Pharrell & LEGO: a Magical Duo

Pharrell Williams reinvented sound. He’s always been ahead of his time, and I truly do not know where music would be without his existence and influence. Pharrell’s new film, Piece by Piece, gives fans a closer look at his journey in not your typical documentary fashion. The decision to tell his story through LEGOs is nothing short of genius. It adds a fun, creative twist that made me see his life in a new way.

The choice to use LEGOs to represent his journey might seem odd at first. A few of my friends didn’t watch the movie at all because of the animation style, but I believe it is truly, perfectly aligned. LEGOs symbolize creativity and endless possibilities. It’s everything Pharrell stands for. More artists should take different, expressive approaches to their autobiographies. They should exercise the power in creating while living to have more control on how your story is told. 

I love the construction of the music, and the process it took for it to be heard is important to me as an artist. As someone who admires Pharrell but didn’t know much about his personal life, Piece by Piece was eye opening. One of the biggest surprises for me was how little I knew about Chad Hugo, Pharrell’s longtime partner in The Neptunes and N.E.R.D.

I’ve always known Pharrell was a genius, but I didn’t realize how crucial Hugo was in crafting those iconic beats. The documentary dives into their journey, showing how they created so many songs that have defined pop culture. What’s even more inspiring is how they handled rejection. The Neptunes were told “no” so many times, but they kept going, trusting their vision. That determination spoke to me as an artist.

Another thing I appreciated was Pharrell’s honesty about his shortcoming. He didn’t just talk about his wins—he owned up to times when his ego got in the way. He admitted that arrogance caused problems in his life and career. It made me think about how the industry can mess with people, turning their focus from the art to money and fame. Pharrell’s humility was a reminder to stay pure & true to myself.

Walking out of the theater, I felt inspired. Pharrell’s story, told through the lens of LEGOs, reminded me that life, like art, is built one piece at a time. There’s no rushing it. I’ve had a LEGO set sitting at home for a while now, and after seeing Piece by Piece, I think it’s time to start building—not just the set, but my future, one intentional step at a time.