N.E.R.D

N.E.R.D
For other uses, see Nerd (disambiguation).
N.E.R.D

Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley from N.E.R.D performing at Pori Jazz 2010
Background information
Origin Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Genres Funk, alternative rock, hip hop, dance punk
Years active 2001–present
Labels Virgin, Star Trak, Interscope
Associated acts The Neptunes
Website www.n-e-r-d.com
Members
Pharrell Williams
Chad Hugo
Shay Haley
Past members
Rhea

N.E.R.D (the acronym of No one Ever Really Dies, stylized as N*E*R*D) is an American rock, funk, and hip hop band. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were signed by Teddy Riley to Virgin Records as a duo, The Neptunes. After producing songs for several artists throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the production duo formed the band with Shay Haley as a side project of The Neptunes in 2001. N.E.R.D's debut album, In Search Of..., sold 603,000 copies in the United States and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was also awarded the second annual Shortlist Music Prize. The band's second album, Fly or Die, sold 412,000 copies in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

In 2005, N.E.R.D ended their contract with Virgin and disbanded. Three years later, the band reunited under Star Trak Entertainment, a subsidiary of Interscope Records established by Williams and Hugo. The band's third album, Seeing Sounds, sold 80,000 + copies in its first week.

Contents

History

Formation and early career

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo met at the age of 12 at a summer camp for musicians in Virginia Beach; which they both disliked.[1][2] They spent their free time making beats and performing in groups with fellow childhood friend Timbaland. 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.[3] After watching the duo perform at a high school talent show, Teddy Riley, a musician and producer, signed Williams and Hugo in 1992.[2] After producing songs for several artists throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the production duo formed N.E.R.D in 2001 as a side project.[1][4][5]

2003–2004: Fly or Die

N.E.R.D performing at a United Kingdom concert in April 2003

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."[6]

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.[7] The album sold 412,000 copies in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA.[8][9] 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.

2005–2009: Hiatus and Seeing Sounds

In 2005, N.E.R.D ended their contract with Virgin Records over a label dispute and the band disbanded.[10][11] 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.[5] 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.[12]

N.E.R.D performing at the Virgin Festival 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.[13] 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.[14][15] 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, 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 TV commercial for the Microsoft Zune.

A song entitled "Soldier" featuring Santigold and Lil Wayne was featured on the soundtrack of the teen drama 90210. In late 2009, N.E.R.D. added a fourth member to the group named Rhea.

2010–present: Nothing (album)

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 it was pushed back to November 2, 2010. The first single from the album, "Hot N' Fun" featuring Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado, was released on May 18, 2010 on iTunes.[16] It was released in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2010.[17] 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" on Late Show with David Letterman, the track is produced by electronic music duo Daft Punk.[18] On September 30, 2010, in a interview with Mark Hoppus on A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus, Pharrell 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". Pharrell 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.[19] On October 17, 2010, the standard edition and the deluxe edition of the album became available for pre-order on iTunes.[20] It has been announced that they will be supporting Gorillaz on the North American leg of their 2010 'Escape to Plastic Beach' World tour.[21]

Musical style

The band's sound generally contains elements of rock, funk and hip hop, while also encompassing R&B and pop.[22][23] Though the band rarely samples from other songs,[24] the European release of their debut album, In Search Of..., relied heavily on sampling.[22] They have been praised for their heavy use of electronic, bass and funk beats,[25][26][27] while others have suggested that The Neptunes are unable to blend R&B and rock.[28]

N.E.R.D's lyrics have been criticized. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork Media called the band's writing ability "far down the list of what N.E.R.D is actually good at",[29] where Williams is often criticized for being excessively sexual.[30][31] 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".[23]

