Pharrell

Like most weeks for Pharrell Williams , this one is packed. On Thursday, he and Neptunes co-producer Chad Hugo will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This weekend, he’ll host the latest edition of his Something in the Water Festival. And then there’s his most philanthropic latest venture, announced today: helping underprivileged kids avoid low-paying jobs. As Williams sees it, Something in the Water isn’t just another music festival. It’s definitely that, of course: The lineup for the three-day event this Friday through Sunday in Washington, D.C. includes SZA, Lil Baby, Dave Matthews, Lil Uzi Vert, Calvin Harris, Tierra Whack, Roddy Ricch, Omar Apollo, and Run the Jewels. “It’s all kinds of music,” Williams says. “It’s American music.” Reflecting Williams’ legacy, clout and posse, the festival will also present Justin Timberlake and the onstage reunion of his one-time collaborators Clipse (“We’re super-excited about that — it’s our family, man,” he … [Read more...] about ‘The Paradigm Needs to Shift’: Why Pharrell Wants to Prep Marginalized Students for Tech Jobs

Stephanie Hwang was 15 when she left her native California for Seoul, South Korea, where she hoped to become a music star. Within two years, the teenager – now going by the stage name of Tiffany – made her debut with Girls’ Generation, which would become one of the most successful K-Pop groups ever. “It wasn’t easy in the beginning, because I was in Korea without my family and I couldn’t speak the language,” says the 28-year-old singer. “I had to learn Korean really fast so that I knew what was going on.” Last year, she opted not to renew her contract with SM Entertainment and moved back to Los Angeles to study acting and launch her solo career. Her first post-Girls’ Generation single is “Over My Skin,” a sensual, bold, English-language song she co-wrote, and is releasing under the new stage name Tiffany Young. Young spoke with RS about her new solo confidence, why she’d like to duet with Sam Smith, and more. Was your decision to use the name Tiffany Young – which … [Read more...] about Tiffany Young Steps Into the Solo Spotlight