logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
54m 53s

Pharrell Williams

Rick Rubin
About this episode

Pharrell Williams is a Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and performer. Getting his start in music alongside Chad Hugo as the production duo known as The Neptunes in 1992, Pharrell has produced chart-topping hits for artists including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Snoop Dogg. He has co-composed the music for the Despicable Me film franchise, including hit “Happy,” which became the best-selling song of 2014 and earned Pharrell an Oscar nomination. Pharrell’s collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and Gwen Stefani, alongside his work as a solo artist and frontman for alternative band N.E.R.D., have solidified his reputation as a creative force in the music industry. With 13 Grammy wins and two Oscar nominations, Pharrell continues to progress the sounds of post-new jack swing, R&B and rap, and pop. 


Currently, Pharrell serves as the creative director of Louis Vuitton, and he has recently announced his role as a co-chair for next year’s Met Gala alongside Lewis Hamilton and Anna Wintour.


In October, his animated biopic Piece by Piece, a collaboration with LEGO, premiered alongside its titular song by Pharrell. The film is now available for rent or purchase to enjoy at home. Link here: https://www.focusfeatures.com/piece-by-piece


------

Thank you to the sponsors that fuel our podcast and our team:


Athletic Nicotine

https://www.athleticnicotine.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA'

------

Squarespace

https://squarespace.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA'

------

Vivo Barefoot

http://vivobarefoot.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA25'

------

LMNT Electrolytes

https://drinklmnt.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA'

------

Sign up to receive Tetragrammaton Transmissions

https://www.tetragrammaton.com/join-newsletter

Up next
Yesterday
M.I.A.
M.I.A. is a music artist, producer, and activist known for blending electronic, hip-hop, and world music. Hailing from London with Sri Lankan roots, she gained international recognition with her debut album Arular and breakthrough hits like “Galang” and “Paper Planes.” Her later ... Show More
1h 58m
Oct 3
David Whyte (Part 2)
David Whyte returns to continue his conversation in Part Two. David Whyte is a celebrated Irish poet, philosopher, and speaker whose career spans nearly forty years. Known for ten volumes of poetry and multiple best-selling prose collections, Whyte’s latest collection, Consolatio ... Show More
56 m
Oct 1
David Whyte (Part 1)
David Whyte is a celebrated Irish poet, philosopher, and speaker whose career spans nearly forty years. Known for ten volumes of poetry and multiple best-selling prose collections, Whyte’s latest collection, Consolations II, which contains 52 new essays, continues his trademark e ... Show More
1h 28m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Imagining New Worlds: Pharrell Williams, Es Devlin & Yana Peel
Music producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer Pharrell Williams connects with Es Devlin, the artist and stage designer best known for her work with Beyoncé, Kanye West and The Weeknd. The conversation was led by CHANEL’s Global Head of Arts and Culture, Yana Peel. They talk a ... Show More
34m 5s
Nov 2022
RM (of BTS) + Pharrell Williams
What happens when we take the writer away and ask two pop phenoms, from two completely different places and generations, to interview each other? On today's episode, Pharrell sits down with RM of BTS to talk about the price of fame, the keys to creativity, and why it's important ... Show More
34m 6s
Feb 2024
How Usher, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift Build Their Own Legacies
At this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, Usher Raymond sang through decades of hits while twirling on roller skates, making a case for himself as one of the great R. & B. artists of our time. The performance illuminates a key aspect of modern pop stardom: the fashioning of one’s ... Show More
44m 8s
Oct 2023
I Miss You Much, Right Now, Na, Na, Na
Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, mononymously known as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He emerged as an influential figure in modern world music in 2004 with the release of his debut album "Trouble", which ... Show More
7m 22s
May 2023
All The Girls In The Club, I Got My Eye On You
DJ Snake and Future are both highly acclaimed artists in the music industry, known for their innovative sound and chart-topping hits. DJ Snake, a French DJ and producer, has made a significant impact with his unique blend of electronic dance music and hip-hop influences. His coll ... Show More
9m 11s
Nov 2023
I'm Vanilla Baby
Jack Harlow is a versatile American artist, known for his skills as a rapper, singer, and actor. Born on March 13, 1998, in Louisville, Kentucky, Harlow has established himself as a significant presence in the music industry. His talents have been recognized with several award no ... Show More
7m 8s
May 2025
DONDA 2 - Kanye West
Kanye West – "Donda 2" "Donda 2" is the eleventh studio album by American artist Kanye West, originally released in a limited format on February 23, 2022, and later re-released widely in 2025. Initially available only via Kanye's custom device, the Stem Player, the album has now ... Show More
13m 48s
Sep 2024
Bad Bunny Nominated for MTV VMA Amid Global Dominance
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has once again made waves in the music industry with his nomination at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) 2024. Known for his groundbreaking contributions to Latin music and a genre-defying approach, Bad Bunny continues to solidify h ... Show More
1m 50s
Mar 2016
E006: The Nubian Mix
In this week's episode, OT flies out to Sudan to meet with one its most talented and underrated producers, Sufyan, and sets up a Skype call with Irshad and Toofless from Sufyan's studio. Sufyan is a Sudanese Hip Hop producer who uses his surroundings, Nubian heritage, and his cou ... Show More
37m 12s
Mar 2025
Alter Ego - LISA
Lisa – Alter Ego "Alter Ego" is the debut solo album by Lisa, a member of the globally renowned K-pop group Blackpink. Released on February 28, 2025, this ambitious project showcases Lisa’s artistic versatility through a fusion of genres including hip-hop, electropop, and trap. T ... Show More
13m 57s