Chad Hugo
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Hugo is an American
musician and record producer
. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes
and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist
, pianist
and guitarist
. Along with his production partner Pharrell Williams
, he has produced numerous number-one hit tracks.
city of Portsmouth
, Virginia
. He grew up in Virginia Beach
; his father is a retired Filipino-American Navy
officer while his mother is Filipino. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo met at the ages of 12 at a summer camp for musicians, which they both disliked. The two began working together, mixing beats and playing in various live bands. In 1992, while the two were attending different high schools in Virginia Beach (Hugo at Kempsville High School
), Williams was paid to write a verse to the 1992 single "Rump Shaker", by Wreckx-n-Effect
.
and SWV
, they scored songwriting and production assignments with artists such as N.O.R.E.
and Mystikal
, which became hits, allowing them to produce with their own distinctive sound for megastars such as Jay-Z
. Hugo signed a global music publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing.
In August 2002, The Neptunes were named Producers of the Year at both The Source Awards and the Billboard Music Award
s. The album The Neptunes Presents... Clones was then released, debuting at number one in August 2003.
Hugo has been described by The Source Magazine
as the "Mr Spock
" to Williams' "Captain Kirk", an analogy that does not sit well with Hugo, as he does not see himself as "stiff" like "Mr Spock". However, he does say Williams usually provides the beat (as the drummer of the duo) and most of the melodies to the Neptunes productions, whereas his role lies more in as a 'one man band' and sequencer. Despite this he states that their roles are flexible and do interchange, and has shown his ability away from band-mate Williams, in producing Kenna's 2003 album New Sacred Cow
. He briefly attended Old Dominion University
on a music scholarship. Once his career took off, he put his studies on hold and has not resumed his academic career since.
In 2007 along with doing Neptunes productions, Hugo was separately producing music for Alicia Keys
(MAR/APR 2007 Scratch Magazine), Ashlee Simpson
http://www.absolutepictures.com/news.php?id=2369, Bishop Lamont
(Aftermath)http://www.raptalk.net/news/BishopLamontandChadHugoOfTheNeptunesTeamUp.php, Daniel Merriweather
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,21590512-5006024,00.html, Marsha Ambrosius
http://ny.metro.us/metro/entertainment/article/Growing_pains/7858.html, and the majority of the production on the Kenna's 2007 release Make Sure They See My Face
. Hugo has two children, Rayna & Chase.
In 2011 Hugo created a DJ team called "Missile Command", along with longtime DVM DJ's Hip Hop Dan. The duo signed a deal with Fool's Gold Records
to release their music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. Along with his production partner Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
, he has produced numerous number-one hit tracks.
Early life
Hugo was born in the South Hampton RoadsSouth Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....
city of Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He grew up in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
; his father is a retired Filipino-American Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer while his mother is Filipino. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo met at the ages of 12 at a summer camp for musicians, which they both disliked. The two began working together, mixing beats and playing in various live bands. In 1992, while the two were attending different high schools in Virginia Beach (Hugo at Kempsville High School
Kempsville High School
Kempsville High School is one of eleven public high schools in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools system. It is a comprehensive high school teaching grades 9-12. Located in the western section of the city, the Kempsville HS school district covers approximately 12 sq. miles, and draws students...
), Williams was paid to write a verse to the 1992 single "Rump Shaker", by Wreckx-n-Effect
Wreckx-N-Effect
Wreckx-N-Effect was a New Jack Swing Hip-Hop group who had the multi-platinum hit "Rump Shaker" in 1992/1993, which was produced by Teddy Riley.-History:...
.
Career
After several years of occasional productions for artists often associated with founder Teddy Riley, such as BLACKstreetBLACKstreet
Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
and SWV
SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
, they scored songwriting and production assignments with artists such as N.O.R.E.
N.O.R.E.
Victor Santiago, Jr., best known by his stage name N.O.R.E. or Noreaga , is an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
and Mystikal
Mystikal
Michael Lawrence Tyler , better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper, and actor from New Orleans.-1993-1994: Early career:...
, which became hits, allowing them to produce with their own distinctive sound for megastars such as Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. Hugo signed a global music publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing.
In August 2002, The Neptunes were named Producers of the Year at both The Source Awards and the Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
s. The album The Neptunes Presents... Clones was then released, debuting at number one in August 2003.
Hugo has been described by The Source Magazine
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
as the "Mr Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
" to Williams' "Captain Kirk", an analogy that does not sit well with Hugo, as he does not see himself as "stiff" like "Mr Spock". However, he does say Williams usually provides the beat (as the drummer of the duo) and most of the melodies to the Neptunes productions, whereas his role lies more in as a 'one man band' and sequencer. Despite this he states that their roles are flexible and do interchange, and has shown his ability away from band-mate Williams, in producing Kenna's 2003 album New Sacred Cow
New Sacred Cow
New Sacred Cow is the debut album by Kenna, released in 2003. Kenna created something of an underground buzz with the release of his first single "Hell Bent" in 2001. The album was leaked to the internet over a year before its final release, as it was delayed by record company politics. "Freetime"...
. He briefly attended Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
on a music scholarship. Once his career took off, he put his studies on hold and has not resumed his academic career since.
In 2007 along with doing Neptunes productions, Hugo was separately producing music for Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
(MAR/APR 2007 Scratch Magazine), Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Nicole Simpson is an American singer and actress. In 2004, she rose to prominence with the success of her number-one debut album Autobiography and the reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show. In October 2005, following a North American concert tour and a film appearance, Simpson released...
http://www.absolutepictures.com/news.php?id=2369, Bishop Lamont
Bishop Lamont
Philip Martin , better known as Bishop Lamont is an American rapper from Carson, California. He was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label but left in 2010.-Biography:...
(Aftermath)http://www.raptalk.net/news/BishopLamontandChadHugoOfTheNeptunesTeamUp.php, Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Paul Merriweather is an Australian R&B singer-songwriter who has worked as a featured vocalist for other artists and has a solo career. His guest vocals are included on album tracks by Disco Montego, Mark Ronson and Phrase...
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,21590512-5006024,00.html, Marsha Ambrosius
Marsha Ambrosius
Marsha Ambrosius or Marsha is an English singer/songwriter. A former member of the English Soul/R&B duo Floetry, she released her first solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings on March 1, 2011.-Early career with Floetry:...
http://ny.metro.us/metro/entertainment/article/Growing_pains/7858.html, and the majority of the production on the Kenna's 2007 release Make Sure They See My Face
Make Sure They See My Face
Make Sure They See My Face is the second album by Kenna.When the album was first announced in 2005, it was named Make Sure They See My Face. Then, in 2006, it was shortened to just Face. Since then it has returned to the original, longer title. The album was co-produced by Chad Hugo of The Neptunes...
. Hugo has two children, Rayna & Chase.
In 2011 Hugo created a DJ team called "Missile Command", along with longtime DVM DJ's Hip Hop Dan. The duo signed a deal with Fool's Gold Records
Fool's Gold Records
Fool's Gold Records is an independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York.- History :It was founded in 2007 by DJs A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs, introducing singles from artists including Kid Cudi and Kid Sister...
to release their music.