N.E.R.D.

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo met at the age of 12 at a band class in Virginia Beach, Virginia.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/12/1084289744331.html|title=Like the song? These guys wrote it|date=2004-05-15|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=2009-02-06}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2008/04/vintage_nerd_profile.php|title=Vintage N.E.R.D. Profile|last=Roberts|first=Michael|date=2008-04-23|work=Westword|publisher=New Times Media|access-date=2009-02-06|archive-date=2008-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507045543/http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2008/04/vintage_nerd_profile.php|url-status=dead}} Hugo was the drum major for the Kempsville High School Marching Chiefs, under the direction of current University of Virginia Band Director, William Pease, while Williams was a drumline member of the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers (FMC) of Princess Anne High School, both of Virginia Beach.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} They spent their free time making beats and performing in groups with fellow childhood friends Missy Elliott, Clipse, and Timbaland & Magoo. Williams and Hugo met Shay Haley in high school and began performing together. The trio often met in Hugo's garage, where he beatboxed through a speaker system while Haley danced.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25111550-5013575,00.html|title=Hip-hop's glittering touchstone|date=2009-02-27|work=The Australian|publisher=News Corporation|access-date=2009-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304144009/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25111550-5013575,00.html|archive-date=2009-03-04|url-status=dead}} After watching the duo perform at a high school talent show, producer Teddy Riley signed Williams and Hugo in 1991. After producing songs for several artists throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the production duo formed N.E.R.D. in 1994 as a side project known for their appearance on "Ghetto Children" off Kelis' debut album Kaleidoscope.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p415988|pure_url=yes}}|title=N.E.R.D. – Biography|last=Kellman|first=Andy|work=Allmusic|access-date=2009-01-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-nerd1-2008jun01,0,3641264.story|title=The cool part about being a N.E.R.D.|last=Lee|first=Chris|date=2008-06-01|work=Los Angeles Times|pages=1–2|access-date=2009-02-06}}

The band's debut album, In Search of..., was released in Europe in September 2001. Williams and Hugo used similar digital production techniques as they did for other artists. However, the band decided that they wanted to sound different from their previous work.{{cite web|url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/life-times/arts-entertainment/article/13377.html|title=N.E.R.D.'s Not Your Stereotypical Group|last=Siahaan|first=Armando|date=2009-03-18|work=Jakarta Globe|publisher=Jakarta Globe Media|access-date=2009-04-05}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} This led them to rerecording the album using live instruments with rock band Spymob for a worldwide release in 2002.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nerd/articles/story/5938447/in_search_of____pharrell_williams|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106152208/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nerd/articles/story/5938447/in_search_of____pharrell_williams|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 6, 2007|title=In Search of... Pharrell Williams|last=Edwards|first=Gavin|date=2002-06-21|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|access-date=2009-04-05}} The album debuted at number 61 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number 56.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1435189 |title='O Brother' Still Finds Itself On Top |last=Martens |first=Todd |date=2002-03-21 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |access-date=2009-04-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221071118/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1435189 |archive-date=February 21, 2009 }}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000475647|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110212601/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000475647|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2012|title=Usher Breaks Records With 'Confessions' Debut|last=Martens|first=Todd|date=2004-03-31|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=2009-01-30}} It failed to replicate the success of the Neptunes' previous productions. The album won the second annual Shortlist Music Prize, an accolade awarded to albums released in the United States that have not achieved mainstream success and have sales of 500,000 copies or less at the time of nomination. The album sold 603,000 copies in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=N.E.R.D&format=ALBUM&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum |work=RIAA |access-date=2009-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019020625/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=N.E.R.D&format=ALBUM&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-date=2015-10-19 }} The album's lead single, "Lapdance", peaked at number 36 of the Hot Rap Tracks chart and number 85 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1075298 |title=Neptunes' N*E*R*D Pushed To November |last=Carpenter |first=Troy |date=2001-10-08 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |access-date=2009-04-05 }}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The second single, "Rock Star", peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Singles&model.vnuArtistId=383104&model.vnuAlbumId=1146053|title=Artist Chart History – N.E.R.D. – Singles|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=2009-04-05}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} A 6.1 surround mix of this album was released by DTS Entertainment on a DVD-Audio disc in 2005. The original version of the album is a collectors' item.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}

