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{{short description|American record production duo}}
{{redirect|Neptunes|a class of extrasolar planet|Hot Neptune|another class|Mini-Neptune|other uses|Neptune (disambiguation)}}
{{For|the fictional band of the same name|Jabberjaw}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = The Neptunes
| image             = Imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-WAZmxC1Szm.jpg
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = The Neptunes ([[Pharrell Williams]] and [[Chad Hugo]])
| alias             = 
| origin            = [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Hip-hop]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[Pop music|pop]]}}
| years_active      = 1992–2024<ref>{{cite web|author=Angel Diaz|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/pharrell-chad-hugo-the-neptunes-not-speaking-1235774277/|title=Pharrell Says He & Former Neptunes Partner Chad Hugo Are No Longer on Speaking Terms|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=September 12, 2024|accessdate=September 14, 2024}}</ref>
| label             = {{hlist|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]|[[Star Trak Entertainment|Star Trak]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|[[I Am Other]]}}
| spinoffs          = [[N.E.R.D.]]
| website           = {{URL|https://theneptunes.org/}}
| past_members      = * [[Pharrell Williams]]
* [[Chad Hugo]]
}}
<!-- *** PLEASE NOTE 'THE NEPTUNES' AND 'PHARRELL' ARE NOT INTER-CHANGEABLE *** -->

'''The Neptunes''' were an American record production duo composed of [[Pharrell Williams]] and [[Chad Hugo]], formed in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]], in 1992. Williams often provided backing vocals and music video appearances on the duo's productions, while Hugo remained behind the scenes.

Since their inception, the Neptunes have produced songs for several [[music industry]] artists, including [[Clipse]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Kelis]], [[N.O.R.E.]], [[Britney Spears]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Nelly]], [[Ludacris]], [[T.I.]], [[Robin Thicke]], [[Usher (musician)|Usher]], [[Gwen Stefani]], and [[Snoop Dogg]], among others.<ref name="HallofFame">{{cite web |title=Mariah Carey, Neptunes Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/mariah-carey-neptunes-inducted-songwriters-hall-fame-1270360 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=June 14, 2020 |date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> In 2009, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' ranked the Neptunes number one on their list of the top 10 producers of the decade.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nigel D. |url=http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2009/12/topic/topic/news/billboards-top-10-producers-of-the-decade/ |title=Billboard's Top 10 Producers Of The Decade &#124; RealTalkNY |publisher=Realtalkny.uproxx.com |date=December 18, 2009 |access-date=October 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004171119/http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2009/12/topic/topic/news/billboards-top-10-producers-of-the-decade/ |archive-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref> In January 2020, the Neptunes were announced to be inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] as a part of the 2020 class,<ref name="HallofFame"/> and in May 2021, Hugo and Williams received Honorary Doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/celine-dion-donald-harrison-the-neptunes-chita-rivera-and-andre-watts-to-receive-honorary-doctorates|title=Celine Dion, Donald Harrison, the Neptunes, Chita Rivera, and André Watts to Receive Honorary Doctorates at 2021 Commencement &#124; Berklee}}</ref>

== History ==
Williams and Hugo met at a summer camp for the school of the Gifted and Talented in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]], where Williams played drums and Hugo played tenor saxophone.<ref name="CBS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72pQQl7dSE4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/72pQQl7dSE4| archive-date=November 13, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Pharrell Williams on meeting his Neptunes partner Chad Hugo|work=CBS Sunday Morning|date=April 13, 2014 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="TheAge">{{cite web |title=Like the song? These guys wrote it |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/like-the-song-these-guys-wrote-it-20040515-gdxu7b.html |website=[[The Age]] |access-date=June 13, 2020 |date=May 15, 2004}}</ref> Upon entering a local talent contest in 1991, the Neptunes were competing with childhood friends [[Missy Elliott]], [[Timbaland & Magoo]], which led to the duo to be discovered by record producer [[Teddy Riley]], whose studio was close to Williams' school.<ref name="TheAge"/><ref name=yolk>"[http://www.yolk.com/v092/chadhugo1.html Chad Hugo: Rock Star] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508073207/http://www.yolk.com/v092/chadhugo1.html |date=May 8, 2006 }}, an interview with ''[[Yolk magazine|Yolk Magazine]]'', 2002</ref> Through working with Riley, Williams wrote [[Wreckx-n-Effect]]'s 1992 song "[[Rump Shaker (song)|Rump Shaker]]" while still in school.<ref name="TheAge"/> They also worked with Riley's group [[Blackstreet]], co-writing the single "[[Tonight's the Night (Blackstreet song)|Tonight's the Night]]" from [[Blackstreet (album)|their self-titled debut album]].<ref name="TheAge"/>

