N.E.R.D.

N.E.R.D. Call Gorillaz Tour 'A Natural Marriage'

24 Sep 2010 16:49:13 EDT

Pharrell says Damon Albarn has 'turned his imagination into the world's reality.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

N.E.R.D.'s Shay Haley and Pharrell Williams
Photo: MTV News

Animated alterna-pop group Gorillaz will crisscross North America this fall, and they've lined up an eclectic roster of hip-hop dogs, soul legends and indie upstarts for their upcoming trek, including De La Soul, Bobby Womack and Little Dragon. Also hitting the road with the "Stylo" crew are fellow genre-melding outfit N.E.R.D., who will open up for Gorillaz starting October 3.

Gorillaz are known for staging elaborate technologically enhanced sets designed to blow concertgoers' minds while sidestepping the fact that the group's cartoon bandmembers are, well, just pretend. N.E.R.D. frontman Pharrell Williams told MTV News that he's amped for the outing and respects the way Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn has turned a collective of surly, slightly batty, animated personas into a musical force. "I'm happy to go on tour with the Gorillaz. I think Damon is a genius," Pharrell said. "I love the way that he has exercised his mind and turned his imagination into the world's reality." In a lineup packed with diverse voices, Pharrell said Gorillaz architects Albarn and Jamie Hewlett invited N.E.R.D. on the road because they share similar approaches to creating music. "We aspire to continue to offer our perspective to the world in the way that we do, and I think that's the reason why they asked us to be on the road," Pharrell explained. "It's like there's like-mindedness and the appreciation for good music and the stimulation of a child's imagination, so I feel like it was a natural marriage." After a botched Grammy appearance involving Madonna, Gorillaz are leaving the holographic elements of their stage show behind. They explained earlier this year that their upcoming performances will be similar to the gigs they ripped in the U.K. and at this year's Coachella festival — hopefully featuring special guests who couldn't make previous shows due to Europe's volcanic ash drama. "[It'll be] the same show, maybe some different songs in the set, some of the other collaborators who will be able to make it," Hewlett told MTV News in April. "We lost loads of people to the volcano — we didn't lose them; they couldn't get on their flight. We were missing Kano and Bashy; Mos Def was in London; the Hypnotic Brass couldn't get there." Are you amped to see N.E.R.D. and Gorillaz on tour? Let us know in the comments!

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N.E.R.D. Get 3-D On Times Square

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N.E.R.D. Play New Music At Times Square Show

23 Sep 2010 16:21:33 EDT

Pharrell and Shay play new song 'Help Me' from Nothing album.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams
Photo: Mawuse Ziegbe/ MTV News

NEW YORK — Braving the unexpectedly intense heat of a New York City fall day, N.E.R.D. brought even more fire to their Thursday (September 23) Times Square performance. Shay Haley and Pharrell Williams of the hip-hop alterna-rock crew (fellow member Chad Hugo was absent) played to a slew of die-hard N.E.R.D. fans at a day-long event in celebration of Honda's spankin' new CR-Z Hybrid Coupe. During a warm-up set from downtown selector DJ Lindsay, featuring sunny tunes from Janelle Monáe and Madonna, concertgoers milled about under the supersized Times Square ads as a clock counted down the seconds until N.E.R.D.'s performance. Then, around 12:30, the duo hit the stage under the powerful midday sun, aptly opening the set with their balmy summer single "Hot-N-Fun." Supported by a live five-piece outfit, which included two drum kits, and flanked by two ever-undulating backup dancers, the fellas led an audience of sharply dressed fans — and a few curious tourists along the sidelines — through their sultry hit. Pharrell and Shay handled the stage with easy swagger, both sporting a basic T-shirt and jeans look and casually rattling off their lyrics, ramping up the energy as needed. After setting the tone with the well-known "Hot-N-Fun," Shay stepped back as Pharrell commanded the stage with "Help Me," a cut from their forthcoming LP Nothing. Pharrell worked the downtempo opening verse with his chill sing-song vocals before the producer/MC bellowed "I won't kill you/but I'll let you die!" as the track crescendoed with frantic instrumentation. Fans bopped along to the song's bluesy valleys and punk-rock peaks and whooped when Pharrell referenced America's ongoing overseas conflicts and yelled "How many want the soldiers to come home?" The three-song set was brief but didn't sacrifice powerhouse energy as the band closed with their debut hit "Lapdance." The dancers went into overdrive as the crowd went nuts to the hard-charging, rap-rock beat. Pharrell showed the city some love, revamping the lyrics and shouting, "...while people in New York gonna make some noise for me!" The band mixed up the mosh-pit energy with a sleek mid-song breakdown, during which Pharrell quipped about the heat, saying "Everybody in New York, Say hello to the sun." After asking the audience, "How many people know they're gonna change the world someday?" he coaxed the crowd into crouching down — even calling out the fans too cool to get low. Then, Pharrell commanded everyone to jump up and scream "Hell yeah!" as the fans and the frontman rocked out to the roiling beat — in the boiling heat — together. Were you at N.E.R.D.'s Times Square show? Tell us about it in the comments!

