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Chad Hugo<\/a> is suing his Neptunes\u2019 producing partner Pharrell Williams<\/a> over unpaid royalties, Billboard<\/em> reports<\/a>. In a lawsuit filed on Friday, January 23, Hugo claims Williams has refused to hand over crucial financial documents and owes him up to $1 million for work on the 2017 N.E.R.D. album No One Ever Really Dies<\/em> Alone<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWilliams engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and \u2026 diverted revenues owed to plaintiff,\u201d Hugo\u2019s attorney claims, per Billboard<\/em>. \u201cSuch willful, fraudulent, and malicious conduct warrants the imposition of punitive damages.\u201d<\/p>\n Pitchfork has reached out to both Hugo and Williams\u2019 respective representatives for further comment.<\/p>\n In 2024, Hugo accused<\/a> Williams of seeking sole ownership of the Neptunes\u2019 trademarks. Williams\u2019 attorneys said they had attempted to offer Hugo joint ownership, but Hugo\u2019s reps claimed the business terms would have limited their client\u2019s compensation.<\/p>\n As the Neptunes, Hugo and Williams\u2019 work dominated the late \u201890s and early 2000s pop, rap, and R&B scenes. Between 1998 and 2006, the duo produced more than a dozen songs that charted on the Hot 100\u2019s top 10, including No. 1 singles \u201cDrop It Like It\u2019s Hot\u201d by Snoop Dogg, \u201cHollaback Girl\u201d by Gwen Stefani, and \u201cMoney Maker\u201d by Ludacris. In 2020, the Neptunes were inducted<\/a> into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The duo are also credited as producers in Hugo and Williams\u2019 rap-rock hybrid group with Shay Haley, N.E.R.D.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n