Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp sat down for a game of “Song Association” with Elle on Tuesday (May 31), and needless to say, things got hilariously feisty between the two.

Before they even started the game, the two Stranger Things stars confessed that they’d put in some practice ahead of time. “I mean, we tried playing it yesterday just for fun,” Schnapp admitted to the camera. “Millie crushed me, so we’ll see how it goes.”

From there, the pals — who play Eleven and Will Byers in the Netflix sci-fi hit, which just dropped season four — went round for round trying to come up with songs and sing them before the other when given a single word. Among their prompts? “Monster” (“Monster by Kanye West and “Monster” by Eminem and Rihanna), “Easy” (“Easy on Me” by Adele) and “Life” (“Life” by Drake, though Brown couldn’t come up with the lyrics and had to substitute Rascal Flatts’ “Life Is a Highway” after time ran out.)

However, Brown and Schnapp couldn’t always agree on a given song, from whether “How Far I’ll Go” from Disney’s Moana actually includes the word “waves” in its lyrics (the latter was right, it doesn’t) to whether Schnapp really knew the lyrics to John Mayer’s “Gravity.” (“You just keep saying word! It’s like you’ve definitely just heard it once,” Brown quipped as they busted up laughing)

In other Stranger Things-related news, the duo’s costar Sadie Sink recently revealed which Taylor Swift song would save her from the new season’s Big Bad (no spoilers!) after starring in the pop superstar’s short film for the 10-minute version of “All Too Well” last fall.

Watch Brown and Schnapp compete for “Song Association” glory below.

Harry Styles charts all 13 songs from his new album Harry’s House in the top 30 of the latest Billboard Hot 100 (dated June 4).

The set charges in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 521,500 equivalent album units in the week ending May 26, according to Luminate – the biggest weekly total for an album this year, surpassing the opening frame of Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (295,500) a week earlier. Styles’ third solo LP logs the biggest week for an album since Adele’s 30 debuted with 839,000 units (Dec. 4, 2021).

Leading Styles’ haul on the Hot 100, four Harry’s House songs rank in the top 10, paced by “As It Was,” which rebounds for a fourth week at No. 1. He ups his career total to seven top 10s (one more than One Direction — in which he broke through — achieved, in 2012-15).

Here’s a recap of Styles’ 13 entries on the newest Hot 100. All are debuts except for “As It Was”:

Rank, Title

No. 1, “As It Was” (up from No. 2; fourth week at No. 1)
No. 4, “Late Night Talking”
No. 8, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant”
No. 9, “Matilda”
No. 13, “Daylight”
No. 14, “Little Freak”
No. 15, “Grapejuice”
No. 21, “Satellite”
No. 22, “Cinema”
No. 24, “Daydreaming”
No. 25, “Keep Driving”
No. 29, “Love of My Life”
No. 30, “Boyfriends”

In the Hot 100’s 63-year history, Styles is just the second act to place at least 13 songs in the top 30 simultaneously. He joins Drake, who has achieved the feat twice, tallying 17 songs in the top 30 on the July 14, 2018, chart, concurrent with chart debut of parent set Scorpion, and a record 19 simultaneous top 30 hits on the Sept. 18, 2021, survey, as Certified Lover Boy launched atop the Billboard 200.

By adding 12, Styles swells his career solo total to 17 top 40 Hot 100 hits. (One Direction has earned 13.)

Kenshi Yonezu’s “M87” rises a notch to No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, released May 18, after debuting at No. 2 last week.

The theme of the movie Shin Ultraman ruled downloads and look-ups this week, and also excelled in physical sales (No. 2), streaming (No. 4), radio airplay (No. 2), video views (No. 3), and Twitter mentions (No. 6). The CD launched with 241,867 copies, about 80,000 more than the 31-year-old hitmakers previous single “Pale Blue” (161,252 first-week copies), showing significant synergy between the blockbuster film it’s featured in.

BE:FIRST’s “Bye-Good-Bye” returns to the top 10, soaring 41-2 on this week’s chart. The former No. 1 single remained in the top 100 for 11 weeks since topping the chart released on March 16, and returns to the upper ranks powered by sales and look-ups following the released of the CD version (162,492 copies).

