Pharrell Williams is dealing with a brand new lawsuit from his former Neptunes bandmate, Chad Hugo, who’s accusing the famed producer of economic misconduct.

In a federal California courtroom on Friday (Jan. 23), per music/a/shawn-setaro/pharrell-sued-by-chad-hugo-allegedly-withholding-neptunes-money”>courtroom paperwork obtained by Complex, Hugo claims Williams is responsible of withholding cash and mishandling their firm’s account data. The pair, who’ve created dozens of hits collectively as each members of N.E.R.D and the manufacturing group, The Neptunes, based their firm N.E.R.D. music, LLC, again in 2014.

According to the phrases of their firm, Williams receives 50% firm’s funds, which come from “touring and other income,” whereas Hugo and the third N.E.R.D. member, Sheldon “Shay” Haley, every obtain 25%. All “merchandising and trademark income” is equally distributed among the many three members.

Hugo Claims A ‘significant number’ of songs are lacking from his catalogue

Hugo, who refers to his position of their partnership because the “principal composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and producer responsible for programming, instrumentation, and overall sound design,” claims Williams is required to offer documentation about “income, expenses, royalties, and other financial issues,” however has failed to take action.

However, Hugo claims that since 2021, he has been blocked by Williams from reviewing the corporate’s monetary data. He additionally claims that he’s but to obtain “[an] 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.”

Additionally, Hugo famous that “a significant number of songs are missing from [Hugo’s] label portals and SoundExchange portals, indicating that Plaintiff has not received the royalties he is entitled to.” For instance, simply off their 2017 undertaking, No One Ever Really Dies, Hugo claims he’s owed over $1,000,000 alone. Hugo’s legal professional, Brent J. Lehman, has but to make a public assertion. Similarly, neither Williams nor his group has but to supply a touch upon the scenario.