Chad Hugo Files Lawsuit Against Pharrell Williams Over Alleged $1m Royalties Dispute
Chad Hugo, the former production partner of Pharrell Williams in the legendary duo the Neptunes, has initiated legal proceedings against Williams. The lawsuit centres on claims that Williams has withheld substantial earnings, potentially exceeding $1 million, from their final collaborative album as NERD, titled No One Ever Really Dies, released in 2017.
Allegations of Withheld Royalties and Financial Secrecy
Legal representatives for Hugo have presented detailed allegations in the court filing. They assert that Pharrell Williams has failed to provide rightful royalties and shares from various revenue streams associated with the NERD project. These include income generated from touring activities and merchandising sales linked to the album.
Furthermore, Hugo's legal team claims that repeated requests for comprehensive financial documentation have been largely ignored. On the occasions when some records were provided, they were described as "limited" and "incomplete", allegedly constituting a breach of the operating agreement governing their partnership. The lawyers estimate that the total amount owed to Hugo could range between $750,000 and $1 million.
Claims of Systematic Denial and Fraudulent Conduct
The lawsuit goes beyond simple non-payment, accusing Williams of engaging in a "systematic denial" of Hugo's contractual rights. The legal documents allege that Williams participated in "self-dealing" practices, concealed material financial information, and diverted revenues that were rightfully due to Hugo.
Given the nature of these allegations, Hugo's legal team is seeking punitive damages, arguing that Williams's conduct has been "wilful, fraudulent and malicious." This legal action represents the second lawsuit Hugo has filed against Williams in recent times, following a 2024 dispute over control of the Neptunes trademark, which remains under federal tribunal review.
Pharrell Williams's Response and Ongoing Accounting Review
In response to the allegations, a representative for Pharrell Williams provided a statement to Billboard magazine. The spokesperson indicated that a standard accounting review is currently underway to assess the financial matters in question.
The representative characterised the lawsuit as "premature", suggesting that there may not even be a substantive dispute between the parties once the review is complete. "If the accounting review determines that money is owed, the appropriate party will pay it," the statement clarified.
Williams's camp emphasised his "consistent" good faith actions and expressed his "great respect" for Chad Hugo. They stated a desire to resolve the matter in a manner that "honours their shared history" as groundbreaking music producers.
Historical Context and Previous Royalties Controversies
The Neptunes, comprising Williams and Hugo, were instrumental in shaping the sound of popular music during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their production credits include work with major artists such as Kelis, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Clipse, and Justin Timberlake. As NERD, they released five studio albums between 2001 and 2017.
This is not the first time royalty disputes have surfaced involving the Neptunes' work. Singer Kelis has previously publicly claimed that she was "blatantly lied to and tricked" regarding royalties from her 1999 debut album Kaleidoscope, which featured Neptunes productions.
In a 2000 interview, Kelis reflected on her experience, stating she was "too young and too stupid to double-check" what she was signing. More recently, in 2022, Beyoncé removed an interpolation of Kelis's song Milkshake from her Renaissance album after Kelis characterised the use as "thievery." Kelis clarified that her issue was not with Beyoncé personally but with the broader context of the situation.
Representatives for both Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo did not provide public comments regarding Kelis's widely reported statements at the time.
