Charles Edward "Chad" Hugo
(born February 24, 1974) is a American record producer. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and is a member of 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.
thumb
|
CHAD HUGO TICKETS
|
Biography
Early life
Hugo was born in the
South Hampton Roads city of
Portsmouth,
Virginia. He grew up in
Virginia Beach to
Filipino parents; his father is a retired
Navy officer. He also has an older brother named Victor, likely after the famous
playwright, who is also a musician. 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.
Career
After several years of occasional productions for artists often associated with founder
Teddy Riley, such as
BLACKstreet 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 Awards. 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
.
[1] 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.
Currently for 2007 along with doing Neptunes productions, Hugo is separately producing music for
Alicia Keys (MAR/APR 2007 Scratch Magazine),
Ashlee Simpson,
Bishop Lamont (Aftermath),
Daniel Merriweather,
Marsha Ambrosius, and the majority of the production on the
Kenna's 2007 release
Make Sure They See My Face. Hugo is married and has two children.
[2]
See also
References
- Kenna Hopes To Kick Down The Door With Chad Hugo Remix
- Hip-Hop's Chic Geek