ROC4LIFE

Jay-Z and Pharrell go together like biscuits and gravy. Their friendship dates back to the early oughts when they first connected on “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me).” That song’s instant success opened the dialog for future collaborations. In the course of a decade, Jay-Z and Pharrell have churned out enough gems to fill a Greatest Hits album. Here’s an annotated guide to Jay-Z x Pharrell.

Song: “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me)” feat. Jaguar Wright & Pharrell

Album: The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000)

Ah, the song that started it all. The album that spawned this hit, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, was stacked with blistering rhymes and hardbody beats. Jay needed a playful song to lighten things up — and found it in the slick Neptunes number, “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me).”

Song: “Excuse Me Miss” (2002)

Album: The Blueprint 2: The Gift and The Curse

A hit so good it spawned another hit.

Song: “Fuck All Nite”

Album: The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002)

Still riding the high of his other other hit, Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call,” Pharrell supplies the catchy hook to “Fuck All Nite.” It’s one of three Neptunes beats on The Blueprint 2.

Song: “Nigga Please”

Album: The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002)

This bouncy Neptunes concoction is one of the highlights of The Curse side of BP2, placed right after the cocky title track for emphasis.

Song: “A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier”

Album: The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002)

And after several minutes of chest thumping, Hov takes off his Yankee hat for a moment of truth. With a gorgeous piano loop soundtracking his introspection, Shawn spills his guts and sounds brilliant doing it.

Song: “Frontin’” Feat. Jay-Z

Album: The Neptunes Present…Clones (2003)

Jay and P caught lightning in a bottle on “Frontin’,” reaching #5 on the Hot 100 chart and nabbing a Grammy nod for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Song:“La-La-La (Excuse Me Miss Again)” (Jay-Z)

Album:: Bad Boys II Soundtrack (2003)

A slick Neptunes track meets a vaporous Jay-Z. The lust anthem about love at first sight tips its hat to Luther Vandross, winks at Biggie Smalls, and rattled a whole lotta trunks en route to #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Song: “Change Clothes”

Album: The Black Album (2003)

Jay-Z and Pharrell solidified their chemistry on “Change Clothes,” a song so mesmerizing they made it the lead single from The Black Album.It climbed all the way to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2003. The video featured a bevy of beautiful babes: Omahyra Mota, Naomi Campbell, Jessica White, Liliana Dominguez, and D. Woods.

Song: “Anything” feat. Usher and Pharrell

Album: Kingdom Come (2006)

Pharrell secretly longed for a Jay-Z x Usher collaboration (remember when he interpolated Ursh on another Jay’s “Fuck All Nite”?), so “Anything” must have felt like a dream session for him.

Song: “Young Girl”/”I Really Like You” (feat. Jay-Z)

Album: In My Mind (2006)

After years of riding the Neptunes’ bling bling sound to the top, Jay returns the favor on P’s solo album, as they muse over a PYT.

Song: “Blue Magic” (Jay-Z featuring Pharrell)

Album: American Gangster (2007)

“Blue Magic” kicked off the American Gangster campaign with gusto. It was later added to the project as a bonus track.

Song: “I Know” (Jay-Z featuring Pharrell)

Album: American Gangster (2007)

It wouldn’t be a Jay-Z album without a Neptunes single. The production duo of Pharrell and Chad Hugo notched not one but two out of three singles on American Gangster, with “Blue Magic” leading the pack and “I Know” dropping later.

Song: “So Ambitious” feat. Pharrell

Album: The Blueprint 3 (2009)

Arguably their best collaboration yet, “So Ambitious” is motivational rap at its finest.

Song: “Glory” (2012)

Jay marks Blue Ivy’s arrival with the joie de vivrethat often accompanies new fatherhood. “Glory” is sprawled over a cozy Neptunes soundbed, replete with P’s vocals and baby coos from Daddy’s little girl.

Bump this playlist on Spotify and impress your friends with your hip-hop knowledge.

(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty)

— Rizoh