File:NERD April 2003 cropped.jpg

The band recorded its second album, Fly or Die, in 2003. They learned to play the songs live, as Chad Hugo told MTV News on December 9, 2003: "We're the ones playing the instruments live this time. I just started playing guitar last year so I'm learning as we go. Pharrell's playing drums. [Last time] we didn't have time to learn certain instruments so we got Spymob to help us out."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480969/20031209/story.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419220649/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480969/20031209/story.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2004|title=N.E.R.D. Step Up Their Game On Fly Or Die, Reminisce About Teen Years|last=Patel|first=Joseph|date=2003-12-09|work=MTV News|access-date=2009-04-05}}

Fly or Die was released in March 2004. The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, selling 119,000 copies in its first week.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000475647 |title=Usher Breaks Records With 'Confessions' Debut |last=Martens |first=Todd |date=2004-03-31 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |access-date=2009-04-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429013957/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000475647 |archive-date=April 29, 2009 }} The album sold 412,000 copies in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57937/pharrell-finds-time-for-nerd-jay-z|title=Pharrell Finds Time For N.E.R.D., Jay-Z|last=Hope|first=Clover|date=2006-07-03|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=2009-01-30}} The first single, "She Wants to Move", has gone top 5 in the United Kingdom, top 20 in Norway, Ireland, and Denmark, and top 40 in Australia and the Netherlands. The music videos for "She Wants to Move" and its follow-up single, "Maybe", have received strong support from the digital cable network VH1 Soul in America.

In 2005, N.E.R.D. ended their contract with Virgin Records over a label dispute and the band disbanded.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2008/04/qa_with_pharrell_williams_of_n.php|title=Q&A With Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D.|last=Roberts|first=Michael|date=2008-04-28|work=Westword|publisher=New Times Media|access-date=2009-02-06|archive-date=2008-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014223612/http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2008/04/qa_with_pharrell_williams_of_n.php|url-status=dead}} While touring, the band became "hooked" on the energy from their fans, which led them to begin recording their third studio album, spending their own money while still unsigned. Williams and Hugo later established Star Trak Entertainment, a subsidiary of Interscope Records. In March 2008, the band performed at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. While there they filmed a PSA for Rock the Vote saying why they thought voting was important and the issues they cared about that election year.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKLizKy2PO4 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/RKLizKy2PO4| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=NERD – Rock the Vote @ SXSW |publisher=YouTube |date=2008-05-27 |access-date=2011-08-27}}{{cbignore}}

File:NERD at Virgin Festival Ontario day 2 2009.JPG in Ontario, Canada, 2009]]

From April to June 2008, the band toured with Kanye West as an opening act along with Rihanna and Lupe Fiasco as part of the Glow in the Dark Tour. On June 13, they gave an energetic performance at the Isle of Wight festival, however they almost missed their scheduled show because they didn't know where the island was.{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/nerd%20just%20make%20it%20for%20isle%20of%20wight_1071467 |title=N.e.r.d. Just Make It For Isle Of Wight |website=Contactmusic.com |date=2008-06-14 |access-date=2011-08-27}} On June 25, they performed in front of 40,000 people at the Isle of MTV 2008 at the Floriana granaries, Malta with free admission.{{cite web|url=http://www.isleofmtv.com |title=Malta Special 2008 |publisher=Isle of MTV |access-date=2011-08-27}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoqk3DSxSto| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/xoqk3DSxSto| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=N.E.R.D @ Way out west|date=12 August 2008|work=YouTube|access-date=29 October 2015}}{{cbignore}}

