In My Mind

As a member of the massively influential recording teams the Neptunes and N.E.R.D., Pharrell Williams slowly made a name for himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s as one of the hottest producers on the scene. IN MY MIND, from 2006, is the artist's first full-length solo album, and it brims with Pharrell's trademark production flourishes and cross-genre sampling.
The overall feel of IN MY MIND falls somewhere between hip-hop and urban contemporary R&B, whether on the spare, electro-funk beats of "Keep It Playa" or the smooth, seductive groove of "Baby." A figure as in-demand as Pharrell can get just about any guest he wants, and the list for IN MY MIND is an impressive one: Slim Thug, Nelly, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, and Gwen Stefani, all of whom were Pharrell clients at one point or another, make appearances. The artist's own vocals and MC skills aren't quite equal to his expertise behind the boards, but the shortcoming is easy enough to forgive, thanks to the album's carefully constructed, dazzling sonic treats.