Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes are the most revolutionary production tandem in modern music since Quincy Jones and Rod Tempterton put down shuffle-beats and doo-wops behind a young singer named Michael Jackson.
With their digital musical palette and vivid imaginations, they've taken their hip-hop foundation and un-tethered the bounds of pop, bestowing unsuspecting hit records in almost machine-gun-like succession – whether in rap (Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, et al), R&B (Usher, Babyface), pop (Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake) or rock (No Doubt).
But N.E.R.D is not the Neptunes. N.E.R.D is the offspring of the Neptunes id, a fly-or-die, thrash-around, do-as-you-will, set-your-soul-on-fire alter-ego that subscribes to no rules, adheres to no agenda. It is Pharrell, Chad and Shay – a trio whose chemistry allows the uninhibited exploration of the sounds, emotions and impulses of self and society, of identity and belonging. Of life.
N.E.R.D’s latest album ‘Seeing Sounds’ is out now and is the follow up to 2004’s Album ‘Fly or Die†which featured hits ‘Maybe’ and ‘She wants to Move’. Their new single ‘Everyone Nose’ is out now. They come to the UK in August, below are the tour dates:
August
Monday 18th Sheffield Academy
Tuesday 19th Birmingham Academy
Wednesday 20th Manchester Academy
Tickets are £27.50 and go on general sale on Friday 11th July @ 9am