Album: N*E*R*D

In Search Of... Virgin

As The Neptunes, Pharrell 'D.R.U.G.S.' Williams and 'CHASE' Chad Hugo have produced hits by Kelis, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Ludacris. With rapper Shay they are N*E*R*D, whose stunning Mayfield-meets-Manson hit Lapdance is neck and neck with Missy and Outkast for single of the year. A daring debut, In Search Of...'s broad sonic sweep, taking in elements of the hazy funk of the Isleys, the new school of French electro, PM Dawn's trippy utopianism, and Prince at his most priapic, is an agenda-setting modern classic. One day, all records will sound like this – assuming the Neptunes have the time to produce them.