The Neptunes produced countless hits on the Hot 100 chart throughout the 2000s, including No. 1 singles such as Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” and Ludacris’ “Money Maker.”
Now, Billboard’s staff are giving Pharrell and Chad Hugo their well-earned flowers by crowning them the greatest Hip Hop producers of the 21st century.
The iconic Virginia duo came second on their overall 50 Greatest Producers of the 21st Century list, with the likes of Timbaland, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, Mike WiLL Made-It, Kanye West, Noah “40” Shebib, Mustard, Lil Jon, Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre also cracking the Top 20.
Billboard describes The Neptunes’ sound as “liquid guitars, clanging percussion, and the most intoxicating synth tones you’ve ever heard — usually kicked off with a four-stab count-off, and often punctuated with a keyboard sound like a dying firework — which played as big a part as anything in Hip Hop taking complete control of popular music in the ’00s.”
If there’s been one consistent in popular music across the first 20-plus years of the 21st century, it’s been the prominence of the producer at the forefront.https://t.co/vv4PfXAkMZ
— billboard (@billboard) July 21, 2021
The Neptunes may be getting recognized for their past work, but they’ve been busier than ever in 2021. The duo produced three Pop Smoke songs, “Top Shotta” featuring Pusha T, TRAVI and BEAM, “Spoiled” and “Merci Beaucoup,” for the Brooklyn rapper’s posthumous album Faith on Friday (July 17).
Earlier in the year, they produced Brent Faiyaz’s “Wasting Time” featuring Drake, Snoh Aalegra’s “In Your Eyes,” IDK’s “Keto” featuring Swae Lee and Rico Nasty, and two Moneybagg Yo tracks “Projects” and “Certified Neptunes.”
