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Best Producers of 2002:
The Neptunes...
IN SEARCH OF...
You know the beat when you hear it - the distinctive syncopated choppy sound that have made them the "must-have producers" to work with. Nobody can touch the producing skills of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, better known as The Neptunes. They have produced such hits as "Shake Ya Ass" for Mystikal, "Pass the Courvoisier" for Busta, "Hot in Herre" for Nelly and "Luv U Better" for L.L. Cool J.
As most stories go, the road to stardom was not easy. Chad and Pharrell met and befriended each other at their West Virginia junior high school. They both shared a love for rap and rock music, and eventually formed their own rap group. (Psst: Tim Moseley, a.k.a. Timbaland, was a member of one of their groups.)
During a school talent show, Teddy Riley, a New Jack Swing pioneer, discovered the boys and took them under his wing. They arranged beats and wrote for Blackstreet and SWV.
But like all talented people, Chad and Pharrell grew a little tired and frustrated, so they took their experience and knowledge and broke away from Teddy. They began working with numerous artists and tailor-made their sound for each artist.
It wasn't until Noreaga's (a.k.a N.O.R.E.) 1998 hit, "SuperThug," that people started to notice their production skills.
Since then, they have consistently made hits for artists in different genres: from rap, to pop, and alternative. They even made "I'm A Slave 4 U" a hit for Britney Spears, which proves their Midas touch ability [but "Boys" wasn't as fortunate, although I'm not even sure the Lord could have saved that one - Chris].
I don't even have to tell y'all to look out for them this year, I'm pretty sure they will be blowing up all over your radio. ¤ Michelle