Pharrell Williams

Solo Artist · Skateboard P

Photo: Web Summit/Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile · CC BY 2.0
Active 1992-present
Origin Virginia Beach, Virginia
Albums 2
Tracks 26
Most frequent collaborator JAY-Z · 3 tracks
Genres Hip HopR&BFunk
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 26 of 26 tracks

Does Pharrell Williams write his own songs?

Yes, all of them. He holds a writing credit on all 26 tracks across his two solo studio albums, and a production credit on all 26 as well. The only other writers on his records are the guest rappers and singers, who write their own verses.

By the Numbers

2
Studio Albums
26
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
34
Years Active
16
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 26 / 26 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 26 tracks: how many Pharrell Williams wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Pharrell Williams has a writing credit100%
58%
42%
Sole author15tracks58%
Co-written11tracks42%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Pharrell Williams's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 26 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Pharrell Williams's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
2006In My Mind
2014Girl

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2000s
In My Mind
100%
2010s
Girl

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Pharrell Williams sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Pharrell Williams
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Aaliyah0%
EXO8%
The Jacksons24%
Michael Jackson51%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Puff Daddy88%
100%Pharrell Williams
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Can I Have It Like That
In My Mind
Written by Pharrell Williams, Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Wrote it
Number One
In My Mind
Written by Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Co-wrote
Angel
In My Mind
Written by Pharrell Williams, Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Wrote it
Happy
Girl
Written by Pharrell Williams, Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Wrote it
Come Get It Bae
Girl
Written by Pharrell Williams, Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Wrote it
Marilyn Monroe
Girl
Written by Ann Marie Calhoun, Pharrell Williams, Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Co-wrote
Gust of Wind
Girl
Written by Pharrell Williams, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Thomas Bangalter, Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Co-wrote

Discography 2 albums

Covers both Pharrell Williams solo studio albums in their standard editions. His work with the Neptunes and N.E.R.D is credited to those acts, and the soundtracks he curated (Despicable Me 3, Hidden Figures) and the 2026 Voices of Fire gospel album OPHANIM, which he writes and produces on, are credited to other artists rather than to him.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Pharrell Williams26 tracks
3JAY-Z, 3 tracks 2Kanye West, 2 tracks 1Gwen Stefani, 1 track on No Doubt's page 1Jamie Cullum, 1 track 1Slim Thug, 1 track CW1Charlie Wilson, 1 track SD1Snoop Dogg, 1 track PT1Pusha T, 1 track N1Nelly, 1 track LL1Lauren London, 1 track AM1Ann Marie Calhoun, 1 track JT1Justin Timberlake, 1 track MC1Miley Cyrus, 1 track GD1Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, 1 track on Daft Punk's page TB1Thomas Bangalter, 1 track on Daft Punk's page AK1Alicia Keys, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. CW Charlie Wilson

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Every one of the 26 tracks across his two solo albums carries his name as writer and as producer. That is unusual even among self-authored artists, and it makes the solo records the cleanest sample of his authorship anywhere: no outside production team, no writing camp. The guest list does the work the co-writers usually would, with @@mdlink0@@, @@mdlink1@@, @@mdlink2@@, @@mdlink3@@ and @@mdlink4@@ appearing on In My Mind and each writing their own verse. Girl drops the guests almost entirely and he writes it alone.

Quick Facts

  • DuoHalf of the Neptunes with Chad Hugo from 1992
  • BandMember of N.E.R.D
  • Grammys13 wins, including three for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
  • Biggest song'Happy' reached number one in the US, UK, Australia, Canada and six other charts
  • OscarsTwo-time Academy Award nominee, for "Happy" and as a producer of Hidden Figures
  • FashionMen's creative director at Louis Vuitton since 2023

Creative Fingerprint

Sole author and sole producer of his own catalogue: writer and producer on all 26 solo album tracks, with guests writing only their own verses.

The Story

Pharrell Williams, born Pharrell Lanscilo Williams in Virginia Beach in 1973, is a producer first and a solo artist second. He built his name as half of the Neptunes with Chad Hugo from 1992 and as a member of N.E.R.D, and has released two solo studio albums under his own name: In My Mind in 2006 and Girl in 2014. Girl carried 'Happy', which went to number one in ten countries. He has won 13 Grammy Awards, three of them for Producer of the Year, and has been men's creative director at Louis Vuitton since 2023.

Awards & Recognition

13 Grammy Awards, including three for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 56th Grammy Awards for "Get Lucky"
Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Happy" (2014)
Academy Award nomination for Best Picture as a producer of Hidden Figures (2017)

Frequently Asked Questions Pharrell Williams

Does Pharrell Williams write his own songs?
Yes, all of them. He holds a writing credit on all 26 tracks across his two solo studio albums, and a production credit on all 26 as well. The only other writers on his records are the guest rappers and singers, who write their own verses.
How many solo albums has Pharrell Williams released?
Two: In My Mind in 2006 and Girl in 2014. His other work is with the Neptunes and N.E.R.D, or as a producer for other artists.
What is Pharrell Williams’s real name?
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams. He was born on 5 April 1973 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Who wrote "Happy"?
Pharrell Williams, alone. He also produced it. It appeared on both the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack and his album Girl, and reached number one in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.
What are the Neptunes?
The production duo Williams formed with Chad Hugo in 1992. One of his three Producer of the Year Grammys was won as a member of the Neptunes rather than solo.
Does Pharrell produce his own albums?
Entirely. He is the sole credited producer on every track of both In My Mind and Girl, which is rare even among artists who write their own material.
Who guests on Pharrell’s albums?
In My Mind is heavy with them: @@mdlink0@@, @@mdlink1@@, @@mdlink2@@, @@mdlink3@@, @@mdlink4@@, Pusha T, Slim Thug, Charlie Wilson and Jamie Cullum all appear. Girl is almost entirely solo by comparison.
How many Grammys has Pharrell Williams won?
13, including three for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. He also won Record of the Year for his guest appearance on Daft Punk’s "Get Lucky".
Is Pharrell in a band?
Yes, N.E.R.D, which he formed with Chad Hugo and Shay Haley. Those albums are credited to the band rather than to him, so they sit outside his solo catalogue.

Sources

Wikipedia: Pharrell Williams Wikipedia: Pharrell Williams discography