In 1998, the Neptunes produced [[New York City]]-based rapper [[N.O.R.E.|Noreaga]]'s single "[[Superthug]]".<ref name="TheAge"/> They also produced [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]]'s 1999 single "[[Got Your Money]]" featuring singer [[Kelis]],<ref name="TheAge"/> for whom they would entirely produce her debut studio album, ''[[Kaleidoscope (Kelis album)|Kaleidoscope]]'' (1999), and her 2001 album ''[[Wanderland]]''.<ref name="Kaleidoscope">{{cite web |last1=Bierut |first1=Patrick |title='Kaleidoscope': How Kelis Rewrote The R&B Rulebook |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/kelis-kaleidoscope-album/ |publisher=Udiscovermusic.com |access-date=June 14, 2020 |date=March 7, 2020}}</ref> The Neptunes produced hip-hop duo [[Clipse]]'s album, ''[[Exclusive Audio Footage]]'' (1999), which was intended to be Clipse's debut album before eventually being shelved.<ref>{{cite web |title=On 'Exclusive Audio Footage,' The Long-Lost Clipse Album |url=https://magazine.vinylmeplease.com/magazine/exclusive-audio-footage/ |website=Vinyl Me, Please |access-date=June 14, 2020 |date=April 19, 2018}}</ref> In 2000, the Neptunes produced [[Jay-Z]]'s single "[[I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)]]" from his fifth studio album, ''[[The Dynasty: Roc La Familia]]'', and [[Mystikal]]'s "[[Shake Ya Ass]]", from his fourth studio album, ''[[Let's Get Ready]]''.<ref name="TheAge"/> In addition, The Neptunes produced [[Cuban Link]]'s single "Still Telling Lies" from Cuban's 24K album. They also co-wrote the hook to "Play How You Want" featuring [[Pink (singer)|P!nk]].

In 2001, [[N.E.R.D.]] released their debut studio album, ''[[In Search of... (N.E.R.D. album)|In Search of...]]'', featuring production from the Neptunes.<ref name="InSearchOfPitchfork">{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=Michael |title=N.E.R.D.: In Search of... Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5748-in-search-of/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=June 15, 2020 |date=March 25, 2002}}</ref> In the same year, the Neptunes gained their first worldwide hit with [[Britney Spears]]' single, "[[I'm a Slave 4 U]]", for her eponymous third studio album, ''[[Britney (album)|Britney]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Neptunes produced Britney Spears 'Slave 4 U' |url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/pharrell-williams/lists/facts/britney-spears/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112042407/http://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/pharrell-williams/lists/facts/britney-spears/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |website=[[Capital Xtra]] |access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

The Neptunes wrote and produced [[NSYNC]]'s final single, "[[Girlfriend (NSYNC song)|Girlfriend]]", then wrote and produced most of co-lead singer [[Justin Timberlake]]'s debut solo album, ''[[Justified (album)|Justified]]'' (2002), including lead singles "[[Like I Love You]]", "[[Rock Your Body]]", and "[[Señorita (Justin Timberlake song)|Señorita]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |title=Preview Of Justin Timberlake Album From Neptunes' Hugo |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1457175/preview-of-justin-timberlake-album-fromneptunes-hugo/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512194704/http://www.mtv.com/news/1457175/preview-of-justin-timberlake-album-fromneptunes-hugo/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |publisher=[[MTV]] |access-date=June 14, 2020 |date=August 23, 2002}}</ref>

