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Pharrell Williams’ marvelous upcoming solo album G I R L was marred with a bit of tardy controversy this morning of February 26 after a color war was spawned over his the model selection he used for the album’s cover.

The artist/producer unveiled the photo more than a week ago but no sooner did the album become available for free stream did the peanut gallery get to tossing their shells in his direction.

G I R L’s artwork depicts Pharrell posing with sunglasses in a spa back by three fair-faced ladies of the same or lighter complexion of the Academy Award-nominated artist. While there were definitely some tongue-in-cheek-responses to combat the backlash, renown journalist Dream Hampton expressed her disappointment with the album’s cover by not wishing to hear the album’s contents as result and several others felt the same way.

This isn’t the first time Pharrell caught hellfire and brimstone for his racial preferences. Repeated upstart rapper Azealia Banks accused The Neptune of disassociated himself with their “ATM Jam” duet to support his “lite skin comeback.”

Yet, talk is cheap without proof and we over here at Hip-Hop Wired found 10 good reasons with songs and videos to show why the notion of Pharrell being a reverse racist or abandoning Black faces to gain mainstream acceptance is nothing more than trolling.

Real art is colorblind.


Photo: Instagram/Kelly Rowland

2 Chainz – “Feds Watching”

The female lead is definitely more Lupita Nyong’o than Helen Lasichanh. You mad?

Kelly Rowland – “Feet To The Fire”

Pharrell is equal opportunist to both shades of Destiny’s children. You’re probably still mad.

Pharrell – “Frontin'”

Lauren London, the epitome of light-skinned candy excellence was curved in favor of her darker friend. Nuff said.

Twista – “That Girl”

Women come in all flavors–just like ice cream. Every Billionaire Boy knows this.

Clipse – “Ma I Don’t Love Her”

Faith Evans isn’t “Black” enough for you? How about an entire residence crawling with various coloured women?

Jay-Z – “Change Clothes”

Who doesn’t keep their options open during fashion week?

Ludacris – “Money Maker”

There isn’t any shame in Pharrell’s game to make a living off the assets of any video vixen, regardless of skin tone.

Snoop Dogg – “Beautiful”

Look at Pharrell and Uncle Snoop in the City of Gods with all those brown-skinned beauties. The nerve of them, right?

Azaelia Banks – “ATM Jam”

Perhaps, in a strange twist of events, Pharrell deemed the song to be pure struggle? It could be a Black maybe.

Robin Thicke – “Blurred Lines”

Shame on Pharrell for making the female cast of this video 33 percent Black. Better yet, shame on Robin.

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