Interview: Pharrell Williams

by Dewey Hammond

This originally appeared in Playboy magazine in October 2003.

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Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, the superproducers known as The Neptunes, have their own side project, N.E.R.D. They released their first album last year, and their second album is due out this month. We caught up with Williams at the MTV Beach House.

You've produced Jay-Z, Snoop, Justin and Britney. What does it take to make a hit record?
"It just takes an initial feeling, man. It's a big ball of clay. You just form it until the sculpture is right in your mind. Put a beat behind it, and after that, melody and rhythm."

You and Chad are better known behind the scenes. Tell us something about him that most people don't know.
"He's hilarious. He may be a little more retarded than me."

Every artistically inclined kid gets picked-on in childhood. What was your Achilles' heel?
"My Mr. Spock ears."

What do you remember about your first girlfriend?
"She had a big fat booty. I also remember that you had to act like you didn't really like her. All that dumb kid sh*t."

You don't do drugs. You don't drink. You don't smoke. What do you do that's edgy?
"The other night I had one White Russian, and I had a hangover for the whole next day. You will not hear about my drinking anything with alcohol ever again."

What is your biggest vice?
"I probably curse too much. Nah, you know what? I take that back. I'm too nice."

How many women have you slept with?
"Wow. I don't know."

At what point did you sit back and think, Holy sh*t, we've made it?
"I never look at it like I've made it. You always gotta keep going. You can't look over your shoulder."