Oh my gosh, you guys, The Neptunes – Pharrell and Chad – they defined the sound of the early 2000s! I mean, seriously, ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ by Snoop? ‘I’m A Slave 4 U’ by Britney? Those songs wouldn’t be the same without them! But… I just heard something awful. Apparently, they’re having some major problems and their partnership is on the rocks. I’m absolutely devastated! I can’t even imagine them not making music together. It’s heartbreaking!
Pharrell Williams is facing a lawsuit from his longtime friend and business partner, Hugo, who he grew up with in Virginia, according to Billboard.
According to documents submitted on January 23rd, Hugo claims Williams has excluded him from the company.
Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE this! Apparently, Hugo – yes, the Hugo – is saying Pharrell and N.E.R.D. owe him a MILLION dollars! It’s all connected to their ‘No One Ever Really Dies’ album from 2017. I’ve been following this for ages, and it’s insane! He’s claiming damages, like they did something wrong with the album. I just… I need to know everything about this! It’s a travesty if true, that album is a masterpiece!
The album included the number one single “Lemon” featuring Rihanna, as well as collaborations with Future on “1,000” and Kendrick Lamar on “Don’t Do It.”
Hugo claims the musician-turned-fashion designer – who recently presented his Louis Vuitton collection at Paris Fashion Week – misused company funds, kept important details secret, and improperly redirected profits.
Daily Mail has not received a response to its request for comment from reps for Williams.
Hugo’s lawyer, Brent J. Lehman, argued in court filings that because of the intentional, deceitful, and harmful actions, the defendant should be required to pay additional damages as punishment.
Hugo alleges that Williams hasn’t paid him all the money he’s due and is also refusing to provide records needed to calculate the full amount.
According to court documents, the plaintiff claims he hasn’t been paid the royalties he’s owed from album sales, music releases, touring, and merchandise related to The Neptunes and N.E.R.D.
You might recognize this situation: back in 2024, Hugo sued a former friend, claiming they were trying to unfairly gain complete control of the “Neptunes” name. That legal battle is still ongoing in federal court.
Before their partnership ended, this producing duo was incredibly successful, shaping the sound of hip hop and pop music for over two decades. They created popular songs for many major artists, including Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Kelis, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, and Usher.
Williams and Hugo were also members of the band N.E.R.D., which released a string of successful albums and songs throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
Hugo has filed a new lawsuit, claiming he’s owed a significant amount of money he hasn’t received since 2023. This includes profits from a N.E.R.D. merchandise deal and between $325,000 and $575,000 from his work on ‘No One Ever Dies.’ Billboard reports his total damages could exceed $750,000, potentially reaching $1 million.
Hugo’s legal team states that Pharrell’s lawyers repeatedly assured them they would share financial documents related to the case, but never actually provided them, preventing a resolution.
According to Hugo’s lawyers, the defendant Williams’ attorney said they were having trouble getting the documents, but confirmed that the documents do indeed exist.
Simply put, the lawsuit claims Williams didn’t prioritize the well-being of his business partner. It requests a detailed accounting of earnings from both The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., and asks the court to interpret the terms of their business contract to define everyone’s rights.
Following years of unclear information from Pharrell and his representatives, Mr. Hugo felt he had no option but to pursue significant financial compensation and demand accountability through legal action, according to a statement provided by Lehman to Billboard.
As a long-time follower of this case, I was really struck by what our lawyer said – they’re confident we’ll be able to show everything in court and get the maximum outcome allowed by the law. It’s reassuring to hear that they’re prepared to fight for everything we deserve.
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2026-01-24 20:34