| N*E*R*D TALK TO NMEHIPHOP.COM by Sally Edwards (from NME.com) N*E*R*D have twice been voted most influential producers of contemporary hiphop on our site - in our end of year poll producers special for 2000, and the team also got the nod as one of best things of the last five years. The Neptunes, aka N*E*R*D, aka Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, reconvene with NMEHIPHOP.COM to tell us what the hell N*E*R*D is all about...maybe. This pair of production wizards have got hiphop heads in a frenzy over the last 18 months - after Noreaga's groundbreaking 'Superthug' dancefloor smash, the duo have blessed more hits than you can remember, from Jay Z to Mystikal . The Neptunes have got hiphop shakin' its ass again... Please introduce yourselves. P: "What's up y'all this is Pharrell from The Neptunes aka N*E*R*D'. C: "Grand Dragon Chase Chad". How's it going? P: "We work hard, but we're thankful, we're appreciative that people are listening to what it is that we're trying to do." C: "We love you." What have you been up to since we last saw you? P: "Just more production." C: "Production, promotion, studio, radio." Describe N*E*R*D's style and sound. What makes you different? P: "I don't know what makes us different and I wouldn't know how to describe our sound because it changes everyday." C: "We'll leave that up to the listener." Sell your album 'In Search Of...' to us in one sentence each. P: "Well I mean we just know that everybody is in search of something and hopefully you'll find it on the album. If you don't find it on the album hopefully you'll find important clues that will lead you to what it is you're searching for. Even if you don't think you're searching for something." Future releases and projects - will you experiment with any other musical styles? P: "The new label we have is called Star Trak, and look forward to hearing a rock group called Spy Mob, a rock group called Lee Harvey and The Oswald Band, a rap group called the The Clips, rap group Fam Lay, a solo artist Rasco P Coltrane, a R&B artist Mark Dawsey. And Kelis! Get ready for her new album, it's called 'Wanderland'" Do you know when that might drop? P: "'Wanderland' is October I think." Top Ten reasons to listen to N*E*R*D please. C: "Listen to it when you're drunk. Listen to it when you're high. Listen to it when you wake up. Listen to it when you drive." P: "Listen to it when you sleep. Listen to it when you think. Listen to it when you fuck." C: "Listen to it like your shrink." P: "Listen to it when you're stuck and just listen to it." Thoughts on the Hiphop summit. C: "Never went, but support it." P: "For sure." Finish this sentence, My Mother always told me..... P: "Stay determined and keep God first." C: "My mama told me to always call your relatives when you're in town." Three words/expressions/phrases that should be banned. P: "No matter what it is that I don't like, freedom of speech is freedom of speech. Say what you want to say. Just do unto others as if you would have them do unto you." C: "True. I agree." Does fate determine things? P: "I think everything is mapped out, but you're born with the free will to do whatever it is that you want to do. So having that in mind you should do right by yourself and do right by others and you should be alright." C: "In the words of the immortal Keanu Reeves who once said, 'I don't like not being in control of my destiny.'... but there are exceptions." http://www.nme.com/NME/External/Features/Features_Interview/0,1420,36825,00.html |