Pharrell Williams is facing a new lawsuit from longtime collaborator and Neptunes partner Chad Hugo.

Chad Hugo, one half of the legendary production duo The Neptunes, has filed a lawsuit against Pharrell Williams accusing him of financial misconduct tied to their shared ventures, including The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. According to the filing, Hugo claims he was cut out of their company and deprived of his rightful earnings connected to an N.E.R.D. album.

The lawsuit alleges that Pharrell engaged in self-dealing, concealed key financial information, and diverted revenue that should have been paid to Hugo. The complaint describes the conduct as “willful, fraudulent, and malicious.”

Hugo says he has not received his proper share of royalties from The Neptunes or N.E.R.D., including income from album sales, touring, and merchandising. The suit further claims that repeated requests for financial records dating back to 2021 were either ignored or met with incomplete disclosures.

According to Hugo’s attorney, this failure to provide transparent records “constitutes a breach of the operating agreement.” Estimated damages range from $325,000 to $575,000, with potential damages exceeding $750,000 to $1 million.

Beyond finances, the lawsuit also addresses Hugo’s creative role within The Neptunes — pushing back against narratives that position Pharrell as the sole creative force behind the duo.

“[Chad Hugo] served as principal composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and producer… while Defendant Williams more frequently appeared as the public-facing member of the duo.”

The claim highlights the imbalance between creative contribution and public recognition, suggesting Hugo’s behind-the-scenes role was foundational to the duo’s success, even as Pharrell became the more visible figure.

As of now, Pharrell has not publicly responded to the lawsuit. Given The Neptunes’ influence on modern music — shaping the sound of the late ’90s and 2000s across hip-hop, pop, and R&B — the case has already sparked major conversation about credit, compensation, and power dynamics in creative partnerships.

Ileyah

Ileyah is a mom, a writer and a musician. She loves late nights and gluten free snacks.