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Ciara Teases 'Possible' Collabo With N.E.R.D.

16 Sep 2010 17:42:29 EDT

'We're talking about doing a couple of things,' Ciara says at the VMAs.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Shaheem Reid

Ciara
Photo: MTV News

Ciara and N.E.R.D. blazed the stage when they performed the band's sultry single "Hot-N-Fun" at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. When MTV News caught up with the ATL princess on the show's white carpet, she dished that fans could be rocking to a white-hot collaboration between CiCi and the hip-hop crew in the future.

"We're talking about doing a couple of things. We've been in the studio a little bit too, just, like, talking about things and stuff," Ciara said. "In the future, it's very possible that you'll be hearing something more from possibly me and N.E.R.D. and also maybe even just me and Pharrell, musically." The songstress, who took on Nelly Furtado's vocal duties from on the original track, joined the band for a hip-twisting, back-bending performance at the show's Chevrolet Cruze Drive-In. Whether a Ciara/N.E.R.D. project actually jumps off, the songbird said she enjoyed turning up the fire with the band onstage. "I have to say, I had a lot fun performing with Pharrell. He's such a sweetheart, their whole crew, Chad [Hugo], Shay, all of them are such sweet guys," she said. "I had a wonderful time." One project that is definitely in the works is Ciara's upcoming album, Basic Instinct. Perhaps recruiting the "Hot-N-Fun" fellas for some new tracks is a smart move, as the singer told MTV News last year that her Fantasy Ride follow-up will be, well, "hot and fun." On last week's VMA carpet, the singer updated her fans about her new videos and promised another dope musical ride. "My fans are gonna really be happy. They're gonna really be in for a treat. I worked so hard on this record. I just shot two videos: 'Gimme That' and 'Speechless,' " Ciara said. "My fans are gonna be so happy, I promise you guys. I'm so excited." What do you a think a Ciara and N.E.R.D. collabo may sound like? Sound off in the comments!

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Florence And The Machine Get Revved Up For VMAs At Perez Hilton Bash

12 Sep 2010 14:19:27 EDT

VMA-nominated band joined Taio Cruz, Pitbull and N.E.R.D at Perez Hilton's party on Saturday night.
By Jocelyn Vena

Florence Welch
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — While the rest of us have to wait until Sunday night to see VMA nominees Florence and the Machine re-create the chaotic beauty of their "Dog Days Are Over" video on the stage, the crowd at Perez Hilton's One Night in Los Angeles bash at the Wiltern Theater on Saturday night got a special taste of the U.K. group's spellbinding live set. Leading lady Florence Welch, decked out in a simple lingerie-inspired dress, kicked off the party with her tracks "Drumming Song" and "Kiss With a Fist." Accompanied by a guitarist and harpist, she played to a packed house, which included celeb guests like "The Hills" star Lo Bosworth. In the short, three-song acoustic set (presumably to conserve energy for the VMAs), Welch rocked the house with her powerhouse voice. "Thanks again," she told the crowd before belting out her VMA-nominated track, "Dog Days Are Over." After Florence left the stage, Perez Hilton came out to thank the crowd for coming. Performances by "Dynamite" singer Taio Cruz and Pitbull followed. Producer Kevin Rudolf, Dr. Hollywood and Skeet Skeet all served time in the DJ booth, and N.E.R.D. closed the night out with a loud, raucous set including fan favorites like "Drop It Like It's Hot." Perez later tweeted, "L.A. showed so much love tonight! It was SUCH a special evening! #OneNightInLosAngeles." Tune in tonight for the 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards, broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles! The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET/PT. You can still vote for Best New Artist at VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if you're a Verizon subscriber).

