Pharrell Lanscilo Williams /fəˈrɛl/ Is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer and entrepreneur. With close friend 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 Shay Haley.