Entertainment · Music · 3 hrs ago
Chad Hugo Pushes Back Against Pharrell Williams’ Bid to Dismiss Lawsuit
Chad Hugo is challenging Pharrell Williams’ effort to dismiss his lawsuit over their work as the Neptunes.
Hugo says the case covers compositions he and Williams created during nearly 50 studio sessions between 2019 and 2021.
He says the lawsuit concerns more than one song, and names EarthGang’s “U Gotta” as an example of a track where he says he was left off the credits.
Williams argues the complaint does not clearly identify which songs or copyrights are at issue.
Hugo says Williams and companies linked to him control records needed to identify how the compositions were released, and that requests for financial and royalty documents brought little response.
The dispute concerns Hugo’s claimed role and rights in the duo’s work, which they made together for about three decades.
Williams is asking the court to dismiss the case, while Hugo is asking to continue it; the court’s decision is not stated.
Chad Hugo is opposing Pharrell Williams’ effort to dismiss Hugo’s copyright infringement lawsuit.
Hugo says the case concerns compositions created during nearly 50 studio sessions with Williams from 2019 to 2021.
He argues that Williams and affiliated companies hold records needed to identify how those compositions were released.
Hugo cites EarthGang’s “U Gotta” as an example, saying he was removed from its credits despite the artists acknowledging his contributions.
Williams argues that Hugo’s latest complaint does not clearly identify the copyrights at issue.
- Who
- Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, estranged production partners in The Neptunes.
- What
- Hugo is challenging Williams’ bid to dismiss his copyright infringement lawsuit. The dispute concerns Hugo’s claimed contributions and the copyrights at issue.
- When
- The filing was reported on October 17, 2026. Hugo says the compositions were created during sessions from 2019 to 2021.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Williams says Hugo has not clearly identified a viable copyright claim. Hugo says the case covers a broader body of work and that defendants hold records needed to identify it.
Chad Hugo
Pharrell Williams
Copyright claims
Chad Hugo
Hugo says the lawsuit covers compositions created during nearly 50 studio sessions from 2019 to 2021, and cites “U Gotta” as an example.
Pharrell Williams
Williams says the latest complaint names only “U Gotta” and does not specify whether Hugo claims rights to its composition, sound recording or both.
Information and records
Chad Hugo
Hugo says he sought royalty statements, financial records and other documents from 2021 to 2024 but received almost nothing, despite acknowledgment that more documents exist.
Pharrell Williams
Williams says Hugo’s complaint is too vague for defendants to prepare a response.
Dismissal
Chad Hugo
Hugo says Williams is trying to erase his contributions to The Neptunes and rewrite the duo’s history.
Pharrell Williams
Williams argues that Hugo has not identified a copyright claim that belongs in federal court, and that related state-law claims should also be dismissed.
Hugo says he and Williams created compositions during nearly 50 studio sessions.
Hugo says he repeatedly sought royalty statements, financial records and other documents.
Hugo filed a second amended complaint naming EarthGang’s “U Gotta,” according to Williams’ motion.
Rolling Stone reported that Hugo had filed a response opposing Williams’ effort to dismiss the lawsuit.
- Studio sessions
- Nearly 50, from 2019 to 2021
- Song cited by Hugo
- EarthGang’s “U Gotta
- Document requests
- Hugo says he sought records from 2021 to 2024
- Complaint versions
- Williams says Hugo filed three versions over three years
What people are saying
The Neptunes were two people.
This case is about Williams’ effort to rewrite history and turn The Neptunes’ success into the work of only one person.
The [second amended complaint] is so vague and ambiguous with respect to the copyrights placed at issue that defendants cannot reasonably prepare a response.
As incomprehensible as it is, it appears that Hugo has no idea which compositions or sound recordings he supposedly authored — even though he claims to have been there, right by defendants’ side, the whole time.