Pharrell

This Virginia Beach–born music wunderkind is one half of the production super duo The Neptunes. With childhood friend, Chad Hugo, Pharrell turned a childhood of studying music (and an apprenticeship with Teddy Riley) into one of hip hop’s most prolific and far-reaching music careers. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Pharrell and Chad became the most creative, influential and sought-after producers of hip hop, R&B and pop, helming records foreveryone from Noreaga to Justin Timberlake—and sometimes featuring Pharrell’s vocals on the hooks. In 2001, Pharrell stepped out as an artist, helping to form the hip hop/rock/funk band N.E.R.D. and releasing his own LP (2006 In My Mind) and hit singles like “Frontin’” with Jay-Z. He also co-founded the clothing companies Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream.