With all the clout that comes with his celebrity status and a long, extensive record as an entrepreneur, Pharrell Williams is simply a force to be reckoned with when he decides to take on a project.
Known widely for the hit song “Happy,” singer-songwriter and music producer Williams has been influencing what many of us have been hearing on the radio for decades. He’s been awarded 13 Grammys, including three for Producer of the Year. Still, the megastar, deal-maker and fashion designer stays true to his Virginia Beach roots and is putting in the time and effort to help Hampton Roads to show its true potential.
“Most people see Pharrell as a very talented individual, which he is,” Hampton Roads Chamber President and CEO Bryan Stephens said. “He’s also a very impressive businessman. He’s got a business mind, which combined with his tremendous talent, makes him a real asset for the Hampton Roads region.”
He is the visionary behind the Oceanfront’s unprecedented sold-out multiday “Something in the Water” festival that brought national attention, top performers and tens of thousands of visitors per day in 2019 with an estimated regional economic impact of $24 million, according to economic analysis paid for by the city.
Williams said in a video the festival idea came in response to Virginia Beach’s then police chief brainstorming on how to handle College Beach Weekend during the last weekend in April. Williams, as he does, remixed the tourist weekend and brought his friends and other acts to his hometown to fuel fun and camaraderie while celebrating the region’s culture and diversity.
While the coronavirus pandemic canceled plans for “Something in the Water,” Stephens anticipates the festival will help put Hampton Roads on the map, much like Austin is know for the “South by Southwest” music, film and tech festival.
Williams has also been supportive of regional efforts to promote “The 757? brand, Stephens said. 757 had been a grassroots-selected moniker for the region for years.
“Whenever you have a nationally recognized figure that openly promotes the region and emphasizes the great quality of life and all of the assets the region has, that’s going to have a huge impact,” Stephens said. “I think he’s sincere in trying to make Hampton Roads a better place for all of its citizens.”
Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said he had 100% confidence in Williams’ character and abilities. Dyer said he wants to continue building on the positivity of the SITW weekend.
“I think Pharrell and I share a vision of putting Virginia Beach on a map in a positive way, and I think that involves working collaboratively with a lot of people,” Dyer said.
The entertainment industry icon, who Dyer said has a heart of gold and is a major force for good, was honored with the key to the city in 2014. Williams has been involved in efforts to mentor local youth for years and launched the nonprofit YELLOW to offer transformative learning opportunities for students.
Williams, a skateboarder, is also a partner with Venture Realty Group in the $325 million planned development called Atlantic Park on the former Dome concert site between 18th and 19th streets that will have a surf park and entertainment venue.
“We’re grateful to Pharrell for investing in his city,” Dyer said. “It speaks to us a lot as a community.”
“Something in the Water” landed a lot of national media attention and shows Virginia Beach isn’t just a beach town but is home to a lot of creative powerhouses, said Kate Pittman, executive director of the ViBe Creative District. The festival also inspires local young creatives and fuels a momentum for ongoing projects like murals.
Additionally, Williams works behind the scenes to give back, including helping to fund and bring World Central Kitchen to Hampton Roads to help feed people in need from desperate restaurants during the pandemic last year.
“He’s brought attention to Virginia Beach in ways no one else has in recent years,” Pittman said. “His contributions now are setting the stage for Virginia Beach’s future growth.”
In the award-winning production duo called The Neptunes, Williams and friend Chad Hugo — both Virginia Beach natives — have shaped the music industry through work on an array of popular hits performed by artists like Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Usher, Madonna, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, and Busta Rhymes and Daft Punk, among others, since the 1990s. Williams has worked with Ariana Grande and cowrote “Hollaback Girl” with Gwen Stefani.
The Neptunes were inducted into the 2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame. In an interview with Clash last year, Hugo said the pair were working with Blink 182, G-Eazy, Brandy and Dua Lipa, among others. Williams and Hugo are also known for their hip hop and rock band N.E.R.D.
Jarrell Williams, who showcases the region’s food and culture through event and marketing company Nomarama, said he respects Williams and his contribution to spotlight the culture of the region, but wants people who admire Williams to recognize that the 757 has been an amazing area for years with many residents and people of color contributing to its vibe.
“The was always something in the water here before ‘Something in the Water,'” he said, adding, “There’s still way more to do.”
Tara Bozick, 757-247-4741, tbozick@dailypress.com
