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Neptunes
The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music videos, while Hugo tends to stay behind the scenes. The Neptunes have produced hit songs for a multitude of artists, including N.O.R.E., Clipse, Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Mystikal, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Usher, Nelly, Gwen Stefani, and Snoop Dogg. In 2009, ''Billboard'' ranked the Neptunes number one on their list of the top 10 producers of the decade. In January 2020, the Neptunes were announced to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as a part of the 2020 class, and in May 2021, Hugo and Williams received Honorary Doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. History Williams and Hugo met at a summer camp for the school of the Gifted and Talented in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where Williams playe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he has produced songs for various recording artists. In 1999, he became lead vocalist of the band N.E.R.D., which he formed with Hugo and drummer Shay Haley. Williams has been widely referred to as one of the most influential and successful music producers of the 21st century, having had a significant impact on the sound of modern popular music. Williams released his debut solo album, '' In My Mind'', in 2006. In 2013, he produced and was featured alongside T.I. on the song " Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke and his song " Happy" was the lead single for the soundtrack of the film ''Despicable Me 2''. In the same year, he was featured on Daft Punk's single " Get Lucky", which won Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 5 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kelis
Kelis Rogers-Mora (; born August 21, 1979), known mononymously as Kelis, is an American singer, songwriter and a professionally trained chef. At age 14, she was admitted to New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she learned to play the saxophone and won a spot in the Girls Choir of Harlem. After she graduated from high school in 1997, Kelis took on a variety of jobs before landing a backup vocal slot on an album track called "Fairytalez", released by the American hip hop group Gravediggaz. She then began working with music producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, known as The Neptunes, which ultimately resulted in her being signed to Virgin Records in 1998. Kelis released her debut studio album ''Kaleidoscope'' with Virgin Records on December 7, 1999. Inspired by jazz and disco music from the 1970s, the album was a critical and international success. It spawned three singles: "Caught Out There", " Good Stuff", and " Get Along W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clipse
Clipse, also known as The Clipse, is an American hip hop duo, chiefly active from 1994 to 2010. It consists of brothers Gene "No Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton. Pusha T was known as Terrar during the group's early years, while No Malice was originally known as Malicious, then changed his stage name to Malice soon after the group's formation, before changing it again to No Malice in 2012 following a conversion to Christianity. The duo were based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and were heavily affiliated with producer and fellow Virginia Beach native, Pharrell Williams, who convinced the two in 1992 to be a rap duo instead of solo artists. Williams would go on to serve as their label head, main producer (via the production duo The Neptunes) and frequent guest artist through most of their career. The duo frequently rapped about the drug dealing they had done in their youth. Clipse was integral in establishing Virginia as one of the East Coast's strongholds in hip hop. In 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chad Hugo
Charles Edward Hugo (born February 24, 1974) is an American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. With close friend Pharrell Williams, he formed the production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he has produced songs for many recording artists. He is also a member of the band N.E.R.D, alongside Williams and Shay Haley. Career Hugo and Williams were announced to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as a part of the 2020 class. Discography ;With N.E.R.D. * '' In Search of...'' (2002) * ''Fly or Die'' (2004) * ''Seeing Sounds'' (2008) * ''Nothing'' (2010) * ''No One Ever Really Dies'' (2017) ;With the Neptunes * ''Clones'' (2003) Personal life Hugo has three children (born in 1998, 2000, and 2014). See also * The Neptunes discography The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Star Trak Entertainment
Star Trak was an American record label, founded by The Neptunes and Rob Walker in 2001. It operated as a division of Interscope Geffen A&M, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Its name is a reference to the 1960s TV program ''Star Trek''. History Beginnings Star Trak was formed in 2001 by The Neptunes. The label was partially funded by Arista Records (from Sony Music Entertainment) in a joint-venture. Pharrell Williams would sign longtime friends, Clipse. Their debut album, ''Lord Willin''', was released in 2002 led by the hits, " Grindin'", "When the Last Time", and "Ma, I Don't Love Her" After the success of the album, the label would sign Kelis, Vanessa Marquez, Fam-Lay, N.E.R.D and pop rock band Spymob, who provided backing instruments for N.E.R.D's debut album ''In Search Of...''. The label released a compilation album during the summer of 2003, entitled, '' The Neptunes Present... Clones.'' In late 2003, Star Trak Entertainment released the highly successful album, '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Philly's Most Wanted
