Chad Hugo, the long-time production partner of Pharrell Williams in the influential duo the Neptunes, has initiated legal action against Williams over claims of unpaid earnings potentially exceeding $1 million. The dispute centres on the final album released by their collaborative project NERD, titled No One Ever Really Dies from 2017, and highlights ongoing tensions between the two music industry figures.
Allegations of Withheld Royalties and Financial Secrecy
According to court documents filed by Hugo's legal team, Pharrell Williams has allegedly withheld significant royalties and shares from touring income and merchandising related to the NERD album. The lawsuit asserts that Williams has repeatedly ignored or provided only "limited" and "incomplete" documentation in response to demands for financial disclosure, which Hugo's lawyers describe as "a breach of the operating agreement" between the partners.
The legal representatives estimate that Hugo is owed between $750,000 and $1 million from the album's earnings. They further accuse Williams of engaging in "self-dealing, concealed material information and ... diverted revenues owed to plaintiff," characterising his actions as "wilful, fraudulent and malicious conduct" that warrants punitive damages.
Pharrell Williams' Response and Ongoing Accounting Review
A representative for Pharrell Williams has responded to the allegations, telling Billboard magazine that a standard accounting review is currently underway. The statement suggests the lawsuit may be premature, noting: "If the accounting review determines that money is owed, the appropriate party will pay it. Pharrell has consistently acted in good faith. He has great respect for Chad and looks forward to resolving this in a way that honours their shared history."
This legal action represents the second lawsuit Hugo has filed against Williams in recent years. In 2024, Hugo accused Williams of "fraudulently" attempting to control the Neptunes name, a matter that remains before a federal trademark tribunal. At that time, Williams' representatives expressed surprise at the filing and emphasised their intention to ensure both partners shared ownership and administration of the trademark.
Historical Context: The Neptunes' Legacy and Previous Controversies
The Neptunes, comprising Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of popular music during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their production credits include work with major artists such as Kelis, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Clipse, and Justin Timberlake. As NERD, they released five studio albums, with No One Ever Really Dies marking their final collaborative release.
This lawsuit follows previous controversies involving the Neptunes' business practices. Kelis has publicly claimed she was "blatantly lied to and tricked" by the production duo regarding royalties from her 1999 debut album Kaleidoscope. In 2022, Beyoncé removed an interpolation of Kelis's song "Milkshake" from her Renaissance album track "Energy" after Kelis described the use as "thievery," though she clarified she took no issue with Beyoncé personally.
Implications for Music Industry Partnerships
The legal dispute between Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams raises significant questions about financial transparency and partnership agreements within the music industry. As two of the most successful producers of their generation, their falling out underscores the complexities that can arise when collaborative relationships deteriorate, particularly regarding intellectual property rights and revenue sharing.
The outcome of this lawsuit could establish important precedents for how production partnerships handle financial disclosures and royalty distributions in an industry where such arrangements are often governed by complex contractual agreements.
