Gig of the week, N*E*R*D*, Manchester Academy

beats:

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are probably better known as The Neptunes and are credited with changing the face of hip hop by taking a minimalist approach to create a more sophisticated sound.

The duo have worked with everyone from Justin Timberlake to Jay-Z and Britney Spears to Busta Rhymes, but as a sideline to their production work, the pair make their own music along with childhood friend Shay Haley.

N*E*R*D*, which stands for No One Ever Really Dies, are a funk hip hop act who have enjoyed success with albums “In Search Of”, “Fly Or Die” and “Seeing Sounds” and singles “Lapdance”, “Rock Star” and “She Wants To Move”.

Their fourth album, “Nothing”, is out in September.