Pharrell Williams, the Grammy-winning artist and producer best known for hits like Happy, Hot in Herre and Hollaback Girl, has been hit with a lawsuit from his longtime musical partner Chad Hugo, who accuses Williams of cutting him out of their shared business interests and withholding substantial royalties.
The civil lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by Hugo — a co-founder of acclaimed production duo the Neptunes and fellow member of the band N.E.R.D. — alleges breach of fiduciary duty, contractual violations and financial misconduct by Williams.
Claims of Withheld Money and Concealed Records
According to court documents reviewed by media outlets, Hugo’s team claims Williams “engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and … diverted revenues owed to [Hugo],” conduct that Hugo’s attorneys describe as “willful, fraudulent, and malicious” and deserving of punitive damages. The lawsuit seeks a full accounting of all revenues generated through their joint entities and demands recovery of profits wrongfully withheld.
Hugo asserts he is owed at least $325,000 — and potentially more than $1 million — tied to royalties from N.E.R.D.’s 2017 album No One Ever Really Dies, merchandising income and other revenue streams that he claims Williams controlled without proper disclosure.
The complaint also alleges that Hugo has not received revenue from N.E.R.D. merchandising since September 2023 and that efforts to obtain financial statements and royalty records from Williams’ team have been met with “limited” and incomplete responses. Hugo’s attorneys say they began pushing for complete financial disclosures as early as August 2021.
A Partnership in Pieces
Williams and Hugo’s partnership stretches back to their Virginia Beach youth. Together, as the Neptunes, they produced a string of chart-topping hits for pop icons and hip-hop stars while also performing as part of N.E.R.D. from the early ’90s through 2017. Their influence has earned them induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
However, legal tensions between the two have simmered for years. In 2024, Hugo filed a separate legal action accusing Williams of attempting to fraudulently secure sole trademark control over the Neptunes name — a claim that remains unresolved.
No Public Response from Williams Yet
Representatives for Pharrell Williams have not immediately responded to requests for comment on the latest suit. As of this weekend, Williams has not issued any public statement addressing the allegations.
Industry observers say the case could reshape conversations about rights and compensation among longtime collaborators in music — especially when creative partnerships evolve into complex business ventures.
