Pharrell Williams, recording artist, fashion designer, and arguably one of the most influential producers of our time, recently released a movie in collaboration with LEGO in which the audience is walked through Pharrell’s life from birth all the way up to his success as a socialite in the entertainment world.
The movie, titled “Piece by Piece”, is one that’s perfect for music lovers with cameos from artists such as Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, Jay-Z, and many more who’ve famously worked with Williams in the past.
For the past two decades, Pharrell has continued to grow his discography, by not only recording his own songs but also writing for others and doing what he does best; making beats, specifically ones that begin with his signature four-count start. In this article, I’ll be listing the top 6 songs from Pharrell’s production discography.
Frontin’ – Pharrell Williams
Considering it’s one of Pharrell’s most famous songs, this list wouldn’t be complete without me mentioning “Frontin’.” “Frontin’,” released in June of 2003 and produced by The Neptunes (a production duo including Pharrell Williams and fellow producer Chad Hugo), was the song that single-handedly changed the trajectory of Pharrell’s career. The song was initially written with the intent of it being sung by Prince, but upon him declining the offer, Pharrell decided why not just sing it himself? Before the release of this single, Pharrell had limited himself to only producing, deciding to never get behind a mic. But after recording this song and releasing it, all of that changed.
Mr. Me Too – Clipse ft. Pharrell Williams
“Mr. Me Too” was one of the many songs Pharrell and Clipse came together to work on in the 2000’s. Not only did Pharrell produce the entire song, but he also recorded his own verse on it as well. What makes this song so iconic is the fact that it’s considered to be a diss track toward fellow rapper, Lil Wayne. “Mr. Me Too” is essentially a song where Pharrell and Clipse boast about their fashion and wealth while simultaneously dissing anyone who tries to imitate them; giving them the name Mr. Me Too. With the iconic sound of the Neptunes, this song is one that sends you straight back to the 2000’s.
Excuse Me Miss – Jay-Z ft. Pharrell Williams
Written by Jay-Z alongside Pharrell, “Excuse Me Miss” is just another 2000’s hit produced by Pharrell and Chad Hugo. The song was released in 2003 and was a single for Jay-Z’s studio album “The Blueprint 2: The Gift and Curse.” “Excuse Me Miss” is essentially a love song where Jay-Z raps and Pharrell shows off his vocals in the hook. The song is overall iconic and I wouldn’t feel right without including it in this list.
Provider – N.E.R.D.
“Provider” is a song from N.E.R.D., which is a band Pharrell was formerly a part of. N.E.R.D. is a band that consisted of Pharrell and Chad Hugo, who had met at an early age while attending a band class in Virginia. The two then continued to be friends all throughout high school, which is where they met Shay Haley, the group’s third member. Together, they formed an American rock and hip pop band by the name of N.E.R.D and released four studio albums. Although I don’t know much about the history of this particular song, “Provider” is one of my favorite N.E.R.D. songs and leaving this group out from this list would just be wrong.
FRONTAL LOBE MUZIK – Daniel Caesar
Although this song isn’t as popularly recognized as the other songs from this list, it is undoubtedly one of my favorites. Coming from Daniel Caesar’s second studio album “Case Study 01,” “FRONTAL LOBE MUZIK” is a song that feels like summer. I especially enjoy this song because it not only exhibits Pharrell’s range, but it also shows longevity in his ability to create music as it was released in 2019 and he started working in the music industry as early as the 90’s. As a fan of both Daniel and Pharrell, this song is a perfect mix of vocals and smooth production.
Alright- Kendrick Lamar
“Alright” is not only important to Kendrick’s personal discography, but also to the world of hip-pop overall. “Alright” is not only just a great song musically that has been nominated for various awards, but it is also known to be a song that supports a greater movement outside of music, as it has been associated with Black Lives Matter and other youth-led protests in the past. With his signature four count start and vocals in the chorus, Pharrell made sure to leave his mark on this track.