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Chris Brown Joins N.E.R.D. For Fashion's Night Out Show

11 Sep 2010 13:07:40 EDT

Singer pop-locks during the band's outdoor NYC performance.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Chris Brown and Pharell Williams
Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

New York's Fashion's Night Out celebrations Friday night promised a city-wide extravaganza of major style and star power. Judging by N.E.R.D.'s outdoor performance, the evening did not disappoint. A crowd of the band's fans and fashion revelers swarmed the West Broadway flagship of the Billionaire Boys Club brand, which is owned by N.E.R.D. frontman Pharrell Williams. A video taken at the event shows the pair flanked by a live band and a few amped-up dancers, the crew ripped through high-energy jams to a sea of New Yorkers wielding camera phones. Sporting an army green Billionaire Boys Club jacket and green cap, Williams rocked their single "Party People," as Chris Brown, also sporting a green shirt and shorts with a military vibe, busted out some impromptu pop-locking. The band also tore through their saucy debut single "Lapdance," which was also captured on video. Singer and producer Ryan Leslie and Japanese designer and Williams cohort Nigo also stopped by the event. Earlier this year in a sit-down with MTV News, Williams broke down the energy fans can expect at their live shows. "Get your stretches in — the EMTs are always on the side, because people pull muscles and stuff. And not bragging at all, I'm just telling you, dude — fat, black, white, skinny, gay, straight, I don't know how they treat you elsewhere at their shows, I don't know how they treat you in streets, [but] I know how you feel when you're going to leave that N.E.R.D show," Williams said. "And trust me, when they ask you what it was like, and could you describe it, could you ever put it into words — you're going to say, 'Nothing.' " Did you go to any Fashion's Night Out events? Let us know in the comments below!

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N.E.R.D. Say Nothing Album Is 'Intended To Inspire Humans'

21 Jul 2010 07:21:06 EDT

'If you can find something positive in here that motivates you, then this album is for you,' Pharrell tells MTV News.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Steven Roberts

N.E.R.D's Pharrell Williams
Photo: MTV News

N.E.R.D. have said that their upcoming album, Nothing, will be a "psychedelic" romp through the throwback counterculture vibes of yesteryear inspired by, among other things, women. However, the band recently made it clear that while the release caters to the ladies, all fans are welcome to the party.

"Women are essential to life on this planet," frontman Pharrell told MTV News when the group stopped by the newsroom Monday. "They just hold a very sacred place, they always have for me. My taste and appetite for women has been clearly evident in my music and my videos. We just felt like that was the sweetest spot for us to concentrate on. Having that in mind, just because the concept of the album is us having a conversation with women at a roundtable, it doesn't mean that that's what the audience is about." The producer and rapper likened the project to a chick flick geared toward a certain type of woman but ropes in other fans as well. "The audience for [the album] is just like any other film," Pharrell said. "Like a Sandra Bullock film. The concept may be geared toward a chick-based theme, but of course those audiences are not 100 percent women. There's just all kinds of human beings who just wanna be entertained by that particular story. That's the concept here. This album is meant and intended to inspire humans. Man, woman, whatever you are. If you can find something positive in here that motivates you, then this album is for you." Chad Hugo chimed in as well, joking that fans can enjoy Nothing "even if you're not human" and adding that the album's appeal extends to "cats and dogs" too. The fellas revealed that they pushed back the album but also gave up a few details about their new single. While they didn't reveal the title, they did hint that the track will feature a special guest and that "it's like the ultimate party song." Shay Haley said the track is inspired by a hard-partying night in Europe. "We were in Monaco, and we were looking around, and we were just seeing how people were having a great time and you couldn't tell them sh--. It was like 5 in the morning, and you would have thought it was like 1," Shay said. "People were partying just as hard, so we were like, 'Whoa.' " Who do you think might make an appearance on N.E.R.D.'s next single? Let us know in the comments below!

