Chad Hugo Takes Legal Action Against Pharrell Williams Over Unpaid Royalties: The Neptunes' Dispute
Chad Hugo, known for his work with Pharrell Williams in the Neptunes, is taking legal action against Williams over alleged unpaid royalties from their final NERD album, No One Ever Really Dies. The Neptunes were influential producers in the late 90s and early 00s, working with artists like Kelis, Britney Spears, and Beyoncé. Hugo's lawyers claim Williams withheld earnings from touring and merchandise, failing to provide proper financial disclosure despite repeated requests.
The dispute centers around potential earnings of $750k-$1m owed to Hugo from the album No One Ever Really Dies. Hugo's legal team accuses Williams of withholding royalties and engaging in fraudulent conduct, seeking punitive damages. Williams' representative stated that an accounting review is ongoing and any owed money will be paid in good faith, emphasizing their shared history.
This is not the first legal battle between Hugo and Williams, as Hugo previously accused Williams of trying to control the Neptunes name fraudulently. The matter is still unresolved. Kelis has also spoken out about being misled by the Neptunes regarding royalties for her debut album, Kaleidoscope. Beyoncé removed an interpolation of Kelis' song Milkshake from her album after Kelis criticized it as "thievery." The ongoing legal disputes highlight the complexities of the music industry and the importance of fair compensation for artists and producers.