On August 9, 2008, the band played at the Way Out West music festival held in the city park of Gothenburg, Sweden. In September 2008, N.E.R.D. performed to a sold-out crowd at the House of Blues in Chicago, Illinois, and brought special guest Bad Brains onstage. N.E.R.D. released their third studio album, Seeing Sounds in June 2008. The first single off the album, titled "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)", was first mentioned on their Billionaire Boys Club blog in January 2008. The second single off the album, titled "Spaz", was used in a television commercial for the Microsoft Zune. The group toured with American rock band, Linkin Park on the European leg of their Projekt Revolution tour in 2008 with artists like HIM, the Used and Jay-Z. The group also played at the National Bowl, Milton Keynes before the recording of Road to Revolution by Linkin Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nerd/2008/milton-keynes-national-bowl-milton-keynes-england-bd22586.html|title=N*E*R*D Concert Setlist at Milton Keynes National Bowl, Milton Keynes on June 29, 2008 - setlist.fm|work=setlist.fm|access-date=29 October 2015}}

In 2009, a song entitled "Soldier" featuring Santigold and Lil Wayne was featured on the soundtrack of the teen drama series 90210. In 2010, N.E.R.D. announced the release of their fourth studio album entitled Nothing, which had a scheduled release date for September 7, 2010, but was pushed back to November 2, 2010. The first single from the album, "Hot-n-Fun" (featuring Nelly Furtado), was released on May 18, 2010, on iTunes.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/04/24/new-music-nerd-f-nelly-furtado-hot-fun-full/|title=New Music: N.E.R.D. f/ Nelly Furtado – 'Hot-n-Fun' [Full]|date=April 24, 2010|work=Rap-Up|access-date=April 25, 2010}} It was released in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2010.{{cite web|author=Praxis Media |url=http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm |title=Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles |publisher=Radio1.gr |access-date=2011-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221101934/http://radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm |archive-date=2012-12-21 }} On August 20, 2010, a track titled "Party People" leaked onto the internet. It was rumored to be the second single from the album. On September 28, 2010, they premiered another track from the album titled "Hypnotize U", produced by electronic music duo Daft Punk, on Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite web|url=http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/video-n-e-r-d-debuts-hypnotize-you-live-on-david-letterman/|title=Video: N.E.R.D. debuts "Hypnotize You" (Live on David Letterman)|date=September 29, 2010|work=Miss Info|access-date=September 29, 2010|archive-date=October 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005034209/http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/video-n-e-r-d-debuts-hypnotize-you-live-on-david-letterman/|url-status=dead}} On September 30, 2010, in an interview with Mark Hoppus on A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus, Williams explained the album cover as "a mix of so many things. The feathers represent the peace, and the helmet represents the war. It's like where we are right now. There's a lot of war, that people can't necessarily explain. The economy sucks, girls are still beautiful. We wanted to make music that reflected that. So people can look back twenty years from now, and say 'this is what was going on'". They then announced in the interview that the next two singles would be "I've Seen the Light" and "Hypnotize U". Williams described "Hypnotize U" as being "so different from the rest of the album", stating he was "very pleased because it serves a different purpose" in the album.{{cite web|url=http://bbcicecream.com/blog/2010/10/01/nerd-interview-w-mark-hoppus/|title=N*E*R*D INTERVIEW W/ MARK HOPPUS|date=October 1, 2010|access-date=October 1, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003065856/http://bbcicecream.com/blog/2010/10/01/nerd-interview-w-mark-hoppus/|archive-date=October 3, 2010}} On October 17, 2010, the standard edition and the deluxe edition of the album became available for pre-order on iTunes.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/nothing-deluxe-version/id398037651|title=Nothing (Deluxe Version)by N.E.R.D.|website=iTunes|date=October 17, 2010|access-date=October 17, 2010}} It was later announced that they would support Gorillaz on the North American leg of their 2010 Escape to Plastic Beach Tour.{{cite web|url=http://gorillaz.com/news/news/gorillaz-confirm-nerd-as-support-special-guests-for-north-american-dates |title=Gorillaz Confirm N.E.R.D. as Support, Special Guests for North American Dates |date=September 10, 2010 |access-date=September 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917145647/http://gorillaz.com/news/news/gorillaz-confirm-nerd-as-support-special-guests-for-north-american-dates |archive-date=September 17, 2010 }} In 2013, Williams confirmed an N.E.R.D. album was in progress, but also mentioned that the album would not be released that year due to the projects he was working on with other artists. He has also said the album will be "nature-based". The group reunited on December 26, 2014, to release the songs "Squeeze Me", "Patrick Star", and "Sandy Squirrel" for the film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.

