Born on April 5, 1973, the native of Virginia Beach (Virginia) created the producer duo Neptunes with his accomplice Chad Hugo when he was not yet 20 years old.

They are spotted by New York producer Teddy Riley, who helps them take off.

They quickly collaborated with leading hip-hop and R&B artists, such as singer Kelis.

Accomplished musicians, the two young producers decompartmentalize genres and mix influences without preconceptions.

"It's R&B crossed with techno, new wave and hip-hop," Teddy Riley told The New York Times.

The turn of the 2000s marks their launch into orbit, among the most demanded producers in the industry.

We find them behind "Hot in Here" by rapper Nelly, number one in sales in the United States, but also writing "I'm a Slave 4 U", by Britney Spears.

The gratin of the song tears them off, from Justin Timberlake to Jay-Z, passing by Gwen Stefani.

In 2001, Pharrell Williams went to the other side of the recording console and released his first album, under the name NERD, a group with an unclassifiable identity formed with Chad Hugo.

Two years later, the young 30-year-old with a youthful face became a superstar in his own right with the single "Frontin'", on which he performed solo, accompanied by rapper Jay-Z.

He multiplies the projects, collaborates, in 2013, with the French group Daft Punk and sings on the planetary success "Get Lucky", before launching, a few months later, the song "Happy", a pop bomb that has become a classic.

A collection for Chanel

On his musical journey, Pharrell, to which the general public no longer refers except by his first name, gleans 13 Grammy Awards, the awards of the American music industry.

Art lover, collector, Pharrell Williams also stands out on the red carpet with a keen sense of fashion.

He will be one of the first to break, appropriately, the dress codes of gala evenings.

His Bermuda shorts worn with a jacket and dress shoes will cause a sensation, as will his very high hat, created by designer Vivienne Westwood.

In 2003, Pharrell launched its own ready-to-wear brand, Billionaire Boys Club, very inspired by the streetwear surge.

Pharrell Williams speaks during a symposium at Norfolk State University, October 28, 2021 © Leigh Vogel / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

"I have the same philosophy for dressing as when I make music", namely a "universalist" spirit, open to all currents, without prejudice, he said in an interview with American public radio NPR.

The producer and entrepreneur also stands out through collaborations with Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Colette and even Chanel, for which he produced a capsule collection in 2019.

This father of four, married in 2013 and now 49, knows, like few others, how to capture the spirit of the times and seize trends, both musically and in fashion, and brings to Louis Vuitton a legitimacy that transcends artistic circles.

© 2023 AFP