NERD

The 100 best albums of the 21st century

We polled 45 music writers to rank the definitive LPs of the 21st century so far. Read our countdown of passionate pop, electrifying rock and anthemic rap – and see if you agree

Ben Beaumont-Thomas (1-50); Laura Snapes and April Curtin (51-100)

13, Sep, 2019 @8:00 AM

Liam Gallagher, Skepta and the xx to headline Manchester's Parklife festival

Big-name pop, rap and R&B stars flock to Heaton Park weekender, with Lorde, NERD and J Hus also joining the bill

Laura Snapes

31, Jan, 2018 @9:18 AM

NERD: No_One Ever Really Dies review – Pharrell's band finally find their groove

Urgent, harsh, but also consistent – come album five, NERD have made the starry collaborations stick, galvanised by US politics. Even Ed Sheeran sounds cool

Alexis Petridis

14, Dec, 2017 @12:25 PM

NERD: No_One Ever Really Dies review – it’s Pharrell with bells on

NERD’s comeback sounds very much like Williams’s show – and it’s brimming with killer tracks and star guests

Kitty Empire

10, Dec, 2017 @7:00 AM

Pharrell Williams: ‘It rains and they shoot black people’

N.E.R.D are back with a politically charged new album featuring Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran and cosmic synths

Hattie Collins

09, Dec, 2017 @7:00 AM

Young Fathers’ Lord: gospel gorgeousness backed by a bass that burns

Also this week: Denis Sulta’s new one channels Africa and acid, while Clean Bandit are back with more classical/dance nonsense

Angus Harrison

10, Nov, 2017 @3:00 PM

Tyler, the Creator: Cherry Bomb review – fizzy sonics and a splurge of ideas

Is the rapper’s multi-layered fourth album a bid for serious-musician status or just a facetious entertainment? It’s a joy to deconstruct, either way

Paul Lester

13, Apr, 2015 @3:47 PM

NERD mark return with three songs for SpongeBob film soundtrack

Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shae Haley unveil details of their first set of songs in five years

Guardian music

07, Jan, 2015 @2:31 PM

Pharrell Williams review – dazzlingly executed songcraft

The late-period rebirth of the former Neptune, NERD and super-producer Pharrell is resplendent, writes Kitty Empire

Kitty Empire

14, Sep, 2014 @8:00 AM

Pharrell Williams: 'My music is so much bigger than me, and what I am'

Pharrell Williams wrote three of 2013's biggest tunes, and has made music with everyone from Daft Punk to Miley Cyrus. So why does he think he'll never be as big as Jay Z? Simon Hattenstone meets the man with the golden touch (and the very big hat)

Simon Hattenstone

08, Mar, 2014 @9:00 AM