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Pharrell Williams Giving Up Rapping?

Skateboard P details next solo project for Complex magazine's Best of 2013 issue.

(Photo: Complex Magazine, December 2013)

In 2013 Pharrell Williams, with his contributions to Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," successfully etched out a new music niche that will no longer include rapping, he explains to Complex magazine. Williams covers the magazine's Best of 2013 issue showcasing his "gravitational pull" on music throughout his career, this year in particular.

In the interview, Williams — a talented rhymer, singer, producer and writer — announces that his next solo project won't include any rapping. "Sure, l love rapping," he says. "But something's coming out, and I'm not rapping on it."

Skateboard P's growth as an artist has seen the Virginia native transcend from behind the beats to center stage as a respected solo artist with one prior release, 2006's In My Mind, under his belt. Nonetheless, the project will instead be "focused" in light of maturity, Williams explains. "That's the difference between 30 and 40. 'Cause I was 30, now I'm 40 — and I'm not rapping."

Also in the interview, Williams responds to the success of "Blurred Lines" and "Get Lucky," talks fashion and creativity and shares thoughts on Miley Cyrus's ubiquitous run. "It's tough to be that age and to have to make all those decisions yourself. And it's the people you're surrounded by too," he says, adding that he has no fear that Cyrus will not go the way of fallen child stars. "I'm not worried about Miley. I've seen her soul in action." 

On the subject of accomplishments, Williams noted his son, Rocket, with wife Helen Lasichanh, as his proudest feat. "Our son. It's like, that's our world," he gushed. "Helen and I having Rocket, it's been awesome. It's the best song that I've ever co-written. But it's a song that keeps co-writing itself too. Like, he changes his bridges all the time, but as you hear each version of his bridge, you keep seeing the rhythm." 

Speaking of which, even though Williams will himself be changing things up for his new album, he's far from done with the rap game. He is set to executive produce T.I.'s new album, due out early next year.   

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