Band members

Discography

Albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales and certifications
US
[32]		 UK
[33]		 GER
[34]		 FRA
[35][36]		 AUS
[35][36]		 NZ
[35]		 SWI
[35][36]		 SWE
[35][37]		 IRL
[38]		 ITA
[35]
2002 In Search Of... 56 28 — — — — — 17 27 —
2004 Fly or Die
  • Released: March 23, 2004
  • Label: Virgin
  • Format: CD, LP
 6 4 20 31 11 22 27 9 12 10
  • RIAA certification: Gold[8]
  • U.S. sales: 412,000[9]
2008 Seeing Sounds 7 20 — 45 14 — 13 — 60 97
2010 Nothing
  • Released: November 2, 2010
  • Label: Star Trak, Interscope
  • Format: CD, LP, DI
 20 83 43 55 32
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B
[40]		 US
Dance
[40]		 AUS
[41]		 BEL (Fla)
[42]		 CHE
[43]		 ITA
[44]		 NLD
[45]		 SWE
[46]		 UK
[33]
2001 "Lapdance" (featuring Lee Harvey and Vita) — 85 — — — — — 56 47 20[A] In Search Of...
2002 "Rock Star" — — — 32 — — — 74 — 15
"Provider" — — — — — — — 95 43 20
2004 "She Wants to Move" 39[B] 69 6 21 19 36 7 10 58 5 Fly or Die
"Maybe" — — 19 48 58 — — 37 — 25
2008 "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" — — — 69[47] 65 — — — — 41 Seeing Sounds
"Spaz" 106[C] — — — — — — — — —
2009 "Sooner or Later" — — — — — — — — — —
2010 "Hot N' Fun" (featuring Nelly Furtado) — — 26 52 23 — 26 88 — 49 Nothing
"Hypnotize U" — — — — 54 — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Notes

