Production partner Chad Hugo of The Neptunes is suing his longtime collaborator Pharrell Williams, claiming that he's owed $1 million from a N.E.R.D album. The lawsuit, filed Friday, alleges that there's been a "systematic denial" of Hugo's royalties and rights as a partner in the duo.
According to Hugo's attorney, Brent J. Lehman, Williams engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and diverted revenues owed to plaintiff, warranting punitive damages. This isn't the first time Hugo has sued Williams; he filed a lawsuit last year alleging that Williams tried to gain sole control over their production and songwriting work as the Neptunes.
The two have produced some of the biggest hits in music history, including Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot," Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl," and Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body." However, since Hugo filed his initial lawsuit, Williams has revealed that he's no longer on speaking terms with him. The new lawsuit claims that Williams has continued to withhold necessary accounting and royalties related to their Neptunes and N.E.R.D output.
Hugo's attorney stated that "After years of obfuscation by Pharrell and his team, Mr. Hugo had no choice but to seek substantial compensation and accountability in court." The case is ongoing, with Hugo seeking punitive damages from Williams.
According to Hugo's attorney, Brent J. Lehman, Williams engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and diverted revenues owed to plaintiff, warranting punitive damages. This isn't the first time Hugo has sued Williams; he filed a lawsuit last year alleging that Williams tried to gain sole control over their production and songwriting work as the Neptunes.
The two have produced some of the biggest hits in music history, including Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot," Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl," and Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body." However, since Hugo filed his initial lawsuit, Williams has revealed that he's no longer on speaking terms with him. The new lawsuit claims that Williams has continued to withhold necessary accounting and royalties related to their Neptunes and N.E.R.D output.
Hugo's attorney stated that "After years of obfuscation by Pharrell and his team, Mr. Hugo had no choice but to seek substantial compensation and accountability in court." The case is ongoing, with Hugo seeking punitive damages from Williams.
so yeah I gotta say it's wild how these rich guys always think they can just get away with screwing their partners over. like, come on Pharrell you knew Chad was counting on those royalties or at least have some respect for the dude who helped make your bank 
...and $1 million is a pretty big ask but I guess when you're talking about music history like that it's all about the benjamins 
. Chad and Pharrell have worked together for years, creating some of the most iconic beats and songs in history. It's shocking that they're now at odds over royalties and rights. I think it's a reminder that even when you're making millions of dollars together, the business side can still get complicated.
. He seems like a talented guy who was caught off guard by Pharrell's actions. It's clear that there's been some kind of communication breakdown between them, but I hope they can resolve their issues in court. We all love the music they've made together, and it would be a shame if this lawsuit affects future collaborations 
pharrell and chad have been makin hits together for years, but now it's all about the benjamins... wonder how many more songs are gonna be made without these two creatin together 
Pharrell's been low-key taking advantage of Chad for years, huh? 
. I'm just hoping the court gets to the bottom of this and gives Chad the justice he deserves 
... I mean, I get it, they're both super successful producers and all that, but can't they just split the cash like normal? It's like, Pharrell thinks he's some kind of royalty (lol) and now Chad's all, "Hey, nope, I'm getting my due". Like, come on Pharrell, you were part of this team for years, you should've thought about that before you tried to screw over your own partner...