While “Bye-Good-Bye” was the most-streamed track this week with 9,997,340 weekly streams, it’s listed at No. 3 for the metric of the Japan Hot 100’s methodology. The track falls under a new rule that sets a separate coefficient to tracks whose stream counts on a particular platform deviate significantly from the average balance of the overall market due to measures promoted by said streaming service. As a result, beginning from the chart released May 11, the ranking of the streaming metric for the Japan Hot 100 may differ from the ranking on Billboard Japan’s Streaming Songs tally.

AKB48’s 59th single called “Motokare desu” (He’s my ex) sold 418,710 copies to top sales this week, bowing at No. 3 on the Japan Hot 100 after coming in at No. 7 for look-ups, No. 9 for Twitter, No. 18 for radio, and No. 52 for downloads. Sales are down by about 10,000 copies compared to the girl group’s previous single, “Ne mo Ha mo Rumor.”

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look-ups and karaoke data.

For the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from May 16 to 22, click here.

J-pop duo YOASOBI dropped its latest single called “Sukida” on Monday (May 30).

The song was born from a collaborative project between the “Into the Night” pair and four Naoki Prize-winning female authors, who wrote stories based on the theme of “a story to read when you do [something] for the first time.”

“Sukida” was inspired by the story “Hikari no tane” (“Seed of Light”) by Eto Mori, included in the collection Hajimete no (“…for the first time”). The tale comes with a subtitle that roughly translates to “the Story to Read When You Tell Someone You Like Them For the First Time,” and is about a high school girl who has had a crush on her childhood friend for over 10 years. The fresh new love song accompanying the story depicts her fourth attempt to tell her crush how she feels, while making efforts to erase her past confessions by journeying through space and time.

The artwork for the single was designed by graphic designer Moe Yoshino, who created a collage of an imaginary flower from various real flowers.

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

These 10 tracks from artists including Sky Ferreira, Cuco, MisterWives and Empress Of will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.

Sky Ferreira, “Don’t Forget”

After a nearly nine-year wait for the follow-up to Sky Ferreira’s critically acclaimed 2013 debut, Night Time, My Time, the pop singer has once again given fans a glimmer of hope for an LP with the release of comeback single, “Don’t Forget.” Picking up where previous singles “Everything Is Embarrassing” and “I Blame Myself” left off, Ferreira returns with stadium-ready pop dripping with ’80s-inspired synths and lyrics that prove her bark is just as ferocious — and not to mention, infectious — as her bite (“keep it in mind / nobody here’s a friend of mine”). Though it remains unclear when Ferreira’s sophomore effort will arrive, “Don’t Forget” previews an album with the potential to be as strong as its predecessor. – Starr Bowenbank

Cuco, “Time Machine”

Mexican-American singer-songwriter Cuco returns with “Time Machine,” another love song that showcases his signature take on bedroom pop and indie rock. Lamenting his inability to spend more time with his lover, as well as wishing for the means to stop time in its tracks, Cuco delivers the wistful, sentimental lyrics in a languid manner indicative of his humanly limitations. – S. Bowenbank

Empress Of, “Dance For Me”

“Just a body, made of glass / When I break, I fix myself real fast,” Empress Of mastermind Lorely Rodriguez sings early on in “Dance For Me,” quickly declaring her personal fragility and self-sufficiency on the invigorated post-breakup track. Previewing her June EP Save Me, “Dance For Me” finds strength in its tempo, as Empress Of uses the swift beats as a fulcrum to a brighter future. – Jason Lipshutz

Max Drazen, “Let Me Down Slow”

Connecticut newcomer Max Drazen shows promise on debut single “Let Me Down Slow,” a relaxed rhythmic-pop track that amps up as the singer-songwriter becomes more desperate for emotional closure. Drazen showcases different tricks up his sleeve in the process – rap-singing on the verses, vulnerable warbling on the bridge, and a nice melodic feel on the main hook. – J. Lipshutz

Pool Kids, “That’s Physics, Baby”

Pool Kids’ “That’s Physics, Baby” is so light and buoyant that the fact that the Tallahassee band’s second album suffered a huge setback when a flood destroyed their studio space and gear, and forced them to essentially start from scratch, is all the more staggering. If the rest of Skeletal Lightning, out July 22, is half as full of emo-pop wonder as this single, the album will be downright inspiring. – J. Lipshutz