In 2003, the Neptunes released a compilation album, ''[[Clones (album)|Clones]]'', featuring songs and remixes from various [[Star Trak Entertainment|Star Trak]] artists. The Neptunes won "[[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year]]" at the [[46th Annual Grammy Awards|2004 Grammy Awards]].<ref name="2004Grammys">{{cite web |title=The Neptunes earn long-overdue Grammy |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/neptunes-earn-long-overdue-grammy-wbna4217864 |work=Today |access-date=June 14, 2020 |date=February 9, 2004}}</ref>

In 2024, Hugo filed a legal action against Williams over the trademarks for the production duo's name.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo Locked In Legal Dispute Over ‘Neptunes’ Name Rights |last=Donahue |first=Bill |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/pharrell-williams-chad-hugo-legal-dispute-neptunes-name-rights-1235645985 |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=June 26, 2024 | date=April 1, 2024}}</ref> Williams subsequently confirmed the duo were no longer on speaking terms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fekadu |first1=Mesfin |title=Pharrell on Checking His Ego for the New Lego Doc About His Life |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/pharrell-williams-interview-lego-documentary-piece-by-piece-collaborations-1235996237/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=September 25, 2024 |date=September 11, 2024}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{main|The Neptunes production discography}}
{{see also|N.E.R.D. discography}}

=== Compilation albums ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br /><ref name="BB-Clones">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the neptunes|chart=all}} |title=The Neptunes Present... Clones – The Neptunes |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 30, 2011}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br />R&B<br />/HH]]<br /><ref name="BB-Clones" />
! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:90%;"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br /><ref name="BB-Clones" />
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Clones (album)|Clones]]''
|
*Released: August 19, 2003
*Label: [[Star Trak Entertainment|Star Trak]], [[Arista Records|RCA]]
| 1
| 1
| 7
|
*[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=Neptunes |title=RIAA – Searchable Database: Neptunes |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=October 30, 2011}}</ref>
|}

=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:90%;"|[[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the neptunes|chart=Hot 100}} |title=The Neptunes Chart History: Hot 100 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 30, 2011}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:90%;"|[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br />R&B<br />/HH]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the neptunes|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs}} |title=The Neptunes Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>References for "It Blows My Mind" and "Hot Damn":
*"It Blows My Mind": {{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the neptunes|chart=all}} |title=It Blows My Mind – Snoop Dogg  |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 30, 2011}}
*"Hot Damn": {{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the neptunes|chart=all}} |title=Hot Damn – Clipse |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 30, 2011}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:90%;"|[[Hot Rap Tracks|US<br />Rap]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the neptunes|chart=Rap Airplay}} |title=The Neptunes Chart History: Rap Songs |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"|"[[Frontin']]"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Jay-Z]])</span>
|rowspan="4"|2003
|5
|1
|—
|rowspan="4"|''[[Clones (album)|Clones]]''
|-
! scope="row"|"Light Your Ass on Fire"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Busta Rhymes]])</span>
|69
|23
|12
|-
! scope="row"|"[[It Blows My Mind]]"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Snoop Dogg]])</span>
|—
|68
|—
|-
! scope="row"|"[[Hot Damn (song)|Hot Damn]]"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Clipse]])</span>
|—
|58
|—
|-
! scope="row"|"Pomegranate"<ref>{{Cite web |title=deadmau5 and the Neptunes share new song 'Pomegranate': Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/deadmau5-and-the-neptunes-share-new-song-pomegranate-listen/ |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=May 20, 2020 |website=Pitchfork |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527054307/https://pitchfork.com/news/deadmau5-and-the-neptunes-share-new-song-pomegranate-listen/ |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> <br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(with [[Deadmau5]])</span>
| 2020
|—
|—
|—
| {{N/A|Non-album single}}
|-
|colspan="6" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{{Infobox Musician Awards
| name = The Neptunes
| wins = 6
| nominations = 18
| GrammyW = 4
| GrammyN = 12
| award1 = [[Billboard Music Award|Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards]]
| award1W = 2
| award1N = 6
}}
The duo has received numerous awards, such as from the [[Grammy Awards]], where they were nominated every year from 2004 to 2007. The Neptunes have received three Grammy Awards: [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year, Non-Classical]], [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album|Best Pop Vocal Album]] for ''[[Justified (album)|Justified]]'' and [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Song|Best Rap Song]] for "[[Money Maker]]".