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N.E.R.D. Won't Divulge 'Treats' To Come On Nothing

02 Jul 2010 14:43:47 EDT

'We can't give away the treats,' Pharrell says of upcoming disc. 'You gotta go get it.'
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Kelly Marino

Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D. arrives at the 2010 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 27, 2010 in Los Angeles
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

The guys of N.E.R.D. are keeping in tune with the title of their next album when it comes to revealing details about their next effort. "We can't give away the treats," Pharrell told MTV News of the trio's forthcoming Nothing, due September 7. "That's like saying 'trick or treat' [when] you already know what you're going to get, so [you] don't knock on the door," P said, adding, "Nah, man, you gotta go get it."

"Go knock," groupmate Shay Haley chimed in, encouraging fans to buy the album this fall. The trio — Pharrell, Shay and Chad Hugo — are riding high off the success of "Hot-N-Fun," the first single from Nothing, which features Nelly Furtado. And they recently premiered the Jonas Åkerlund-directed video for the song. "There's a French expression which is called 'baba cool,' which is from the late '60s, early '70s, and it's like the mixture of posh, bohemian and art," P explained of their next project. "That's pretty much the theme of the album." But 'baba cool' also aptly describes the countercultural feel of the clip itself. "We told them we wanted something that was psychedelic, something that paid homage to the Beatles' Yellow Submarine and the Magical Mystery Tour," he said. Pharell first teased to MTV News what the tone of the group's new material would be, earlier this year. "The music is very psychedelic for the most part. Eighty percent of it is definitely flower-power, counterculture, release and let yourself be free and have a great time!" Last year, N.E.R.D. added a fourth member, pop singer Rhea, but she's since ventured off to work on her own material. Next up, the collective plans to release its next single, "Party People." Are you excited to hear N.E.R.D.'s new album? Is "Hot-N-Fun" the perfect summer track? Let us know in the comments!

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N.E.R.D. Call 'Hot-N-Fun' Video A 'Psychedelic' Ride

29 Jun 2010 14:56:26 EDT

'We wanted something that paid homage to the Beatles,' Pharrell tells MTV News of working with artists FriendsWithYou.
By Steven Roberts

N.E.R.D. recently released the video for their new single, "Hot-N-Fun," featuring Nelly Furtado. The colorful visual was directed by Swedish film/ music video director Jonas Åkerlund, whose résumé includes videos for Madonna, the Prodigy and, most recently, Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" and "Telephone" clips. Pharrell Williams told MTV News earlier this month that N.E.R.D.'s brand-new video was a mixture of elements, but it could all be summed up with one phrase: "baba cool."

"There's a French expression which is called 'baba cool,' which is from the late '60s, early '70s, and it's like the mixture of posh, bohemian and art," P said. "That's pretty much the theme of the album." In the video, the trio is seen driving their Rolls-Royce through the desert, dressed in a mix of fur, leather, camouflage and apparently whatever else they could get their hands on that had feathers of some sort. The Rolls is painted in vivid, almost hallucinogenic-inspired colors and graphics, courtesy of artist collective FriendsWithYou. Pharrell explained how they first linked up with the talented collaborative in Miami. "We told them we wanted something that was psychedelic, something that paid homage to the Beatles' Yellow Submarine and the Magical Mystery Tour." Nelly Furtado, who provides the song's hooks, also turns up singing in a cloud formation created by FriendsWithYou. But Furtado isn't the only female keeping N.E.R.D. company: A bevy of young ladies comes along for the ride, dressed in matching boho gear, though slightly more scantily clad. "As you can see, we had a plethora of women, all shapes and sizes, all shades and colors, and they definitely added a cool, sexy element to the video," groupmate Shay Haley said. "This video is every man's dream." N.E.R.D. expect to release their fourth studio LP on September 7, and was something like a psychedelic ride. Pharrell told us Nothing. "The music is very psychedelic for the most part — 80 percent of it is definitely flower-power, counterculture, release and let yourself be free and have a great time!" What do you think of N.E.R.D.'s "Hot-N-Fun" video? Is it the perfect summer track? Let us know in the comments!