Zach Hood, “Lonely Isn’t The Word For This”

Perhaps even more impressive than the natural R&B croon that Zach Hood flaunts on new single “Lonely Isn’t The Word For This” is his attention to detail: throughout the heartbroken track, Hood pulls the listener into his own journey and the relationship that ended before it could truly blossom, turning into a straight-to-voicemail reply into affecting drama. – J. Lipshutz

CupcakKE, “H2hoe”

With plinky synths and a Middle Eastern flavor, the latest single from CupcakKe, “H2hoe,” is another winner that’s as clever as it is NSFW. For someone who’s been sharing eyebrow-raising couplets for more than half a decade, Chicago’s filthiest pâtissier has yet to get stale: Sample new lyric “make a p—sy stretch like minimum wage” on this motor-mouthed morsel as proof. – Joe Lynch

MisterWives, “Where Do We Go From Here”

NYC’s MisterWives are back with “Where Do We Go From Here,” which exists somewhere between the soundtrack to an action-filled but heartfelt ’80s flick and Ariana Grande’s “Into You.” The band’s relentless forward motion on “Here” pairs nicely with singer Mandy Lee’s confident yet cautious soul-baring.  – J. Lynch

Alfie Templeman, “Candyfloss”

English artist-producer Alfie Templeman’s anticipated debut album, Mellow Moon, is full of introspective pop gems and outwardly celebratory bangers — with “Candyfloss” surely the latter. With a groovy riff and glittering production, Templeman wrote that the song is about “how life can sometimes appear too good” — and with this on full blast, for a moment it can be. – Lyndsey Havens

Tate McRae, “What’s Your Problem?”

Alt-pop artist Tate McRae steps into stardom on her long-awaited debut album, i used to think i could fly, weaving in and out of tempos and styles. The one uniting thread: her songwriting, which often explores themes of relationships and self-worth. “What’s Your Problem?” stands out for relatable lines like “I should’ve known when my mom said she don’t like you” and the stinging “You made me hate myself just so that I would love you more.” – L. Havens

BTS joined White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday (May 31) to share a heartfelt testimony against the devastating rise of Asian-targeted hate crimes in the United States, as AAPI Heritage Month comes to a close.

“Hi, we’re BTS. It is a great honor to be invited to the White House today to discuss the important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion and diversity,” RM began the group’s powerful message, with his six bandmates behind him, all dressed in sleek black suits.

“This AAPI Heritage Month, we join the White House to stand with the AAHPI community and to celebrate,” Jin continued, before Jimin added, “We were devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes including Asian American hate crimes, but to put a stop to this and support the cause, we’d like to take this opportunity to voice ourselves once again.”

J-Hope took an opportunity to thank the superstar group’s devoted fan base, saying, “We are here today thanks to our ARMY, our fans worldwide who have different nationalities and cultures and use different languages. we are truly always grateful.”

Jungkook added, “We still feel surprised that music created by South Korean artists reaches so many people around the world, transcending languages and cultural barriers. we believe music is always an amazing and wonderful unifier of all things.”

To wrap up, Suga proclaimed, “It’s not wrong to be different, and equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences,” before V concluded, “Everyone has their own history. We hope today is one step forward to respecting and understanding each and every one as a valuable person.”

“We’re BTS and it is a great honor to be invited to the White House tonight to discuss the important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion and diversity.”

Members of the global K-pop group deliver remarks before meeting with Pres. Biden. https://t.co/UQFGCaR88o pic.twitter.com/pNilMgjwnR

— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) May 31, 2022

The compilation of hate crime data, published by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism earlier this year, revealed that anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 339 percent in 2021 compared to the year before, with New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities surpassing their record numbers in 2020.

Visit AACAP’s website here for more resources on how to uplift and support the AAPI community, and understand the weight of racism and xenophobia they face.

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Lil Nas X and M&M’s are linking up for a sweet new partnership that will leverage the power of “music, art & entertainment” to bring fans together and build connections through a series of initiatives launching later this year, the brand announced on Tuesday (May 31).

“M&M’s is iconic and I’m a huge fan of the brand,” Lil Nas X said in a statement. “I’m excited to work with them on some really cool projects this year that are as colorful as they are.”

