Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (/fəˈrɛl/; born April 5, 1973) is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer and entrepreneur. With close friend Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo The Neptunes in the early 1990s,[2] with whom he has produced songs for various recording artists.[3] In 1999 he became lead vocalist of the band N.E.R.D., which he formed with Hugo and Shay Haley.