Jumping into the entertainment industry can be all fun and games, but Tyler, The Creator was set straight by Pharrell Williams. Those who have been tracking Tyler's career not only recall the impact that his music had on the industry but the carefree and often silly approach he took to his art. That still seems important to the rapper—having fun while drifting through the illusion the industry brings. However, he shared that it was Pharrell who offered up sage advice that helped Tyler shift his focus.
RapCaviar Presents is a new series slated for Hulu, and ahead of its March release, they've dropped off a teaser. In it, Tyler said, "I didn't have a father, I didn't have a big brother... So, as a kid, since 10, 11, Pharrell is who I looked at." Pharrell also appeared, revealing that the admiration turned into a friendship. "He would ask me advice on certain things," said the megaproducer.
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The two hitmakers were once in the studio, and Tyler recalled being told, “You got it, n*gga! You just don’t see it, n*gga! You got it, you got the sh*t.” Then, Pharrell shared advice that he once received from Jimmy Iovine. The music giant once asked Pharrell if he liked "house music." Williams thought Iovine was referring to the genre and said it has a "good tempo." Iovine corrected him and said, "No Pharrell, house music. Good music that could buy you a house.”
Pharrell later drove home the point to Tyler. “Make something undeniable and make it equally as infectious," Pharrell recalls telling him. "Why are you doing music? Is it because you just want to look cool? Because that will burn out. When it becomes purpose-oriented, it can be as cool as the flashy sh*t, but it will be much more meaningful.”
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It was advice that changed the course of Tyler's career. “Oh, f*ck," the rapper remembered thinking. "No more being silly. Music first. At that moment, we went home, and I just wanted to change everything. I just wanted to switch. And the switch f*cking happened.” Check out these two sharing the story above.