Further details about the collaboration have yet to be released, but Lil Nas X retweeted a “coming soon” post from the M&M’s Twitter account on Tuesday.

M&M’S & LIL NAS X coming soon… pic.twitter.com/J11cGUWw67

— M&M’S (@mmschocolate) May 31, 2022

The collaboration will showcase M&M’s commitments to “inspiring moments of connection and fun by encouraging a deeper sense of belonging,” noted Mars Wrigley Senior Brand Director Allison Miazga-Bedrick.

“Music is one of the most powerful tools to bring people together,” Miazga-Bedrick said. “Like our iconic M&M’s brand, music sparks nostalgia, memories, and fun, and we are thrilled to be able to partner with one of the most trailblazing artists in the world, Lil Nas X, to help us further cement M&M’s role within entertainment.”

Besides landing a new partnership, Lil Nas X will head out for his first-ever headlining world tour (click here for tickets). The Montero Tour kicks off in Detroit on Sept. 6 and wraps in Barcelona, Spain, on Nov. 17.

In addition to collaborating with Lil Nas X, M&M’s recreated artwork from albums released by Kacey Musgraves, H.E.R., Rosalia and David Bowie for a collection of limited-edition bags. The candy company will also be introducing a series of music-related initiatives, and recently partnered with NBC Universal on American Song Contest, which airs on NBC and Peacock, for a custom on-set lounge that doubled as a colorful area for contestants to hang out before and after they performed on the show.

M&M’s will also have a presence at several festivals this summer, and will give music fans a chance to join in on the fun from home via M&M’s digital music lounge.

Visit MMs.com for more summer music programming.

Editors Note: At the end of Mental Health Awareness month, Swedish bass producer Liquid Stranger shares in his own words the practices that help him manage the stress of the music industry, and how you can implement these strategies into your own life. 

My name is Martin Stääf — though you may be familiar with me through my stage name Liquid Stranger and my label/collective, Wakaan. I currently reside in Oklahoma, where my staff and music and clothing operation are based. I’ve been privileged to have worked in the music industry since the late ’90s, have released some 15 bodies of work — including my most recent LP Balance — and have toured all over the world. In October, we’ll be throwing our annual multi-day WAKAAN Music Festival in Ozark, Arkansas at Mulberry Mountain. 

As with any industry, in electronic music there are extreme pressures and a wide ride of emotions. Perhaps it’s even more so the case in the music industry, which is filled with long nights, intense travel and a see-saw of emotional highs and lows. At one point a DJ is performing on stage in front of thousands, commanding the crowd, and then later may find themselves sitting quietly in alone in a hotel room contemplating and scrutinizing every facet of their set.

There’s a major mental health crisis in the United States right now, and the electronic music community is not immune — far from it. We’ve tragically lost myriad high-profile producers over the last few years, and also industry executives who worked behind the scenes. It’s heartbreaking. There are, however, ways to soothe the soul. I would like to share with you how practicing martial arts has provided me with useful tools to help navigate my life. 

My story starts in Varberg, a small town in the south of Sweden where I grew up. I started training in martial arts at an early age, eventually earning black belts in a few different systems, such as Karate and Kung Fu, after years of hard work. After finishing school, and after working with music for a few years, I felt totally burnt out.

After lots of soul searching, I decided to move to Arizona at the age of 28, after getting a sponsorship for furthering my martial arts training. At this time, I was thinking my main focus should be on martial arts, as it felt like a better path for personal growth. It’s why I came Stateside, to train under grandmaster Soke Reagan. I worked with him daily, eventually started running his dojo, all while making music and touring on the side, more as a hobby.

While I’ve always been a creative, I very much view myself as a seeker, and someone who is hungry for knowledge about lots of different topics. I have always enjoyed the physical, and mental challenges that accompany martial arts. Walking through this experience helped my spiritual development, and offered me new ways to express myself through art. It helped me discover who I was, and how I could become a more self aware person, and better serve others. 

After my mentor, Harley Reagan passed quite suddenly in 2013, I went into a deep depression. I was desperately looking for ways to progress in my own path, yet honor all the things he taught me. I was searching for a bigger purpose. After some time, I realized how I could speak to more people, and be a force of good through music. I wanted to try to build a community larger than the martial arts academy, which was roughly 20-30 students at a time. That’s when the idea for Wakaan came about — and I ran with it. 

