| Just who are the Neptunes? Austin Dufault Entertainment Editor from April 24, 2001 Just who are the Neptunes? You don�t have to dig deep into the music biz to have heard of the name of this Virginia Beach based duo. The Neptunes have followed suit with their name appearing as some planet hovering and watching over the music industry. These two producers, redefining the term cutting edge, have worked with everyone from Jay-Z to No Doubt to recent efforts on �N 'Sync�s up and coming LP. Sound familiar yet? These days you can�t turn on the radio without hearing some futuristic blips and bleeps cradled by choppy bass beats and awkward guitar licks. This is all due to the Neptune�s. Jay-Z�s �I Just Wanna Love U (Give it 2 Me),� Mystikal�s �Danger� and �Shake Ya Ass,� Ludacris� �Southern Hospitality� as well as remixes for Lil� Kim, Angie Stone, Sade and �N'sync are all credited to the efforts of the Neptunes. With all their recent success and demand for their sound the Neptunes, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, have begun works on their first release juxtaposed with a few handfuls of duties with music�s elite. The new solo project for them is their opportunity to do what they want musically without having to cater to other people. Pharrell, who has done the vocals for the hooks on Jay-Z�s I Just Wanna Love U and Mystikal�s �Shake Ya Ass,� will be fronting in the lyrical department of this upcoming release. Their new project will be entitled N.E.R.D. (No One Ever Really Dies). The acronym for their musical philosophy is wholly appropriate for their first CD release In Search Of..., slated to be released in early summer. They have begun the ground works for a new era of music, especially in hip-hop. They have been combining hip-hop beats, jazz guitar licks, cut techno bass lines, even country twangs of slide guitars all with futuristic sound effects to put their signature on it. They are making their mark and may evolve to the legendary producing status comparable to Dr. Dre. Though they work primarily on hip-hop they have begun works on expanding their sound and grip on the music biz. Right now they really have quite a bit on their plate. They will be producing the bulk of �N'syncs highly anticipated next CD, Brandy, Stevie Wonder (that�s right Stevie Wonder), No Doubt and Perry Ferrell�s up and coming solo debut. Buckle up to get sick of hearing their names everywhere, because that time is upon us. But it�s really something quite extraordinary to engage in the change and creation of a new sound. Better get in on the ground level while you can. Look out for their many production masterpieces as well as their solo album N.E.R.D. In Search of..., and they�ll continue watching down on the music industry from somewhere out there in the cosmos. http://web.hamline.edu/student/orgs/oracle/archives/42401/entertainment.html |