As with any industry, there are a multitude of artists who release hit singles and are famous for just one record, however, every once in a while there are those artists who defy the usual trend of achieving brief stardom and become legends. Pharrell Williams perfectly can be mentioned within this category. From the background professionally dealing with production and laying background tracks to Barney, Pharrell Williams is today an international fashion icon and the Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director.
The Producer Who Changed the Sound of the 2000s
It would be quite misleading to say that you never came across Pharrell on the radio somewhere between 1998 and 2010. As a member of the production duo The Neptunes with Chad Hugo, Pharrell brought change to the pop and hip-hop genre which he is now known for owing to energy minimal spacey quirky synthesizers and that recognizeable four-count intro.
Pharrell Williams associated with The Neptunes boast of being associated with some of the most famous artists in the modern music industry including such A list musicians as Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani among others. Therefore, Pharell was not only a producer but he was able to transcend genres with ease. The man who contributes to the beat on “Drop It Like Its Hot” by Snoop Dog was also responsible for the composition of “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake.
N.E.R.D: The Experimental Playground
People know Pharrell by his productions with catchy hooks, but the hip-hop audience knows that Pharrell Williams is a member of N.E.R.D alongside Chad Hugo and…
Their debut album “In Search Of…” is still one of the most interesting albums of its time period, reeking of style and attitude, not clearly hip-hop, not truly rock ‘n roll, and not at all funk, but suffering from none of those lacks. This kind of informality is now one of Pharrell’s hallmarks of his career over the years.
“Happy” Accidents and Solo Stardom
The constantly active individual that worked hard to make other come out as great artists, Pharrell had a relatively late debut to the limelight. He had participated in features and “Frontin’” was his first successful solo material that was released in 2003, but it took “Happy” that was released in 2013 to bring him into the limelight as an artist.
It is one of those music success stories that are not easily analyzed in the mass music market. Containing elements that are familiar to fans of pop music while at the same time deviating from the conventional, the song titled “Happy” was originally part of the ”Despicable Me 2” soundtrack. The 24-hour music video was a perfect marketing strategy, and as simple as that, Pharrell was no longer the somewhat popular producer that was behind some of the biggest music hits but he was a singer, songwriter, composer of the Grammy-winning album, “G I R L” wearing that hat. You know the one.
The Man Who Doesn’t Age: Skincare Secrets or Vampire?
As I stated, let us be honest, Pharrell Williams is 51 and looks like he is 30. This has led to concerted online discussions on new fora such as Reddit and other innocent questions from fans who are saddened to see that he was either has found the elixir of youth or has a picture taken from an attic.
His secret to eternal youth, he claims to be an avid scrubber, which he does with what he calls a madman like zeal, and loads of water. But honestly? I’m not entirely convinced. And still no amount of Cetaphil can justify why this man has not changed his appearance since the Clinton presidency.
Fashion Forward: From Streetwear to Luxury
Before artists majored in fashion lines, Pharrell was making his moves in the menswear business. His clothing labels Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream made him a prominent figure in the initial wave of streetwear in 2000s and his T-Shirts co-designed with Nigo are regarded as priceless.
In this way Pharrell’s fashion endeavors are quite different from most celeb product lines – he knows fashion, style and trends, and it shows. Some of his famous collaborators include Adidas whose sneakers were some of the most demanded in the last ten years; he also loves personalstyling like wearing the Vivienne Westwood ‘mountain’ hat.
The Environmental Awakening: From Consumption to Consciousness
Recently, Pharrell’s focus turned more ecological getting involved in issues related to the contamination of the ocean by plastic. His entrepreneurial venture known as Bionic Yarn involves recycling plastic debris into fabrics that have been used in G-Star Raw and other designers’ productions.
This environmental awakening is somewhat unusual for a man who made quite a name for himself developing his line of luxury products. Some would consider it as such typical for them, but it is also a true sign of evolution of Pharrell as a public figure and his concerns.
The Collaborator: Pharrell’s Greatest Strength
Everyone in Pharrell will comprehend that the unifying thread through all of these miscellaneous activities is his ability to collaborate. Whether doing music for friends and other musicians, designing for fashion labels, or voluntarily collaborating with scientists for environmental causes, Pharrell really seems to know that beneficent collaboration yields creative magic.
The Problematic Hit: “Blurred Lines” and Its Legacy
No honest movie, however, can be done on Pharrell without discussing the artistic and legal issues of ‘Blurred Lines,’ the song that Thicke released in 2013. The song was one of the most successful songs that Grayson and Oliver has made together, but it gave rise to controversy due to the lyrics of the song that some people deem as having a negative perception about consent.
Sitting atop the controversy, it was at the center of a major legal battle of copyright infringement, and the estate of Marvin Gaye won the case stating that it was copied from his song titled ‘Got to Give It Up’.
The Philanthropist: Giving Back Through Education
Unlike some other celebrities, Pharrell shows true interest in philanthropy especially in educational sector of the society. His educational project is called “Yellow” with the main goal to offer equal chances for children from the less privileged districts.
During the campaign in 2018, he pledged that every graduate from a high school in Harlem would receive internships. Such straight forward and influential donation demonstrates a comprehension of the fact that if the community is to be changed, it cannot be done through tokenisms or single-handed strange funding.
The Verdict: Icon Status Confirmed, But Not Without Complications
But the last word on Pharrell Williams is now? It goes without a doubt that he is a generation artists whose impact cuts across music, fashion and popular culture today. The only persons I know that can stay in the industry for this long while simultaneously growing and developing their work and other enterprises are composers.
However, there are some contradictions that one cannot ignore about Pharrell: The practitioner who is also an environmentalist and who has interest in designing luxury items. The hitmaker behind both empowering anthems and problematic lyrics. The person of eternal youth which makes him or her beyond the natural life cycle of a human being.
Pharrell Williams, who has recently found fame as part of NIGO and Daft Punk’s “Les Parapel ” for his contribution to – and this is a well-known fact among the target audience – the N.E.R.D. or as the author of the worldwide hit “Happy”. But somehow, I will have no doubt that he will still be gracing 35 when he is receiving his hall of fame prizes in about 10 to 15 years from now.
