The unfortunate fallout between Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams has hit yet another low, with Hugo filing a new lawsuit aimed at his former collaborator.
The legal action, filed Friday, accuses Pharrell Williams of cutting Hugo out of shared business interests tied to The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., while allegedly withholding royalties and financial records. Hugo, represented by attorney Brent J. Lehman, claims the breakdown goes far beyond personal tension and into serious financial misconduct.
Hugo and Williams built their legacy side by side, first as childhood friends in Virginia and later as The Neptunes, one of the most influential production duos in modern music. Their résumé includes genre-defining hits for Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, and Justin Timberlake, along with a successful run as members of N.E.R.D.
According to the complaint, Hugo alleges Williams used his control over their companies to benefit himself at Hugo’s expense. “Williams engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and … diverted revenues owed to plaintiff,” Lehman wrote in the filing, calling the conduct “willful, fraudulent, and malicious.”
The lawsuit expands an ongoing legal fight that began in 2024, when Hugo challenged Williams’ attempt to register The Neptunes name without shared ownership. While that trademark dispute remains unresolved, this new case shifts focus to unpaid royalties, touring revenue, and merchandise income.
Hugo’s legal team estimates he may be owed as much as $1 million connected to N.E.R.D.’s 2017 album “No One Ever Really Dies,” along with additional income from merchandise partnerships. As stated in the lawsuit, “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.”
Despite public moments of unity as recently as 2022, Hugo’s attorneys say he repeatedly sought access to “monthly statements, books and records, and royalty statements,” only to receive limited or incomplete responses.
Williams has not publicly commented on the new lawsuit. Lehman said, “After years of obfuscation by Pharrell and his team, Mr. Hugo had no choice but to seek substantial compensation and accountability in court.”