N.E.R.D.'s fifth album, No One Ever Really Dies, was released on December 15, 2017, through I Am Other and Columbia Records.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-one-ever-really-dies/1311935265|title=NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES by N.E.R.D|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=November 24, 2017}} It features guest appearances from André 3000, M.I.A., Gucci Mane, Wale, and Ed Sheeran among others. It was preceded by three singles; "Lemon" with Rihanna (on November 1), "1000" with Future (on November 29), and "Don't Don't Do It!" with Kendrick Lamar (on December 13).

The group did shows throughout 2018 such as the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and the Reading and Leeds Festivals. They also released a popular remix to "Lemon" with Drake.

In 2024, Hugo filed a legal action against Williams.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/pharrell-williams-chad-hugo-legal-dispute-neptunes-name-rights-1235645985/ | title=Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo Locked in Legal Dispute over 'Neptunes' Name Rights | magazine=Billboard }}

The band's sound generally contains elements of rock, funk and hip-hop, while also encompassing R&B and pop.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,216215~4~0~insearchof,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704011939/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,216215~4~0~insearchof,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-07-04|title=Music Review – In Search Of... (2002) - N.E.R.D.|last=Browne|first=David|date=2002-03-11|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time|access-date=2009-04-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/19/popandrock.nerd|title=CD: N*E*R*D, Fly or Die|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=2004-03-19|work=The Guardian|access-date=2009-04-09}} Their sound has also been described as featuring funk rock,{{Cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/12/pharrell-n-e-r-d-no-one-ever-really-dies-track-by-track-breakdown/ |title=Pharrell Gives a Track-By-Track Breakdown of N.E.R.D's 'No_One Ever Really Dies' Album |date=December 17, 2017 |website=XXL |access-date=December 20, 2017}} alternative hip-hop,{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=Peter A. |date=December 15, 2017 |title=N.E.R.D Return With 'No One Ever Really Dies' Album |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/12/n-e-r-d-no-one-ever-really-dies-album-stream/ |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=XXL}} rap rock,{{Cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/12/19/n-e-r-d-no-one-every-really-dies-review/ |title=N.E.R.D are weighed down by their famous friends on No_One Ever Really Dies |last=Shipley |first=Al |date=December 19, 2017 |website=Fact |access-date=December 20, 2017}} experimental hip-hop,{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-nerds-no-one-ever-really-dies-w514292 |title=Review: N.E.R.D, Pharrell's Avant-Rap Crew, Gets a Radical Reawakening |last=Dolan |first=Jon |date=December 18, 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 20, 2017}} avant-funk,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/n-e-r-d-channel-sixties-psych-rock-on-june-lp-nothing-20100430|title=N.E.R.D. Channel Sixties Psych-Rock on June LP 'Nothing'|author=Christopher R. Weingarten|date=April 30, 2010|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 6, 2017}} and progressive pop.{{cite web |last1=Pigeons |title=The 10 Most Influential Albums Turning 10 This Year |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2014/02/10-most-influential-albums-from-2004/n-e-r-d-fly-die |website=Complex |access-date=19 February 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Lowe |first1=Yohannes |title=N.E.R.D ft Rihanna, 'Lemon' – Single Review |date=4 November 2017 |url=https://www.gsgmedia.co/n-e-r-d-make-music-comeback-rihanna-collaboration |publisher=GSGM Music Magazine |access-date=19 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Gale |first1=Nick |title=N.E.R.D - The Best Of Album Review |url=https://www.contactmusic.com/n-e-r-d/music/nerd-the-best-of |access-date=19 February 2021 |agency=ContactMusic}}{{cite news |last1=D. |first1=Spence |title=Fly Or Die |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/24/fly-or-die |access-date=19 February 2021 |agency=IGN |date=March 24, 2004}} They have been praised for their heavy use of electronic, bass and funk beats,{{cite magazine|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=2008-06-13|title=Music Review - Seeing Sounds (2008) - N.E.R.D.|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20206316,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829223015/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20206316,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2008|access-date=2009-04-09}}{{cite web|last=Farber|first=Jim|date=2008-06-08|title=N.E.R.D. gets its giddy up|work=Daily News|publisher=Mortimer Zuckerman|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2008/06/08/2008-06-08_nerd_gets_its_giddy_up.html|access-date=2009-04-09}}{{cite web|last=Ruhi|first=Adrian|date=2008-06-09|title=N*E*R*D – Seeing Sounds|work=Okayplayer|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/june-2008/n*e*r*d-200806095866/|access-date=2009-04-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302042931/http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/june-2008/n%2Ae%2Ar%2Ad-200806095866/|archive-date=2009-03-02}} while others have suggested that the Neptunes are unable to blend R&B and rock.{{cite web|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=2008-06-13|title=N*E*R*D, Seeing Sounds|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jun/13/urban.shopping|access-date=2009-04-09}}

