Pharrell Williams

Lore & Background

Pharrell Williams and Kanye West first connected on "Number One," a synth-heavy love song released by Star Trak Entertainment and Virgin Records on August 21, 2006. The track was written by both artists, with Williams handling production while West contributed as the hype man and performed the third verse. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 57, becoming the second single from Williams' debut album In My Mind to chart. Critics praised the song, contrasting with the mixed reception of its parent album. The music video, directed by Hype Williams, featured models Selita Ebanks, Miranda Kerr, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and was released in both a color version with bright colors and a black-and-white version.

In Their Own Story

In the studio for "Number One," Pharrell Williams and Kanye West crafted a synth-heavy love song that would become the third single from Williams' debut album In My Mind. Released on August 21, 2006, through Star Trak Entertainment and Virgin Records, the track featured West not as a traditional rapper but as the song's hype man, delivering the third verse. The collaboration paid off when "Number One" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 57, making it the second song from the album to chart. Critics responded positively to the single, a notable contrast to the album's overall reception. The music video, directed by Hype Williams, brought in models Selita Ebanks, Miranda Kerr, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and was produced in two versions: one full of bright colors and another in black and white.

Reader's Guide

Pharrell Williams' collaboration with Kanye West on "Number One" represents a key moment in both artists' careers. Released on August 21, 2006, as the third single from Williams' debut studio album In My Mind (2006), the song was a synth-heavy love track written by both performers. Williams produced the track while West served as the hype man and performed the third verse. The single was released by Star Trak Entertainment and Virgin Records in multiple formats: a UK CD featuring the explicit album version, "Swagger International," "Raspy," and the music video; a UK vinyl with the explicit album version and "Raspy"; and a UK promo CD with a clean version of the song. "Number One" became the second song from In My Mind to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 57. The music video, directed by Hype Williams, featured models Selita Ebanks, Miranda Kerr, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and was released in both color and black-and-white versions.

Did You Know?

• Pharrell Williams released "Number One" featuring Kanye West as the third single from his debut studio album In My Mind on August 21, 2006.
• Kanye West acted as the hype man and performed the third verse on "Number One," while Pharrell handled production.
• "Number One" peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the second song from In My Mind to chart.
• The music video for "Number One" was directed by Hype Williams and featured models Selita Ebanks, Miranda Kerr, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
• The song was released in two video versions: one in color with bright colors and one in black and white.