  • A. ^ "Lapdance" was re-released in the UK as a double A-side with "Provider".
  • B. ^ "She Wants to Move" only peaked on the Hot Digital Tracks chart.
  • C. ^ "Spaz" peaked outside of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, therefore it is listed on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Like the song? These guys wrote it". The Age. Fairfax Media. 2004-05-15. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/12/1084289744331.html. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  2. ^ a b Roberts, Michael (2008-04-23). "Vintage N.E.R.D. Profile". Westword. New Times Media. http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2008/04/vintage_nerd_profile.php. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  3. ^ "Hip-hop's glittering touchstone". The Australian. News Corporation. 2009-02-27. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25111550-5013575,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  4. ^ Kellman, Andy. "N.E.R.D. - Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p415988. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  5. ^ a b Lee, Chris (2008-06-01). "The cool part about being a N.E.R.D.". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. pp. 1–2. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-nerd1-2008jun01,0,3641264.story. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  6. ^ Patel, Joseph (2003-12-09). "N.E.R.D. Step Up Their Game On Fly Or Die, Reminisce About Teen Years". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480969/20031209/story.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-04-05. 
  7. ^ Martens, Todd (2004-03-31). "Usher Breaks Records With 'Confessions' Debut". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000475647. Retrieved 2009-04-05. [dead link]
  8. ^ a b c "RIAA - Gold & Platinum". RIAA. 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. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  9. ^ a b Hope, Clover (2006-07-03). "Pharrell Finds Time For N.E.R.D., Jay-Z". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002765418. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  10. ^ Siahaan, Armando (2009-03-18). "N.E.R.D.'s Not Your Stereotypical Group". Jakarta Globe. Jakarta Globe Media. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/life-times/arts-entertainment/article/13377.html. Retrieved 2009-04-05. [dead link]
  11. ^ Roberts, Michael (2008-04-28). "Q&A With Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D.". Westword. New Times Media. http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2008/04/qa_with_pharrell_williams_of_n.php. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  12. ^ "NERD - Rock the Vote at SXSW". YouTube. 2008-05-27. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKLizKy2PO4. Retrieved 2011-08-27. 
  13. ^ "NERD Just Make It For Isle of Wight". Contactmusic.com. 2008-06-14. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/nerd%20just%20make%20it%20for%20isle%20of%20wight_1071467. Retrieved 2011-08-27. 
  14. ^ "Malta Special 2008". Isle of MTV. http://www.isleofmtv.com. Retrieved 2011-08-27. 
  15. ^ YouTube - Broadcast Yourself[dead link]
  16. ^ "New Music: N.E.R.D. f/ Nelly Furtado – 'Hot-n-Fun' [Full"]. Rap-Up. April 24, 2010. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/04/24/new-music-nerd-f-nelly-furtado-hot-fun-full/. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  17. ^ Praxis Media. "Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles". Radio1.gr. http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-27. 
  18. ^ "Video: N.E.R.D. debuts "Hypnotize You" (Live on David Letterman)". Miss Info. September 29, 2010. http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/video-n-e-r-d-debuts-hypnotize-you-live-on-david-letterman/. Retrieved September 29, 2010. 
  19. ^ "N*E*R*D INTERVIEW W/ MARK HOPPUS". October 1, 2010. http://bbcicecream.com/blog/2010/10/01/nerd-interview-w-mark-hoppus/. Retrieved October 1, 2010. 
  20. ^ "Nothing (Deluxe Version)by N.E.R.D.". October 17, 2010. http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/nothing-deluxe-version/id398037651. Retrieved October 17, 2010. 
  21. ^ "GORILLAZ CONFIRM N.E.R.D. AS SUPPORT, SPECIAL GUESTS FOR NORTH AMERICAN DATES". September 10, 2010. http://gorillaz.com/news/news/gorillaz-confirm-nerd-as-support-special-guests-for-north-american-dates. Retrieved September 10, 2010. 
  22. ^ a b Browne, David (2002-03-11). "Music Review - In Search Of... (2002) - N.E.R.D.". Entertainment Weekly. Time. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,216215~4~0~insearchof,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  23. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (2004-03-19). "CD: N*E*R*D, Fly or Die". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2004/mar/19/popandrock.nerd. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  24. ^ Lethem; Bresnick, 2002, p. 122.
  25. ^ Willman, Chris (2008-06-13). "Music Review - Seeing Sounds (2008) - N.E.R.D.". Entertainment Weekly. Time. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20206316,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  26. ^ Farber, Jim (2008-06-08). "N.E.R.D. gets its giddy up". Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2008/06/08/2008-06-08_nerd_gets_its_giddy_up.html. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  27. ^ Ruhi, Adrian (2008-06-09). "N*E*R*D - Seeing Sounds". Okayplayer. http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/june-2008/n*e*r*d-200806095866/. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  28. ^ Petridis, Alexis (2008-06-13). "N*E*R*D, Seeing Sounds". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jun/13/urban.shopping. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  29. ^ Cohen, Ian (2008-06-13). "N.E.R.D.: Seeing Sounds". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11610-seeing-sounds/. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  30. ^ Hoard, Christian (2008-06-12). "Seeing Sounds - N.E.R.D. - Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/20949346/review/20961630/seeing_sounds. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  31. ^ Friel, Lance (2004-03-26). "N*E*R*D* - Fly Or Die - Album Reviews". NME. Time. http://www.nme.com/reviews/nerd/7357. Retrieved 2009-04-09. [dead link]
  32. ^ "Artist Chart History - N.E.R.D. - Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=383104&model.vnuAlbumId=1146053. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  33. ^ a b "Chart Stats - NERD". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=43. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  34. ^ "Chartverfolgung - N.E.R.D". Musicline.de. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/N.E.R.D./?type=longplay. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  35. ^ a b c d e f "N.E.R.D. - Fly Or Die". Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=N.E.R.D.&titel=Fly+Or+Die&cat=a. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  36. ^ a b c "N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds". Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=N.E.R.D.&titel=Seeing+Sounds&cat=a. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  37. ^ "N.E.R.D. - In The Search Of - New Version". Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=N.E.R.D.&titel=In+The+Search+Of+-+New+Version&cat=a. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  38. ^ Steffen Hung. "Discography N.E.R.D". irishcharts.com. http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=N.E.R.D. Retrieved 2011-08-27. 
  39. ^ Martens, Todd (2004-03-31). "Usher Breaks Records With 'Confessions' Debut". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000475647. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  40. ^ a b "Artist Chart History - N.E.R.D. - Singles". Billboard charts. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p415988. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  41. ^ "Discography N.E.R.D - N.E.R.D. in Australian Charts". Australian Charts. http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=N.E.R.D.. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  42. ^ "Discography N.E.R.D - N.E.R.D. in Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?search=N.E.R.D.&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-07-23. 
  43. ^ "Discography N.E.R.D - N.E.R.D. in Swiss Charts". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=N.E.R.D.&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-07-23. 
  44. ^ "Discography N.E.R.D - N.E.R.D. in Italy Charts". fimi.com. http://fimi.it. Retrieved 2010-07-23. 
  45. ^ "Discografie N.E.R.D. - N.E.R.D. in Dutch Charts". Dutch Charts. http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=N.E.R.D.. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  46. ^ "Discography N.E.R.D. - N.E.R.D. in Swedish Charts". Swedish Charts. http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=N.E.R.D.. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  47. ^ "Pandora Archive". Pandora.nla.gov.au. 2006-08-23. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20080720-0000/issue957.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-27. 

References

External links

v · d · eN.E.R.D
Pharrell Williams · Chad Hugo · Shay Haley
Studio albums
In Search Of... · Fly or Die · Seeing Sounds · Nothing
Singles
"Lapdance" · "Rock Star" · "Provider" · "She Wants to Move" · "Maybe" · "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" · "Spaz" · "Sooner or Later" · "Hot-n-Fun" · "Hypnotize U" · "Party People"
Related articles
v · d · eThe Neptunes
Pharrell Williams · Chad Hugo
See also
Discography | Awards | Billionaire Boys Club | Star Trak Entertainment | The Neptunes Present... Clones | N.E.R.D

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