Grammy award-winning musical duo The Neptunes, comprised of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, are now reportedly going to court. The origins of the Virginia-bred record producers date back to 1992. Fans of the group shared their shock at both vying for ownership of the rights to the group’s name. Most hits in the Neptunes’ catalog contain many radio hits that shaped the music landscape throughout the early 2000s.
Neptunes’ Pharrell and Chad Hugo Feud over Duo Rights
The Neptunes are one of the most renowned musical acts of the early 2000s. Across pop and R&B, the two contributed huge hits to all-time classics. The duo extended their production prowess to Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U,” and Justin Timberlake‘s “Rock Your Body.”
Recently, at a federal tribunal, attorneys for Chad Hugo accused Pharrell and his I Am Other media company of attempting to register trademarks for the Neptunes’ name. Apparently, the duo had agreed to share their royalties and successes evenly. “Over their thirty-year history, [Hugo] and Williams agreed to, and, have divided all assets,” wrote Hugo’s attorney Kenneth Freundlich, a regarded litigator known in the music space.
Pusha T and Neptunes’ Fans in Shock Over Dispute
As mentioned, Pharrell and Chad’s fans were disturbed by the news of their legal conflict. Many took to X to air their thoughts. Two-time BET Hip-Hop award-winner Pusha T rapper shared that the conflict is just an excuse to take Chad’s money. “Just a lawyer looking to drain Chad’s pocket,” Pusha tweeted.
Pusha T reacts to reports of a legal dispute over the "Neptunes" name rights between Pharrell and Chad Hugo
"There's not a dollar involved in this stupidity. Just a lawyer looking to drain Chads pocket. Unreal." pic.twitter.com/RexhgAVwhX
— SOUND (@itsavibe) April 1, 2024
Detroit record producer Chuck Inglish shared how he wants to believe that Hugo and Williams’ conflict is an April Fools’ joke. “Neptunes together changed my life and made me who I am. All i wanted to be was like them. I really want that feud to be un-true,” Inglish wrote.
The internet: The Neptunes are in a custody battle for the name.
Me: Why are you doing this to me⁉️ pic.twitter.com/3iUZXzxNmf
— DominicHorne.eth (@iamDominicHorne) April 1, 2024
Neptunes’ Williams and Hugo’s Legal Team Weigh In
The “Lemon” hitmaker’s disregard for their prior agreement, per Freundlich, proves that Williams has committed fraud in securing the trademarks. Pharrell’s representative told Billboard that there was no ill-will intended: “Pharrell is surprised by this. We have reached out on multiple occasions to share in the ownership of the trademark. The goal here was to make sure a third party doesn’t get a hold of the trademark.”
The pop music duo own Neptunes, LLC, together. So, Hugo and his team were confused as to why Pharrell’s name was listed in the court filing. The legal team for Hugo concluded their thoughts by sharing that the case’s trademark has the potential to have them voided.
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Michael Omoruan is a New York native who often watches Knicks, Mavs, Giants, and Patriots games. He watches the occasional film and shows when he can, mostly those in the realm of science fiction or action/adventure. You can follow him on Instagram and X @MrMikeOmar and for more great content, visit us on X @TotalApexSports.
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