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B.o.B, Soulja Boy Tell'em, N.E.R.D, More Rock BET Awards Pre-Show

27 Jun 2010 21:46:03 EDT

Drake, T.I., Nicki Minaj chat on the red carpet before main show.
By Hillary Crosley

N.E.R.D. at the 2010 BET Awards
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

Before the 10th annual BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (June 27), N.E.R.D kicked off a pre-show by performing "Hot and Fun" on a Murakami-inspired flatbed truck, surrounded by fans. Afterward, the guys chatted with "106 & Park" hosts Rocsi and Terrence J about their most anticipated show performances. "I got to see my man 'Ye do it," Pharrell said of Kanye West's opening performance at the main show. "It's gonna be hot." Atlanta MC B.o.B followed, rocking his hit "Nothin' on You," featuring a new singer, Rico Barrino, filling in for Bruno Mars. Barrino, who is the brother of "American Idol" winner Fantasia, recently joined B.o.B as an artist on T.I.'s Grand Hustle record label, and their performance served as the singer's introduction. T.I. came out to chat with B.o.B and Barrino following their performance. "This is my first time actually attending and being nominated three times," B.o.B said. "I feel like three [nominations are] a charm." "I'm looking forward to the surprise performances," T.I. added, donning a blue suit with a matching tie. "[B.o.B] don't even know yet, but I hooked it up. I got you performing on the big stage. So I'm looking forward to that performance, and it's going to be a collaboration that the world ain't ready for." In a nod to "Glee," the Crenshaw High Elite choir sang renditions of each of the Viewer's Choice Award nominees a capella, including Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams," Rihanna's "Hard" (featuring Young Jeezy), Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" (featuring Alicia Keys), Trey Songz's "Say Ahh" (featuring Fabolous), Monica's "Everything to Me" and Young Money's "Bedrock" (featuring Lloyd). Jermaine Dupri and his newest So So Def songstress Dondria were next up, dressed in all white and sporting a purple foxtail -- a trend for the evening. The pair performed a Bootsy Collins-inspired remix of Dondria's single "You're the One" over the beat of "I'd Rather Be With You." A new West Coast group called CaliSwag followed with their performance of "Teach Me How to Dougie" before Drake chatted with Nick Cannon, who was also hosting the pre-show's red carpet. "I'm performing this song called 'Fireworks,' a bit of 'Over' and a surprise," Drake teased. Cannon also asked the wildy popular MC about his honesty on his debut LP, Thank Me Later. "When I was trying to figure out what approach I was going to take, none of the stories made sense," said Drake, sporting a black leather jacket, white tee, jeans and sunglasses. "I was like, 'If I'm really going to do this and really take it somewhere, I've really got to be myself.' So the more and more I started doing it, the more open I became and the more I was willing to share with my audience. Those are the best compliments: 'I love your music, I relate to it.' So I'm going to keep it going." Performances by Mishon and Roscoe Dash followed (some of their dancers also sporting foxtails), and Soulja Boy Tell'em debuted his new single "Pretty Boy Swag" in an all-white outfit, complete with his signature white sunglasses. However, the standout moment was Nicki Minaj's all-white bustier and flowing skirt with a train, topped with an orange Marilyn Monroe wig. "Young Money better win something, because 'Bedrock' is platinum," Nicki told Cannon when asked what she was anticipating, before adding that last year, "I was watching this on TV." Before the pre-show (which saw visits from Cassie, Lauren London, Ciara, J. Cole, Taraji P. Henson, Rick Ross, Diddy and Ludacris) ended, the president of BET, Deborah Lee, shared a little secret about Prince's Lifetime Achievement Award tribute. "I know it's going to be an all-female tribute, and I did hear a little rumor that Patti LaBelle is one of the women," Lee said. "I know it's going to be fabulous." What were your favorite pre-show performances? Let us know in the comments!

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