I can say that martial arts has directly helped me in my music career. It’s instilled many things in me to help me accomplish my goals. It’s given me a solid, stable, mental foundation by the practice of meditation. It’s about being present in the moment, going inwards and paying attention. I look at it as developing a set of new tools to deal with different life situations. We’re all human, but the more modalities we have to work with, the better. 

My mentor, Harley, handed down to me four steps to manifestation. In other words, how to turn your dreams into goals, and bring those goals into reality. These are not necessarily related to the warrior arts, but I think being more goal-oriented, having willpower, and work ethic is where martial arts helps. I’d like to share the four steps of manifestation with you, and hope you’ll find them useful for whatever journey you choose in life. 

Focus 

What is focus? Focus is knowing what you want. Being able to break through that first obstacle of confusion, and staying in the present will help determine what your desires are, and where you are going. This step comes first, since it lays the foundation for everything that comes after. The more clear you are with your focus, the easier it will be to reach your goals. Remember, the difference between a dream and a goal is that the goal has a date attached to it — the goal should be quantifiable.

Skills and Abilities 

How can I develop skills and abilities? Martial arts are good for this because you repeat yourself, and even if it’s tedious, it’s about determination. Training the muscle to train itself. Learning new skills comes more natural if you fully know what you want, so make sure you have a clear focus before you start this step.

Get Off Your A– and Work

Keep going after it and perfecting your craft. Keep busy, and stay busy. Don’t get derailed by not having instant success — it takes time. This step is about will power. Get up. Work hard. Fail. Get back up. Work harder.

Surrender and Completion 

This last step has been the hardest to understand myself, since I’m a perfectionist. I mistakenly thought it had to do with giving up — which I later understood isn’t the case at all. It’s more about knowing how, and when, to detach and hand over something to the universe. A prime example in my life is knowing when to stop working on a track. Only when I bring a song to completion can it start to work for me, and fill its purpose out in the world for the listener.

A final point I would like to make is that it’s paramount to surround yourself with good people who challenge you. I travel with a full crew who all serve a function, but also makes me take my life more seriously. It’s an absolute honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly, to be able to do this as my job. 

Chad Hugo has a way of finding what your other talents are.

Hugo, calling in from New York in May, asks if this interviewer played any instruments. When I tell him about my brief experience playing second violin in my middle school orchestra, he suggests I should pick it back up again. Later in our conversation, I ask how he stays creatively motivated while remaining a student.

“Creativity comes and goes,” he says over Zoom. “It’s various ways. I think reading books and there’s MasterClasses they offer, I’ve been watching some of those. TED Talks. Just staying up on things like that. The news. Traveling. Family is very, very important. And spreading encouragement to other people too. Being inspiring to younger people, as well as older people. And living life.”

“Why did you stop playing?” he asks.

I tell him about quitting orchestra once I got to high school, rebelling against an instructor I didn’t like by dropping the class. After hearing my story, he offers a piece of wisdom.

“The awesome thing is you have the foundation, you could always go back to it,” Hugo says. “You always have a family there, to string instruments and orchestra, if you wanted to get back into it, you could. They are always welcoming community musicians in instrumentalist communities. It’s not too difficult to bring something.”

As someone who finds time to play with metro big bands in Virginia these days, the 48-year-old polymath is a pure musician who continues to keep his skills sharp. Hugo has an encyclopedic knowledge of music, musical equipment, and instruments. Any time he shares a story, he’s humbled to still be here, naming off studio gear he used at the time as markers in history. With his longtime friend Pharrell Williams as The Neptunes, Hugo changed the sound of pop and urban radio from the late 1990s into the 2000s, producing for N.O.R.E., Busta Rhymes, Clipse, Jay-Z, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and many more.

It’s why fans got excited two years ago, on January 9, 2020, when Hugo revealed to Clash that he and Williams were “getting back on The Neptunes grind.” Coming off N.E.R.D.’s No One Ever Really Dies in 2017 and Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods in 2018, this would be the first time the duo officially returned to produce for a new crop of artists.

