Pharrell Williams was honored at ASCAP’s annual Rhythm & Soul Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, Friday (June 30). The Neptunes’ front man received the coveted Golden Note Award for his career achievements, spanning over a decade.
Legendary producer Quincy Jones was also acknowledged for his noteworthy contributions to music, with the Founder’s Award.
Skateboard P humbly accepted the honor, reflecting on how he started in music.”When Chad [Hugo] and I first started out, we never thought it was going to turn into any of this,” he told the audience.”You have no idea what God has prepared you for. You have no idea [how] what you’re doing in that moment, how’s it’s going to serve you later. I just can’t tell you how much it means to me to be acknowledged among such a creative room.”
The Virginia native also spoke on his father, who supported his creativity. “You should encourage your curiosity and not run away from it, and not be afraid to be different. I know we [the Neptunes] look different, and we often sound different, that’s okay. I credit all the people around me all my life that continue to push me on and say ‘Yeah I know it’s a little different, it’s a little weird, but it’s okay.’ It’s okay that you want to score a film, it’s okay that you want to encourage others, it’s okay that you want your music to be played on the moon, that’s okay. I’m very humbled by this moment, I’m super thankful. It’s also nice to share the night with Quincy [Jones], he is everything that every producer wants to be when we grow up. I only aspire to have the music that Chad and I make one day stand somewhere near his work.”
Other big winners included Noah “40” Shebib who took home the Songwriter of the Year Award, Miguel whose “Sure Thing” won Top R&B/Hip-Hop song, and producer Jean Baptiste Kouame II whose work on Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now,” earned the Top Rap Song award.
The night also included performances from Meek Mill, Tyrese and Marsha Ambrosious.
Check out photos from the ceremony below.
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Photos: Getty