Philly's Most Wanted was an American hip hop duo composed of Al "Boo-Bonic" Holly and Joel "Mr. Man" Witherspoon. The duo broke into the music business as affiliates of production duo, The Neptunes. The duo signed with Atlantic Records in 2000 and issued their first two singles, "Y'all Can't Never Hurt Us" and " Cross the Border" soon after. The latter song peaked at #98 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Rap Singles. Their debut album, '' Get Down or Lay Down'', however, was delayed for over a year, finally being released on August 7, 2001. Despite production from The Neptunes, the album failed commercially, only reaching No. 69 on the ''Billboard'' 200 majorly due to the fact that BET refused to support their video for Cross the Border which contributed to the end of the duo as well. After both The Neptunes and Atlantic Records severed ties with them, the duo shortened their name to Philly's Most and released a second album entitled ''Ring the Alarm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani (; born October 3, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer and actress. She is a co-founder, lead vocalist, and the primary songwriter of the band No Doubt, whose singles include "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs (song), Spiderwebs", and "Don't Speak", from their 1995 breakthrough studio album ''Tragic Kingdom'', as well as "Hey Baby (No Doubt song), Hey Baby" and "It's My Life (Talk Talk song)#No Doubt version, It's My Life" from later albums. During the band's hiatus, Stefani embarked on a solo Pop music, pop career in 2004 by releasing her debut studio album ''Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'' Inspired by pop music from the 1980s, the album was a critical and commercial success. It spawned six singles, including "What You Waiting For?", "Rich Girl (Gwen Stefani song), Rich Girl", "Hollaback Girl", and "Cool (Gwen Stefani song), Cool". "Hollaback Girl" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart while also becoming the firs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mystikal
Michael Lawrence Tyler (born September 22, 1970), better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper. Early life and education Tyler grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana's 12th Ward. His father, who ran a small neighborhood store, died when Tyler was seven. He attended Cohen High School and afterward joined the United States Army as a combat engineer. As an aspiring rapper, he opened for Run-DMC and Doug E. Fresh at an outdoor concert at the Treme Center. Leroy "Precise" Edwards, the house producer for Big Boy Records, was in the audience, and granted him a contract. Career 1994–1996: Early career and stint with Big Boy Records Mystikal's debut album, ''Mystikal'', was released on New Orleans-based independent record label Big Boy in 1994. The album was one of Big Boy's most successful albums and gained major success for Mystikal. In 1995, he found himself involved in conflict with fellow New Orleans rappers signed to rival Cash Money, including U.N.L.V. and The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including ten Grammy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, three Brit Awards, nine ''Billboard'' Music Awards, the Contemporary Icon Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. According to '' Billboard'', he is the best performing male soloist in the history of the Mainstream Top 40. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, as a child he appeared on the television shows ''Star Search'' and ''The All-New Mickey Mouse Club''. In the late 1990s, Timberlake rose to prominence as one of the two lead vocalists and youngest member of NSYNC, which eventually became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Timberlake won two Grammy Awards for his R&B-focused debut solo album '' Justified ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists. He was the CEO of Def Jam Recordings and he has been central to the creative and commercial success of artists including Kanye West, Rihanna, and J. Cole. Born and raised in New York City, Jay-Z first began his musical career in the late 1980s; he co-founded the record label Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 and released his debut studio album ''Reasonable Doubt (album), Reasonable Doubt'' in 1996. The album was released to widespread critical success, and solidified his standing in the music industry. He went on to release twelve additional albums, including the acclaimed albums ''The Blueprint'' (2001), ''The Black Album (Jay-Z album), The Black Album'' (2003), American Gangster (album), ''American Gangs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's debut solo album, ''The Chronic''. Broadus has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide. His accolades include an American Music Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 17 nominations at the Grammy Awards. Broadus' debut solo album, ''Doggystyle,'' produced by Dr. Dre, was released by Death Row Records in November 1993, and debuted at number one on the popular albums chart, the ''Billboard'' 200, and on '' Billboard''s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Selling 800,000 copies in its first week, ''Doggystyle'' was certified quadruple-platinum in 1994 and featured the singles " What's My Name?" and "Gin and Juice". In 1994, Death Row Records released a soundtrack, by Broad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rump Shaker (song)
"Rump Shaker" is a song by American hip-hop group Wreckx-N-Effect. It was released in August 1992 as the lead single from their second album, ''Hard or Smooth''. It features production and guest vocals from Teddy Riley, brother of Wreckx member Markell Riley. Due to the massive success of Whitney Houston's version of " I Will Always Love You," the song did not advance further than No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. Nevertheless, it peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles, and No. 9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. The chorus of the 2008 single, " Paper Planes" by British musician M.I.A. was widely speculated to be based on the chorus, although the song's writers are not credited. Composition "Rump Shaker" is built on a saxophone sample from the 1972 song "Darkest Light" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band and a drum sample from "Midnight Theme" by Manzel. Other samples include "Scratchin'" by the Magic Disco Machine and "Blues and P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