On January 16, it was also announced The Neptunes would be inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an honor that Hugo is very familiar with – from naming songs the founder Johnny Mercer has written to recognizing the prestigious honor of the Johnny Mercer Award. Joining The Neptunes for the 2020 class are Mariah Carey, Isley Brothers, William “Mickey” Stevenson, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, Steve Miller, and Rick Nowels. Master songwriter Paul Williams will be receiving the Johnny Mercer Award and Universal Music Publishing Chairman and CEO, Jody Gerson will receive the Abe Olman Publisher Award.

Jon Platt, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Publishing and a board member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was the first to break the news to Hugo about his induction. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 51st annual induction and awards gala in New York has been postponed twice: it was originally set for June 11, 2020 and rescheduled for June 10, 2021. During those two years of postponing the show – and before the new date of June 16, 2022 – Hugo went to work at Criteria Recording Studios. “I was in the studio in Miami recording with my fellow Neptune, comrade Pharrell Williams, at his place,” Hugo says. “Various artists would come by. We would have recording sessions and beatmaking sessions. I was there to help, do what I can to contribute whatever it is I know and can do for the music.”

Between 2020 and 2022, The Neptunes’ sound started to spread through popular music again, via songs the duo produced for artists like the late Pop Smoke, Megan Thee Stallion, Moneybagg Yo, Brent Faiyaz, Summer Walker, Rosalía, A$AP Ferg, Nigo, and Omar Apollo. Recently, Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry album contained Pusha’s version of a Verzuz battle, with production split between Pharrell and Kanye West. Hugo was in Miami for over six weeks working with Ab-Liva and Pusha on the album, as confirmed by his publicist. “We just kept on the grind and made some stuff happen,” Hugo says. 

Hugo’s mystique is that he’s known as the person who plays the background, quietly being part of the recording experience. Pharrell has once said about Hugo: “He’s himself. He’s a savant. Being around him only makes everyone else better. He radiates genius.” Hugo’s introverted tendencies pairs well with Pharrell, who is often front-facing and in the spotlight. It creates a synergy and balance that’s rare to come by in hip-hop.

Many have written about how Pharrell met Chad as teenagers in band camp and getting discovered by New Jack Swing architect Teddy Riley, who signed them as a band before they transitioned to a production duo. But what hasn’t been written about enough is Hugo’s success story as a Filipino American in the music industry — especially given how Asian and Asian American musicians have risen to prominence in recent years.

It didn’t feel like a big deal back then to see him as one of the only Asians in the video for Clipse’s biggest song, “Grindin’.” Or to hear him explain Pharrell’s process and what he adds to the beat to make it sound interesting, taking it to a zone that’s associated with a feeling, in Jason Goldwatch’s 2003 documentary The Neptunes: The Eighth Planet. Or to hear him string together a freestyle over the “Rock Your Body” beat while Pharrell and Justin Timberlake were in earshot. It’s these meaningful moments as an Asian role model that were inspirational for the community who respect his contributions now, creating a path for the next generation to be comfortable embracing their otherness.

Hugo’s memories from his childhood are relatable to any Asian American household. He remembers his parents getting together with colleagues who migrated to America at the same time they did, building their tightly knit immigrant community. Family gatherings were also a thing for him, too.

“One of my aunts, she would host these ‘Name That Tune’ parties when we visited her. She had this Casino electronic keyboard and her and her lady friends would be blurting out ‘I don’t [know] what song,’” Hugo says. “Being around that scene, people get hyped and turnt up from hearing their favorite tune interplayed on an instrumental keyboard. No one was singing. It was like, ‘Name this tune! I can name it in five notes. I can name it seven notes. I can name it in 10 notes.’ And then they would say, ‘Oh, you win a prize!’ I was like, ‘Oh, this is an interesting form of entertainment.’ That kind of stuff stuck with me.”

Hugo’s parents worked all the time: his mother was a lab technician while his father served in the U.S. Navy. Entertainment at home consisted of music, watching vintage TV shows, and playing sports outside. His family had a console piano. He was fascinated by his parents’ record collection and their automatic record player. Later in life, his music interests grew through DJing church functions after learning how to mobile DJ. Because he was part of a community of aspiring Virginian producers who shared an interest in drum sounds and staying up on the new gear that was coming out, Hugo always had an outlet to explore music.