=== ''Billboard'' R&B/Hip-Hop Awards ===
The [[Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' R&B/Hip-Hop Awards]] are sponsored by ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine and held annually in December.<ref>{{cite magazine|access-date=September 15, 2008|url=http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/rb/2003/awards_finalists2002.jsp|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622235020/http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/rb/2003/awards_finalists2002.jsp|archive-date=June 22, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|access-date=September 15, 2008|url=http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/rb/2003/awards_finalists.jsp|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002052713/http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/rb/2003/awards_finalists.jsp|archive-date=October 2, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|access-date=September 15, 2008|url=http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/rb/2004/finalists.jsp|title=Finalists & Winners|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603230021/http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/rb/2004/finalists.jsp|archive-date=June 3, 2004}}</ref>

{{Awards table}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2002 ||rowspan="2"| The Neptunes || Songwriter of the Year || {{nom}}
|-
| Producer of the Year || {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2003 ||rowspan="2"| The Neptunes || Songwriter of the Year || {{nom}}
|-
| Producer of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| 2004 || The Neptunes || Producer of the Year || {{nom}}
|-
| 2009 || The Neptunes || Producer of the Decade|| {{Won}}
{{end}}

=== Grammy Awards ===
The [[Grammy Awards]] are awarded annually by the [[The Recording Academy|National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]] of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 15, 2008|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2004/grammys.htm|title= 46th Grammy Awards – 2004 |publisher=Rock on the Net }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 15, 2008|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2005/grammys.htm|title= 47th Grammy Awards – 2005 |publisher=Rock on the Net }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 15, 2008|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2006/grammys.htm|title=48th Grammy Awards – 2006 |publisher=Rock on the Net }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 15, 2008|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2007/grammys.htm|title=49th Grammy Awards – 2007 |publisher=Rock on the Net }}</ref>

{{Awards table}}
|-
|rowspan="6"| {{grammy|2004}} || The Neptunes || [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year, Non-Classical]] || {{won}}
|-
| ''[[Justified (album)|Justified]]'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album|Best Pop Vocal Album]] || {{won}}
|-
| "[[Frontin']]" || [[Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance|Best Rap/Sung Collaboration]] || {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| "[[Beautiful (Snoop Dogg song)|Beautiful]]" || Best Rap/Sung Collaboration || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Song|Best Rap Song]] || {{nom}}
|-
| "[[Excuse Me Miss]]" || Best Rap Song || {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{grammy|2005}} ||rowspan="2"| "[[Drop It Like It's Hot]]" || [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]] || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Rap Song || {{nom}} 
|-
| {{grammy|2006}} || The Neptunes || Producer of the Year, Non-Classical || {{nom}} 
|-
| 2006 || ''[[The Emancipation of Mimi]]'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album|Best Contemporary R&B Album]] || {{won}} 
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{grammy|2007}} || "[[Money Maker]]" || Best Rap Song || {{won}}
|- || {{nom}} 
{{end}}

== See also ==
* [[The Neptunes production discography]]

== References ==
<!--This article uses [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for its references. Please use this format when adding references to parts of the article. Any additional references not utilizing this format are subject to deletion, and external links (linkspam) added to this subject is subject to immediate deletion without warning. -->
{{reflist}}

{{The Neptunes}}
{{N.E.R.D}}
{{Pharrell Williams}}
{{Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neptunes, The}}
[[Category:The Neptunes| ]]
[[Category:Record production duos]]
[[Category:American songwriting teams]]
[[Category:Record producers from Virginia]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Virginia]]
[[Category:Pharrell Williams]]
[[Category:American contemporary R&B musical groups]]
[[Category:American hip-hop duos]]
[[Category:American pop music duos]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1992]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2024]]
[[Category:Musical duos from Virginia]]
[[Category:American male musical duos]]