N.E.R.D.'s lyrics have been criticized. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork called the band's lyrical writing ability "far down the list of what N.E.R.D is actually good at",{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Ian|date=2008-06-13|title=N.E.R.D.: Seeing Sounds|work=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11610-seeing-sounds/|access-date=2009-01-15}} where Williams is often criticized for being excessively sexual.{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|date=2008-06-12|title=Seeing Sounds – N.E.R.D. – Review|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/20949346/review/20961630/seeing_sounds|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529063322/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/20949346/review/20961630/seeing_sounds|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 29, 2008|access-date=2009-04-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/nerd/7357 |title=N*E*R*D* – Fly Or Die – Album Reviews |last=Friel |first=Lance |date=2004-03-26 |work=NME |publisher=Time |access-date=2009-04-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209172312/http://www.nme.com/reviews/nerd/7357 |archive-date=February 9, 2009 }} With the release of Fly or Die, the album was advertised in Kerrang! magazine, which made Alexis Petridis of The Guardian feel that N.E.R.D.'s lyrics tried to "empathize with the alienated teenagers who make up Kerrang!{{'}}s readership".

• Pharrell Williams – lead vocals, piano, keyboards, drums, percussion, programming
• Chad Hugo – guitars, piano, keyboards, saxophone, bass guitar, programming, backing vocals
• Shay Haley – drums, percussion, backing and co-lead vocals

• Thaddaeus Tribbett - bass guitar
• James Darrell Robinson - drums, percussion
• Junius Bervine - keyboards
• Brent Paschke - guitars
• DJ Jus Ske - turntables, keytar

• Eddie Eskridge
• Jesse Sanchez
• Angelo Saunders
• Mette Towley
• Kenitia Coleman
• Natsuki Miya

Notes

{{notelist-ua}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Lethem|first=Jonathan|author2=Bresnick, Paul|title=Da Capo Best Music Writing 2002|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2002|isbn=0306811669}}
• [https://archive.today/20101113084405/http://www.buzznet.com/cp/sprite/ "Sprite Fresh Sound Studio Live Performance with N.E.R.D."] November 1, 2010 [http://buzznet.com Buzznet Media]

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.n-e-r-d.com/ Official N.E.R.D website]

{{N.E.R.D}}

{{The Neptunes}}

{{Pharrell Williams}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Pop music|Rock music}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nerd}}

Category:N.E.R.D.

Category:American rap rock groups

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Category:Pharrell Williams

Category:The Neptunes

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