Chad Hugo, co-founder of the Virginia Beach producer duo The Neptunes, has released his debut single. Titled “Jumpupw!nya,” the upbeat song hip-hop song hovers at around the two-minute mark, featuring Tierra Whack and Leikeli47. “For those that don’t know, I’m from Brooklyn by way of Virginia; so when Chad called, I leapt at the opportunity to collaborate,” Leikeli47 said in a statement. “Love to the amazing Tierra Whack. I’m just happy to play my part.” The track also comes with futuristic visuals replete with spaceship control panels, hazmat suits, and apocalyptic collapse. Watch the music video below.
Hugo is currently in the midst of a legal battle with his former partner Pharrell Williams. Hugo’s lawyers allege that Williams owes him up to $1 million from their final album as N.E.R.D., 2017’s No One Ever Really Dies. In 2024, Hugo was engaged in a separate lawsuit with Williams over the ownership of The Neptunes trademark.
While Hugo hasn’t put out solo music before “Jumpupw!nya,” in recent years producing songs for Ye and Ty Dolla Sign, Brockhampton, and Brent Faiyaz.
