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Pharrell Williams is facing another lawsuit from his former Neptunes partner Chad Hugo, reports Billboard. In this new lawsuit filed on January 23, Hugo claims that Williams was “withholding royalties” from him and preventing him from seeing documents that would show what he was owed. “Plaintiff has not received his appropriate share of royalties in connection with The Neptunes and N.E.R.D.’s album sales and released music, as well as distributions from touring income, and various merchandising deals,” Hugo’s lawyer Brent J. Lehman wrote. They claim Hugo is potentially owed up to $1 million by N.E.R.D. and allege he has not received revenue from the group since 2023. The two were childhood friends who met in summer camp and formed the Neptunes when performing at a talent show. Together, Hugo and Williams produced hits like “I’m a Slave 4 U,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” and “Hollaback Girl,” and in 2022, were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame together.
Hugo’s first lawsuit against Williams was filed in 2024, and he claimed that Williams filed a trademark for the Neptunes by himself and “acted in bad faith.” Since then, the Despicable Me singer confirmed he’s no longer on speaking terms with his former partner.
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