reads.
Fans of Tyler, The Creator are hoping that 2024 brings his first new album since 2021’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. What do you think of Tyler, The Creator’s new collaboration with Louis Vuitton? Are there any particular pieces shown off from the collection so far that stand out to you? Let us know in the comment section below.
Tyler The Creator has had multiple opportunities over the years to collaborate with his hero Pharrell Williams, and his latest involves Williams’ role as the head designer of Louis Vuitton. Just as Tyler’s production style is clearly influenced by Williams’ work with The Neptunes in the early 2000s, his Louis Vuitton capsule collection takes inspiration from classic styles and remixes them with Tyler’s signature sporty fits and pops of pastel colors, a la his own high-end line, Golf Le Fleur. The collection hits stores on March 21, with Tyler showing off many of the items on Twitter:
How Much Is Tyler The Creator’s Louis Vuitton Capsule?
The least expensive item is a silk pocket square for 210 euros ($227.11) and the most expensive is a special edition Courrier Lozine 110 trunk for 68,000 euros ($73,540.30), according to Women’s Wear Daily. While the report doesn’t list all of the prices, you can assume most will fall somewhere in this range, with items going from a monogram short suit, a cable knit sweater, and several golf-inspired pieces including a technical anorak, a windbreaker, and a zip cardigan all patterned with Vuitton’s signature checkerboard. There are also collectibles like a chessboard and a golf kit.
“Everything that Tyler does is thoughtful and authentic,” Pharrell told WWD. “We’ve done something completely new with this project that merges our two worlds and the outcome is uniquely LV. Check out some of the looks below:
When Pharrell was made the head designer of legacy fashion house Louis Vuitton after Virgil Abloh passed away, it was only a matter of time until Tyler The Creator got in on the action. Tyler has long been an adherent of Pharrell’s musical and fashion philosophies, and Pharrell’s been more than happy to step into the role of mentor for the younger artist, so it’s fitting that he’d also invite Tyler to take a hand in guiding the direction of Pharrell’s Vuitton.
Naturally, Tyler’s capsule collection for Louis Vuitton is stamped by his signature affinity for preppy, old-money styles like trench coats, polo sweaters, and dapper short suits all presented with retro flair with modern flourishes and pops of pastel. Tyler shared a lookbook on Twitter with photos in both the studio and in the wild, highlighting the versatility of the clothes and styling. He also thanked Pharrell, calling him a “guardian angel.”
The collection — which also includes a custom chess board designed by Tyler — is due to hit stores on March 21, just in time for the spring/summer season. In an interview with WWD, Pharrell praised his collaborator, saying, “Everything that Tyler does is thoughtful and authentic. We’ve done something completely new with this project that merges our two worlds and the outcome is uniquely LV.
Arguably one of hip hop’s greatest supergroup moments was Child Rebel Soldier, consisting of Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pharrell Williams. Unfortunately, the trio’s run was short-lived, releasing only two songs and a remix as a group in its three-year duration. Though each carried on to achieve great success following their dissolution, the idea of Child Rebel Soldier still was exciting for fans. Before joining together, each of them had previously worked with one another on various tracks. Kanye featured on Pharrell’s “Number One,” The Neptunes produced Lupe’s “I Gotcha,” and Kanye and Lupe teamed up on “Touch The Sky.” While we did not get much music from them together, the group marked a promising union between three of hip-hop’s most creative and eccentric minds that helped shape the genre. Today, we are looking into a brief history of the promising supergroup that was Child Rebel Soldier.
Child Rebel Soldier first emerged in 2007 with “Us Placers,” their first song as a group. The Lupe Fiasco-produced track was included on Kanye West’s Can’t Tell Me Nothing mixtape that preceded Graduation. Originally intended for a Thom Yorke-inspired mixtape, Lupe sent the beat to Kanye and The Streets, who never responded. Pharrell eventually hopped on the track and Child Rebel Soldier was born. Lupe told BBC News in 2008 that forming the group “was Pharrell’s idea one day in the studio ‘cause we’re all similar. Same likes and same dislikes, same goals and aspirations. So on that level, we wanted to create some music.” Pharrell also came up with the name Child Rebel Soldier.
A Short-Lived Run
Following “Us Placers,” Child Rebel Soldier toyed with the possibility of an album. Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell opened for Kanye West on his 2008 Glow in the Dark Tour. That same year, Pharrell’s band, N.E.R.D. recruited Child Rebel Soldier and Pusha T for the remix of “Everybody Nose.” Rumblings of a potential album continued into 2010. Lupe Fiasco told DJ Green Lantern that Pharrell hit him up about finishing the CRS project, with 4 songs completed.
