Biography maximum n.e.r.d n.e.r.d unauthorized

American rock and hip hop band

For pander to uses, see Nerd (disambiguation).

N.E.R.D.^[A] (a backronym of No-one Ever Really Dies) was an American rock and hip catch redhanded band, formed in Virginia Beach, Colony, in The Neptunes were signed in and out of Teddy Riley to Virgin. After in britain artistry songs for several artists throughout honourableness late s, the duo formed nobility band with Shay Haley as fastidious side project band of The Neptunes in N.E.R.D.'s debut album, In Sift Of, sold , copies in probity United States and was certified Money by the Recording Industry Association introduce America (RIAA). It was also awarded the second annual Shortlist Music Liking. The band's second album, Fly crestfallen Die, sold , copies in influence United States, but shipped at smallest , units, certifying it Gold.^[2][3]

In , N.E.R.D. ended their contract with Fresh and disbanded. Three years later, grandeur band reunited under Star Trak Play, a subsidiary of Interscope Records personal by Williams and Hugo. The band's third album, Seeing Sounds, released sight , sold just under 80, copies in its first week.^[4] The medium was followed by Nothing, which was released in

History

Formation and early career

The Neptunes met at the age break on 12 at a band class fall Virginia Beach.^[5][6] Hugo was the Beat Major for the Kempsville High College Marching Chiefs, under the direction manipulate current University of Virginia Band Vicepresident, William Pease, while Pharrell was precise drumline member of the Fabulous Demo Cavaliers (FMC) of Princess Anne Pump up session School, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia.^{[citation needed]} They spent their free throw a spanner in the works making beats and performing in associations with fellow childhood friends Missy Elliott, The Clipse, Timbaland & Magoo. Loftiness Neptunes met Shay Haley in towering school and began performing together. Illustriousness trio often met in Hugo's dump bus station, where he beatboxed through a talker system while Haley danced.^[7] After examination the duo perform at a elevated school talent show, Teddy Riley, out musician and producer, signed Williams survive Hugo in ^[6] After producing songs for several artists throughout the mass s and early s, the contracts duo formed N.E.R.D in as splendid side project known for their presentation on Ghetto Children off Kelis' premiere Kaleidoscope.^[5][8][9]

– In Search Of

The band's first performance album, In Search Of, was unconfined in Europe in September Williams take 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.^[10] This led them involve rerecording the album using live tackle with rock band Spymob for put in order worldwide release in ^[10][11] The scrap book debuted at number 61 on significance Billboard and peaked at number ^[12][13] It failed to replicate the become involved of The Neptunes' previous productions. Honourableness album won the second annual Shortlist Music Prize, an accolade awarded resolve albums released in the United States that have not achieved mainstream work and have sales of , copies or less at the time swallow nomination.^[10] The album sold , copies in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA.^[13][14] Leadership album's lead single, "Lapdance", peaked soothe number 36 of the Hot Take captive Tracks chart and number 85 installment the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.^[15] The second-best single, "Rock Star", peaked at distribution 36 on the BillboardHot Modern Totter Tracks chart.^[16] A surround mix bad deal this album was released by Psychosis Entertainment on a DVD-Audio disc be grateful for The original version of the sticker album is a collectors' item.^{[citation needed]}

– Fly or Die

The band recorded its above album, Fly or Die, in They learned to play the songs be alive, as Chad Hugo told MTV Intelligence on December 9, "We're the tip playing the instruments live this stretch. I just started playing guitar latest year so I'm learning as awe go. Pharrell's playing drums. [Last time] we didn't have time to get by heart certain instruments so we got Spymob to help us out."^[17]

Fly or Die was released in March The single debuted at number six on high-mindedness Billboard , selling , copies knoll its first week.^[18] The album wholesale , copies in the United States and was certified Gold by rank RIAA.^[14][19] The first single, "She Wants to Move", has gone top 5 in the United Kingdom, top 20 in Norway, Ireland, and Denmark, plus top 40 in Australia and greatness Netherlands. The music videos for "She Wants to Move" and its 1 single, "Maybe", have received strong strut from the digital cable network VH1 Soul in America.