“Growing up as a kid, I used to make splice tapes out of electro-funk records,” Hugo says. “[That] was one of the things that I liked to do, which involved using a cassette and a boombox. And catching when the song would play on the next mixshow and hitting record on a beat, on a certain count. Like beat one or whatever. And that’s an extended play and that was a thing to have extended remixes and stuff. So that hobby just developed into recording, partnering up, and the collaborative process.”

He credits his mom for being a big supporter of his career. “When SWV’s [Neptunes-produced] ‘Use Your Heart’ came out, that was one of her favorite songs. And she would be encouraging. She would tell me what songs she liked on the radio. She really liked Diana Ross’ ‘Upside Down,’” Hugo says. “I remember her liking that song. ‘Use Your Heart,’ she really appreciated the writing there. ‘Use your heart, not your eyes.’ She was supportive of that tune.

“One thing about [my mom], when we got my saxophone the first time, I started out with a Buescher Aristocrat,  which is like a vintage horn that’s tarnished and stuff,” he continues. “She was like, ‘If you get better, you can get something better. But for now, this is it.’ The suburban life of hand-me-downs and if you want to make it, you got to work your way up.”

To be considered for the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Hugo heeded his mom’s advice, because he’s come a long way from his first solo production credit, Average Guyz’ “Ride,” in 1995, which he describes as “early production days of Teddy Riley.” Alongside Pharrell, they created a synth-heavy sound that’s been described as intergalactic and futuristic, ahead of its time. Even in 2022, their four-count intro remains a trademark and a pop and hip-hop staple, and their songs as N.E.R.D. with band member Shay Haley continue to be celebrated.

“From my point of view, I just liked the process of being involved in making a record and then building on something and constructing something that is durable. Bulletproof. Something that you can hear over and over again,” Hugo says. “And just being a fan of music and appreciating art and incorporating that into what we did. And I’m just grateful that I’ve been able to travel places and reach different audiences through my partnership with Pharrell as The Neptunes. You know, we were hustling and we just wanted to get our stuff out there. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”

This year is a perfect time to be a Neptunes fan, as many of Hugo’s important releases from 2002 are turning 20. The U.S. version of N.E.R.D.’s In Search Of… just reached its anniversary on March 12. Longtime Neptunes advocate Tyler, the Creator has tweeted it was the “greatest album of all time.” “Wow, he called it the greatest album of all time?” Hugo says in response. “That’s crazy, man. I love Tyler’s work and I love him as an artist. Igor was dope. I appreciate the shout-outs.”

“We were experimenting with a lot of sounds,” he remembers. “As a kid, I used to listen to some prog rock. When you listen to prog rock elements from the late ‘70s and ‘80s and some of the groups out there, it’s almost like a story the way they write their songs. It’s almost like a fictitious novel with some of the elements. It’s almost cinematic and movie-like. We were just starting a new movement. I think to this day, I’m still in search of it still. We should always have something that we strive to be searching for. There are things that we do find, and there are things we come to realize, it’s good to have goals and aspirations.”

If The Neptunes decide to take another break, the impact of their legacy will forever cement them as the greatest hip-hop producers of the 21st century. While they aren’t currently working on new music, they have other works that are completed that Hugo hopes it’ll be released in due time. Outside of his work with The Neptunes, Hugo has been sought-after for collaborations like MSSL CMMND, his DJ project with Daniel Biltmore, and producing for rising artists (Stalley, SG Lewis, Rakeem Miles) over the years.

Recently, Hugo was tapped to work on the soundtrack with Dan the Automator for Amblin Partners and Jo Koy’s Easter Sunday, based on the stand-up comedy and life experiences of Koy. He is also working on projects with M.I.A., Eyedress, The BLSSM, and Denzel Curry.

At one point in 2017, Hugo tweeted and deleted that he wanted to “resign from the music business” through an official retirement announcement. While a rep to Pitchfork said it was a bad joke, Hugo says of it now, “It was no joke. At the time, that’s how I was feeling.”

“But I’m back at it,” he reflects. “Continue to be creative in some way with my music. I’ve always liked the horror genre in movies. So if anyone is out there that wants to throw me in something, I’m down to be a zombie.”

Is there a future where Chad Hugo actually retires and becomes a zombie extra? Or is he here forever?

“Working on it,” he says, telling me I got to get back to playing the violin.