Neptunes, the

US music producers and performers, who have had a considerable influence on the rap and hip hop music scene of the early 21st century. Consisting of Pharrell Williams (1973– ) and Chad Hugo (1973– ), the Neptunes began producing rap hits during the late 1990s. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, they released their debut album, Neptunes Present... Clones, in 2003, featuring the hit single ‘Frontin'’ with US rapper Jay-Z. Their production work on US singer Justin Timberlake's debut solo album Justified (2002) took them into the mainstream.

They produced hits for major rap stars such as ‘Luv U Better’ for LL Cool J, ‘Pass the Courvoisier’ for Busta Rhymes, ‘Hot in Herre’ for Nelly, and ‘Beautiful’ for Snoop Dogg, as well as for the biggest pop stars, such as ‘I'm a Slave 4 U’ for Britney Spears, and ‘Girlfriend’ for ∗NSYNC. Along with their schoolfriend Shay, they are also members of the rap group NERD (an acronym for No one Ever Really Dies), who released the albums In Search Of.. (2001) and Fly or Die (2004). The duo earned six Grammy award nominations in 2003; additionally, Williams earned three and Hugo earned two nominations individually.

Williams and Hugo met in a jazz band at school; Williams played drums and Hugo played drums and saxophone. Soon after leaving school they were hired by US producer Teddy Riley to help produce Blackstreet's debut album Blackstreet (1994). In a deal with Arista records, they established their own record label, Star Trak, in 2003.