Exclusive: The Neptunes’ Chad Hugo made us a good vibes mix!
You may not know it, but Chad Hugo is the man behind a bunch of your favourite songs. As one half of The Neptunes and a founding member of N.E.R.D, Hugo’s impact on pop over the last decade is seismic. For most of that time, he’s remained in the background, an elusive musical mastermind dictating to the world’s dancefloors from basement studios.
N.E.R.D made an emphatic return at the end of 2017, redefining pop once again with the full-length No One Ever Really Dies and this time around Hugo is stepping out of the booth and entering the limelight. Listen up to an exlcusive mix from Chad below and read on to find out the secret recipe for a pop banger and how days of the week don’t matter. Oh, and catch Chad in person at this year’s Lovebox.
Hi Chad, you’ve been pulling the strings behind the scenes of pop music for a long time! What makes now the right time to step into the light?
I’ve been behind the scenes of pop music for a while now and stepping into a light is great way for me to reflect on my accomplishments and let people and the fans know that I am thankful. Our songs have been in the charts and I’m proud to be an American who’s been active in the craft of writing and recording those records.
In that time have you been able to figure out the formula for a great song? If so… please tell us!
There is no real true formula I can conjure up but here is one kind of format that works for DJs… one bar intro, chorus intro, verse, chorus, verse two, chorus, bridge, chorus, outro!
And here is a possible formula: Charismatic delivery + useful sounds, tones, or provocative a message all laid out in the formula above = dance and feel good about humankind.
What’s your record collection like? Is it organized A-Z? Do you have too much of one genre? Do you have any guilty pleasures in there?
I gave up many of my records in a sale, but it’s OK. Someone who wouldn’t normally pick up vinyls is out there now rocking out to some classic Star Trak records. I still have Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions, Talking Book, and Songs in the Key of Life, and aside from hip-hop, I love Dixieland, the Budos Band the Menahan Street Band.
As a multi-instrumentalist and music collector, what’s your take on the current pop scene? Critics say it’s become a bit methodical and commercial.. or based on image over talent?
From college radio it sounds like indie music is the new pop. I think Daft Punk hitting the charts was an achievement.. I mean robots producing dancefloor tunes proves that there are countless possibilities…
You made us a mix! What was your mood at the time?
My mood for compiling the mixtape material is the kind that makes people move and dance. There is on occasions a time and need to be reflective and thought provoking but ultimately dancing and applying body movements can alleviate those needs.
What’s one thing you’d still like to achieve in music?
In music, my goal is about sharing the same melody, tune, or refrain at the same time in thought and aloud. So to continue that as such, is every musicians goal, whether it happens on a Saturday, Sunday, or any other day of the week.
Tracklist for Chad’s mix
00:00
N.E.R.D. – Lapdance
00:49
Kendrick Lamar – Sing That Shit Remix (20Syl Juicy Remix)
01:10
Princess Nokia – For The Night
02:45
Snakehips ft Jeremih & Amine – For The Fuck Of It
05:21
Cardi B – Be Careful (Romen Jewels Trap Remix)
06:46
Flume x Twenty One Pilots x Ookay x Illenium – Say It x Thief x Ride (Trap Bootleg)
09:05
Giggs ft Donao – Lock Doh
10:21
Kali Uchis – Nuestro Planeta (feat. Reykon)
11:43
Wizkid – Lagos Vibes
13:30
Cashmere Cat & Major Lazer ft Tory Lanez – Miss You
14:42
Snakehips ft St Rulez – Cruzin’
16:16
CASisDEAD – Pat Earrings
18:44
N.E.R.D. ft Rihanna – Lemon (Mr Collipark Remix)
20:29
Tiwa Savage – Get It Now (Ft. Omarion)
21:24
GoldLink Ft. Ciscero & Kaytranada, Badbadnotgood – Fall In Love
23:13
SG Lewis – Coming Up
25:34
Star Slinger – V
28:00
Maître Gims – Caméléon
30:12
Touch Sensitive – Lay Down
31:54
Flight Facilities ft Nika – Need You
33:39
Kaytranada – You’re The One (Ft. Syd)
35:28
Tuxedo – Back In Town
36:49
Disciples – 48HRS
37:38
Justin Timberlake – Supplies (Scooter Uptempo Remix)
39:28
ODESZA – Late Night
40:18
Octavian – Hands
42:48
Conducta – Only U
49:56
