Chad Hugo


Charles Edward Hugo is an American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. He is one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and a member of N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist, pianist and guitarist. Along with his production partner Pharrell Williams, he has produced number-one hit tracks.

Early life

Hugo was born in the South Hampton Roads city of Portsmouth, Virginia, to Filipino parents. He grew up in Virginia Beach; his father is a retired Navy officer while his mother was a laboratory technician. Hugo met Pharrell Williams in grade school in band class, eventually linking back together at a magnet school for gifted teens. The two began working together, mixing beats and playing in various live bands.

Career

After several years of occasional productions for artists often associated with founder Teddy Riley, such as BLACKstreet and SWV, Hugo and Williams 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.
In 2002 The Neptunes were named Producers of the Year at both The Source Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. The Neptunes won the 2004 Grammy for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.
Hugo and Williams were announced to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as a part of the 2020 class.
Apart from his work with Williams, Hugo has shown his ability to branch out while doing solo productions, with artists such as Kenna, Sierra Swan, E-40, Mos Def and others.

Chad Hugo production discography

The following list is a partial discography of productions by Chad Hugo, for songs produced by The Neptunes, see The Neptunes production discography.
Kenna - New Sacred Cow
produced with Kenna
Jesse McCartney - She's No You Chad Hugo Neptunes Remix
Kenna - The Black Goodbye EP
  • 1. "Out Of Control"
  • 2. "Better Wise Up"
  • 3. "Black Goodbye Ride"
EP produced with Kenna
Kenna - Make Sure They See My Face
  • 1. "Daylight"
  • 2. "Out of Control "
  • 5. "Sun Red Sky Blue"
  • 6. "Baptized in Blacklight"
  • 8. "Phantom Always"
  • 9. "Face the Gun / Good Luck"
  • 10. "Better Wise Up"
  • 12. "Wide Awake"
produced with Kenna
Ashlee Simpson - Bittersweet World
  • 2. "Boys"
  • 4. "No Time for Tears"
  • 9. "Hot Stuff"
  • 12. "Follow You Wherever You Go"
Kevin Rudolf - In the City
  • 10. "She Can Get It"
produced with Kevin Rudolf
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
  • 2. "Twilite Speedball"
produced with Mos Def
JoJo - Can't Take That Away from Me
  • 3. "Pretty Please"
produced with Kenna
E-40 - '
  • 7. "Beastin'"
Kenna - '
  • 1. "Chains"
  • 2. "Kharma Is Coming"
  • 3. "What U Want"
EP produced with Kenna
Stalley - Savage Journey To The American Dream
  • 9. "Everything New"
Kenna -
  • 1. "Wild, Wild Life"
  • 2. "Relations "
  • 3. "Get in Closer"
produced with Kenna
Yuna - Nocturnal
  • 6. "Someone Who Can"
No Malice - Hear Ye Him
  • 17. "No Time"
The Internet - Feel Good
  • 3. "Dontcha"
produced with The Internet & Mike Einziger
Kid Sister - Kid Sister's DUSK2DAWN: The Diary Of Jane Jupiter
  • 11. "Higher"
  • 13. "Higher "
Jallal - Off the Radar
  • 13. "Toss & Turn"
produced with Elliot James & Jan Fairchild
Sierra Swan - Caterwaul''
Hugo has three children.