The Neptunes as N.E.R.D.

If the Neptunes can do it for Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce and other big music stars, then they can do it for themselves. This is why Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo who make up the Neptunes, one of the hottest producing tandems in the US today, have also recorded as N.E.R.D. The difference here is that they are the Neptunes but N.E.R.D. is what they do. The initials N.E.R.D. stand for "No One Ever Really Dies." It is actually a belief, a philosophy that the soul lives forever. It is energy that cannot be destroyed and so manifests itself as something else after death.

Now, that may be the driving force behind the truly exciting music that these two create as the Neptunes but I am sure that music buyers do not really care about that. What matters to them is that the Neptunes deliver what they want to hear. That goes for the stuff they do for No Doubt, Jay-Z or Usher and others and happily also for themselves as N.E.R.D. Together with rapper Shae, Williams and Hugo proved just that in N.E.R.D.’s first album titled In Search Of. Then they did it again in the even better crafted sophomore outing Fly or Die

Listening to a Neptunes recording is like going into a discovery trip in music production. After all, these guys are being compared to the much-esteemed Quincy Jones who greatly influenced the kind of pop music we have today. You find lots of new devices in use and even little unexpected turns can be exciting. Something else happens though when these guys become N.E.R.D. The production is still first-rate but the focus is more on the writing. Fly or Die is filled with pretty melodies that can gladden the pop charts, hook-filled lyrics and pleasing arrangements that the trio perform live. It is much lighter stuff than what is in In Search Of.

The title track Fly or Die, is the first single release. It is about choices that can lead to tragedy and like the rest of the album, addresses the joys and problems, whether big or trivial of the teen listener. The other titles are Don’t Worry About It, Jump featuring Joel Madden and Benjo Madden, Backseat Love, She Wants to Move, Breakout, Wonderful Place, Drill Sergeant,Thrasher, Maybe, The Way She Dances and Chariot of Fire.

Just a thought. It may interest you to know that Chad Hugo is of Filipino ancestry. That means that there is a strong chance that N.E.R.D. might one of these days also come up with something like The Api Song of the phenomenal Blackeyed Peas which has a Filipino member.

Rick James , 56

Rick James, the troubled artist and producer who pioneered the funk punk sound in the ’80s was found dead in his Los Angeles home last Friday, Aug. 6. His demise was attributed to natural causes. He was 56 years old. He served a jail term for three years for assault and battled drug addiction for many years. He also suffered a stroke five years ago. James was responsible for R&B hits like Mary Jane, You and I, Bustin’ Out, Cold-Blood, Give It to Me Baby and Super Freak, which M.C. Hammer sampled in his phenomenal U Can’t Touch This. James was working on a new album for his comeback bid and his biopic for television when he died.

Hit List

And now a look at the Billboard hit lists and I am glad to find a lot of new names among the top sellers. First, the top 10 singles: Slow Motion by Juvenile featuring Souija Slim; Lean Back by Terror Squad; Confessions Part II by Usher; Turn Me On by Kevin Lyttle featuring Spragga Benz; Sunshine by Lil’ Flip featuring Lea; Dip It Low by Christina Milian; Move Ya Body by Nina Sky featuring Jabba; If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys; The Reason by Hoobastank; and Goodies by Ciara featuring Petey Pablo.

Now, the top 10 in the album chart: Now 16 by the latest in the all hit compilation by Various Artists; Autobiography by Ashlee Simpson, who is Jessica’s little sister; Where You Want to Be by Taking Back Sunday; License to Chill by Jimmy Buffett; Confessions by Usher; Here for the Party by Gretchen Wilson; True Story by Terror Squad; Kevin Lyttle by Kevin Lyttle; The Hunger for More by Lloyd Banks; Horse of a Different Color by Big & Rich.