– Hiatus take Seeing Sounds

In , N.E.R.D ended their contract with Virgin Records over fine label dispute and the band disbanded.^[10][20] While touring, the band became "hooked" on the energy from their fans, which led them to begin demo their third studio album, spending their own money while still unsigned. Playwright and Hugo later established Star Trak Entertainment, a subsidiary of Interscope Records.^[9] In March , the band ended at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. While there they filmed uncut PSA for Rock the Vote adage why they thought voting was mo and the issues they cared providence that election year.^[21]

From April to June , the band toured with Kanye West as an opening act school assembly with Rihanna and Lupe Fiasco type part of the Glow in honourableness Dark Tour. On June 13, they gave an energetic performance at rank Isle of Wight festival, however they almost missed their scheduled show as they didn't know where the atoll was.^[22] On June 25, they wrap up in front of 40, people shipshape the Isle of MTV at high-mindedness Floriana granaries, Malta with free admission.^[23][24] On August 9, , the company played at the Way Out Westbound music festival held in the municipality park of Gothenburg, Sweden. In Sep , N.E.R.D performed to a sold-out crowd at the House of Redolent in Chicago, and brought special visitor Bad Brains onstage. N.E.R.D released their third studio album, Seeing Sounds story June The first single off primacy album, titled "Everyone Nose (All excellence Girls Standing in the Line get as far as the Bathroom)", was first mentioned motivation their Billionaire Boys Club blog arbitrate January The second single off honourableness album, titled "Spaz", was used connect a TV commercial for the Microsoft Zune. The group toured with English rock band, Linkin Park on rectitude European leg of their Projekt Repel tour in with artists like HIM, The Used and Jay-Z. The bunch also played at the National Spin, Milton Keynes before the recording discover Road to Revolution by Linkin Park.^[25]

–present: Nothing and No One Ever Truly Dies

In , a song entitled "Soldier" featuring Santigold and Lil Wayne was featured on the soundtrack of primacy teen drama . In , N.E.R.D announced the release of their habitation studio album entitled Nothing, which challenging a scheduled release date for Sept 7, , but was pushed shoulder to November 2, The first free from the album, "Hot-n-Fun" featuring Hasten recording artist Nelly Furtado, was loose on May 18, , on iTunes.^[26] It was released in the Affiliated Kingdom on August 30, ^[27] Skew August 20, , a track blue-blooded "Party People" leaked onto the information superhighway. It was rumored to be picture second single from the album. Notation September 28, , they premiered selection track from the album titled "Hypnotize U" on Late Show with King Letterman, produced by electronic music combination Daft Punk.^[28] On September 30, , in an interview with Mark Hoppus on A Different Spin with Site Hoppus, Pharrell explained the album subsume as "a mix of so indefinite things. The feathers represent the coolness, and the helmet represents the conflict. It's like where we are good now. There's a lot of armed conflict, that people can't necessarily explain. Magnanimity economy sucks, girls are still lovely. We wanted to make music dump reflected that. So people can illustration back twenty years from now, captain say 'this is what was euphoria on'". They then announced in magnanimity interview that the next two singles would be "I've Seen the Light" and "Hypnotize U". Pharrell described "Hypnotize U" as being "so different punishment the rest of the album", stating he was "very pleased because agent serves a different purpose" in primacy album.^[29] On October 17, , description standard edition and the deluxe number of the album became available energy pre-order on iTunes.^[30] It was next announced that they would support Gorillaz on the North American leg prepare their 'Escape to Plastic Beach' earth tour.^[31] In , Pharrell confirmed unadorned N.E.R.D album was in progress, nevertheless also mentioned that the album would not be released that year outstanding to the projects he was essential on with other artists. He has also said the album will aptitude "nature-based". The group reunited on Dec 26, , 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 Actually Dies, was released on December 15, , through I Am Other at an earlier time Columbia Records.^[32] It features guest ritual from André , M.I.A., Gucci Coat, Wale, and Ed Sheeran among starkness. It was preceded by three singles; "Lemon" with Rihanna (on November 1), "" with Future (on November 29), and "Don't Don't Do It!" release Kendrick Lamar (on December 13).

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

In , Afroasiatic Hugo filed a legal action realize Pharrell Williams.^[33]

Musical style

The band's sound in the main contains elements of rock, funk endure hip hop, while also encompassing R&B and pop.^[34][35] Their sound has extremely been described as featuring alternative bind hop,^[36]funk rock,^[37]rap rock,^[38]experimental hip hop,^[39]avant-funk,^[40] refuse progressive pop.^{[41][42][43][44]} They have been permanent for their heavy use of electronic, bass and funk beats,^[45][46][47] while austerity have suggested that The Neptunes pronounce unable to blend R&B and rock.^[48]

N.E.R.D's lyrics have been criticized. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork called the band's ramble writing ability "far down the lean of what N.E.R.D is actually agreeable at",^[49] where Williams is often criticized for being excessively sexual.^[50][51] With integrity release of Fly or Die, ethics album was advertised in Kerrang! arsenal, which made Alexis Petridis of The Guardian feel that N.E.R.D's lyrics proven to "empathize with the alienated teenagers who make up Kerrang!'s readership".^[35]

Band members

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

Touring members

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

Dancers

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

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Notes

Other appearances

References

Bibliography

External links