The Neptunes’ Chad Hugo Sues Pharrell Williams Over Unpaid Royalties

The Neptunes’ Chad Hugo is once again suing his production partner Pharrell Williams, claiming he’s owed $1 million from one of the duo’s N.E.R.D. albums.

Lawyers for Hugo filed the lawsuit Friday against Williams, alleging that there has been a “systematic denial” of Hugo’s royalties and rights as a partner in the Neptunes and N.E.R.D., specifically when it comes to the duo’s 2017 album No One Ever Really Dies.

“Williams engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and … diverted revenues owed to plaintiff,” Hugo’s attorney Brent J. Lehman wrote in the lawsuit (via Billboard). “Such willful, fraudulent, and malicious conduct warrants the imposition of punitive damages.”

This isn’t the first time Hugo has sued his now-former friend and production partner: In 2024, Hugo filed a lawsuit alleging that Williams had “fraudulently” tried to gain sole control over the trademarks tied to their production and songwriting work as the Neptunes, including registering three separate trademarks for the Neptunes without involving Hugo — an alleged violation of the duo’s longstanding agreement to share everything equally. 

As the Neptunes, Hugo and Williams produced and wrote some of the biggest hits of the 2000s, including Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” and Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body,” in addition to their work as N.E.R.D. The Neptunes last produced songs together in 2022, the same year they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

However, following Hugo’s 2024 lawsuit, Williams revealed in an interview that he was no longer on speaking terms with his Neptunes production partner. Since that initial legal action, Hugo’s new lawsuit claims, Williams has continued not to provide Hugo with the necessary accounting and royalties related to their Neptunes and N.E.R.D. output. 

A rep for Williams did not respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment at press time.

“After years of obfuscation by Pharrell and his team, Mr. Hugo had no choice but to seek substantial compensation and accountability in court,” Lehman said in a statement to Billboard. “We look forward to presenting the evidence and obtaining the full relief the law provides.”