That same year, CRS’s last song, “Don’t Stop” arrived as part of Kanye West’s “GOOD Friday” series in promotion of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Upon its release, Lupe Fiasco spoke to MTV News about how the song was an older recording and an experiment in pinpointing their group sound: “That song is like a song that we did in the midst of being CRS. When we were actually going to put out an album and just really wanted to test records and see if we should do more records like that, or should do more records like ‘Us Placers.’ We were just trying to figure out what we should do and that was one of the experiments that was bananas.”
Despite positive reception and support for their music, Lupe told MTV that it is the fans are responsible for the materialization of a Child Rebel Soldier album. “If people want it, then we’ll do it. But if the demand is not there, it’ll just be as we get to it,” he said. Lupe also elaborated that he, Kanye, and Pharrell were prioritizing their solo works. “It’s going to take a lot of time to come off our schedules,” he explained. Unfortunately, the Child Rebel Soldier album never came to fruition.
The CRS group is cancelled. Done. Not happening. Stop asking
— CHECKIN’ Out Now! #APTMC (@LupeFiasco) July 25, 2013
You know what. You right.
LUPEND: 100% CANCELLED ROY: 100% CANCELLED COOL 2: 100% CANCELLED SKULLS: TBD DMIZ: IN MASTERING, RELEASE DATE VIA @ThirtyTigers CRS: TBD MIXTAPES: 100% NO MORE WILL BE MADE LOOSIES: SPORADIC via YOUTUBE OR IG
After years and no updates on Child Rebel Soldier, Lupe Fiasco officially declared that “The CRS group is canceled.” “Done. Not happening. Stop Asking,” he said in a 2013 tweet. He later specified in a 2020 tweet that he thinks that Kanye and Pharrell have moved on from the group. He proposed a new idea. “I think a new trio of young MCs/producers should pick up where we left off and do it. CRS re-casted. I’d support that,” he said.
For many years, there had been no developments in the Child Rebel Soldier saga until Lupe Fiasco placed the group album as “TBD” in a 2022 update of all his upcoming releases. Sounding too good to be true, a fan tweeted Lupe for some old CRS music in 2023. Lupe replied with a screenshot of a text conversation between him and Tyler, The Creator, sharing some “rough demo sketches [he] did for CRS.” “Tyler has them,” Lupe said in the latest update about the group’s future. Overall, Child Rebel Soldier was a promising supergroup that never fully materialized but gave fans glimpses of their full potential over the years.
Usher had a surprising reveal that he shared during a recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. As it turns out, he was almost part of a supergroup of sorts many years ago — but things didn’t wind up taking shape. Instead, the other planned members like Jay-Z and Pharrell continued their solo careers.
“Jay-Z, Pharrell, Diddy, and me were supposed to be a group,” Usher said. “Yeah, that’s crazy. I didn’t say ‘No.’ I didn’t say ‘Yeah.’ I think that we just got caught up. I think we all got caught up in the moment.”
“We was talking about it and having secret meetings about it,” he added. “We were talking about music and how we gon’ flip it and the business of it. And somehow, man, we just got distracted and it never happened.”
He also pointed out that while it didn’t happen, he sometimes still wishes that it had.
However, Usher is still immensely successful, supergroup or not. He is gearing up to drop his new album, Coming Home. Then, two days after its release, he will take the stage at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to perform the Super Bowl Halftime Show. To make things even more full circle, Jay-Z was the one who asked Usher if he would be interested, as he serves as a producer and consultant for the NFL’s Halftime performances.
Check out Usher talking about the group that never was above.
The next LEGO movie is thinking outside the box. Piece By Piece is coming to theaters and will be inspired by Pharrell Williams’s life. Sounds interesting …
The film is a Focus Features piece, no pun intended, and will be helmed by Director Morgan Neville, an Academy Award winner. Neville and Caitrin Rogers produce the new animated LEGO installment via Tremolo Productions. Williams, Mimi Valdés, and Shani Saxon are producing under Williams’ i am OTHER banner alongside LEGO Group’s Jill Wilfert and Keith Malone, executive producing Piece By Piece. Expect the film to feel like a biopic, albeit through the LEGO art form.
Focus Features say the film is described as “Pharrell set out to tell his story in a way that would set audience’s imaginations free. Developed from his singular vision, PIECE BY PIECE defies genres and expectations to transport audiences into a LEGO world where anything is possible.”
This is a long time coming as Neville said Williams pitched his story as a LEGO film five years ago. “It was one of those rare moments where I knew in a second that this was a journey I wanted to go on,” he said. “I’m so grateful to our partners at Focus Features and at the LEGO Group for their belief in our crazy mission. We assembled an incredible team of creative collaborators to help make a new type of film. I can’t wait for people to see it.”
Williams said, “When I had this crazy vision to tell this story through LEGO bricks, I couldn’t have imagined a better partner than Morgan. He is a legend. Grateful that Focus wanted to collaborate with us and I’m honored to share this with the world and bring people into my universe. 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. It’s proof that anyone else can do it too.”
Piece By Piece is expected to hit theaters on Oct 11.
