Pharrell Williams’ Songwriting Credits Ranked: A Deep Dive Into Hits He Wrote for Other Artists

Most people not living under a rock know that Pharrell Williams is a musical genius whose influence extends far beyond his solo career. Although he has made a respectable name for himself as a performer and producer, his songwriting skills for other artists belong in a category of their own.

From smash-hit infectious hip-pop choruses to soulful R&B ballads, Pharrell is who he thinks he is and has penned powerful, chart-topping songs over time. Here is a list that ranks all of the songwriting credits he has amassed over the years.

Pharrell’s songwriting skills go way back in time, and a lot of people don’t know this, but he has also worked with artists outside of hip-hop. In 2001, he joined forces with NSYNC to create “Girlfriend.”

Pharrell, known for his innovative production and catchy melodies, collaborated with NSYNC's Justin Timberlake and Chad Hugo to pen the song. Together, they infused the track with elements of R&B, hip-hop, and pop elements, which were all the people needed to have a good time. Safe to say, Pharrell really does know his stuff!

Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” was an anthem that Pharrell co-wrote with his Neptunes partner, Chad Hugo. The song, unsurprisingly, was a smash hit in 2005, topping the charts and earning widespread praise for its memorable chorus and bold lyrics.

Pharrell’s top-tier production rounded out the song and gave it a distinctive sound. Pharrell’s songwriting credits are vast, but this is definitely one of those feel-good anthems that have left a mark on the world of music at large.

Hip-hop heads know that “Hot in Herre” is one of Nelly’s top-rated songs. The classic hip-hop track became a global sensation after its release in 2002, which earned Nelly his first Billboard 100 number-one debut — all thanks to Pharrell. The Neptunes producer played a significant role in shaping the sound of early 2000s hip-hop and R&B, and this is one of the songs that topped the charts.

Pharrell was featured as a performer on this song, which showcases his talent and careful attention to detail. Almost every song that Pharrell produced turns to gold, and “Get Lucky” is one of the songs that showcase that magic touch.

The celebratory vibe that Daft Punk portrayed in the song closely aligns with Williams’ fun-spirited vibe.

Kendrick Lamar is a modern-day hip-hop icon, so imagine the magic that came alive in the studio when the Pharrell Williams teamed up with him for “Alright.”

Many fans probably don’t know this, but Pharrell produced and wrote the chorus for the smash hit. It takes a certain level of brilliance to be able to write music across genres for a variety of artists (and their specific audiences), and Pharrell has that. The producer knows what he is doing when it comes to musical synergy, and his work speaks for itself.

Ed Sheeran and Pharrell collaborated on “Sing,", the lead single from Ed Sheeran's critically acclaimed X album, which was well-received by fans. It peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In an interview with Reuters, Ed shed more light on the collaboration.

“'Sing' was a song that I did with Pharrell Williams, and it was a very random studio session where he was forcing me to try new things and really pushing me outside my comfort zone, and we just ended up with that song,” Ed said at the time.

He added: “I think he knew how special it was, and I needed a lot of convincing, and I'm glad he convinced me.”