5 Artists That Could Have Been The 4th Member Of N*E*R*D
When word trickled to the masses that Pharrell‘s Grammy-nominated band N*E*R*D had added the relatively unknown female pop singer Rhea (middle) to the family, die-hards such as myself were a little perturbed.
Some even went calling the newly formed quartet “sell-outs”, comparing their latest move to a similar maneuver pulled by Black Eyed Peas in ’03 when they acquired Fergie and instantly jumped from backpack-rapper group to pop superstars.
Me? I won’t get involved in all that name-calling! While I don’t believe in changing a good thing, I’m not that harsh. Besides, I trust their judgment; they’ve never let me down in their 8-year existence.
But let’s say that I really did care, and I had a say in choosing the female singer who would add both harmony and estrogen to the house that the boys from Virginia Beach have built. I’m about to have a fantasy draft. Here is my top five, in no particular order.
Kelis
She was jamming out with these guys way before she got impregnated with God’s Son’s son. Not only was she signed to Pharrell’s Star Trak imprint early in her career, she’s blessed more Neptunes beats than most artists, and performed with them before N*E*R*D existed.
She’s even lent a helping hand to “Truth or Dare” on their 2001 debut In Search Of…, too. Her super eclectic style and raspy but sexy vocals make her fit with P, Chad, and Shae like the last jigsaw puzzle piece.
Santigold
We haven’t seen this mysterious woman much since legal pressure forced her to change that “O” to an “I” in her stage name, but strangely enough, her latest appearance is on the new N*E*R*D joint that leaked a few weeks ago (listen/download here).
Her sound, while slightly reminiscent of M.I.A.’s, is unique in its own right, and combined with her exceptional songwriting would have been an interesting contrast to what we’re used to from Skateboard P.
Plus, her 80’s pop music vibe could even out their futuristic, outer space-esque sounds.
Janelle Monae
Good things come in small packages. This bundle of joy has stage presence that’s unmatched by any performer I’ve ever seen, and that goes hand-in-hand with N*E*R*D’s live show, which is based around their energetic tracks.
I saw her open up for them in Atlanta, and she got the crowd so hyped you would have thought she was the headlining act. Sure, she may not be as risqué and slightly raunchy as these guys (the lyrics on their earlier work tended to be very blatantly sexual), but you always gotta have one actual nerd in the crew, and she could very well be it.
Teyana Taylor
Everybody’s invested time and energy into her, including P, who signed her to Star Trak last year. But besides the YouTube clips, two leaked singles, a tweet here and there, and possibly the most vicious Sweet 16 episode of all-time, we don’t really know what Teyana’s all about yet.
N*E*R*D could have been the vehicle to showcase the talent that the native New Yorker is rumored to be harboring. She is born in 1990 though. Not even Kanye would call that “old enough.”
Lykke Li
Strange pick? I wouldn’t say so, especially after watching her interview with Nardwuar the Human Serviette, possibly the most unconventional (and most brilliant) musician interviewer of all time.
She spat a verse from A Tribe Called Quest‘s “Can I Kick It?” on the spot with ease and discussed her crazy punk rocker parents running around the house naked during her youth.
That plus her sexy Swedish accent is enough to tell me that she’s got some tricks up her sleeve. She could easily rock a show with those three, while simultaneously bringing some color contrast to the equation.
Again, just to clear up any commotion: I have no problems with their decision. Who knows, Rhea may take the group to places they’ve never been able to get to before. Time will tell. Until then, I’m dreaming about these incredible could-be combinations.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Am I forgetting anybody?
Goodness.
It’s about time someone put this topic on the table. But regardless of what happens, I only have faith in these Virginia natives that have been rockin’ it since ’01. It would of been interesting to see what type of fire Lykke could of brought.
I guess will just have to sit back and watch N*E*R*D’s next play unfold.
Would have loved to see Santogold…Kelis seems like she would have been the first pick since she was signed to the record label, but then again. I think that Kelis and N.E.R.D are of the same Genre, but still have totally different styles.
I agree with those all those females are creative and edgy. Teyana might do some stuff coming up with them since she is signed to Pharrell. I like Melanie Fiona too…
Even with one of these artist (who I enjoy individually), I still would have not approved this 4th member. They didn’t need the help and i’m not a fan of changing a winning formula.
Great choices Modi! Janelle Monae would be my number one!
Out of all the potential artists, I think Lykke Li would have been the most unconventional but overall best choice. I’ve been loving her for a while now. There’s a video of her performing Rick Ross floating around on Vimeo. Her voice is so different. I don’t know if I would have approved of another member but after seeing a short clip of them performing with this new chick, I really want to see what she brings to the table before I write her off as another Fergie.
wow. tough list. teyana taylor tho? hmm. very well written.
dope read!
p, chad, and shae are musical geniuses, this decision was definitely well thought out and planned. i think them adding a permanent female member was a good look. but i’ll save my snobbish remarks on why they shouldn’t have done it after i hear the album.
santigold would be my choice tho.
-te
Nice article! I agree with all of your choices. Sans Teyana Taylor though.
I dont like to see people mess with perfection but Im starting to come around…only because I dont think Pharrell will put out any bad music. We shall see.
I think Kelis is great, so she’d be my first choice as well. But I’ve been out of the music loop for a bit, so I’m not sure about the rest of this list.
That being said, let’s give N*E*R*D the benefit of the doubt! I’m expecting more dope sounds!
You know how I feel about it. Kelis all the way!!!!….but I can definitely see how the other artists could fit in as well. For the BEST fit though, I just think Kelis has the entire package. I feel like her eclectic musical style fits in perfectly with theirs. And she knows how they operate because pretty much half her beats come from The Neptunes anyway. If she wasn’t pregnant, I think she shoulda been in there, no question.
Great post Modi!!!
T. Taylor woulda been beast! She could still be the fourth member of C.R.S!!!!
What about Res?
I would nominate my girl Cheasleauen she gets it in.
http://twitter.com/cheasleauen
plus shes blatantly sexual and can kill any of those uptempo beats them boys drop.
hm…new digs I see, modi.
I think I’d have to go with janelle monae. not a big kelis guy but then again she scared the shit outta me with that ‘i hate u so much right now’ video that I haven’t gone back. I think the best FIT for the group is santigold…with an O tho. I said janelle cuz the energy on the track would be crazy but santigold n NERD go hand in hand to me…i just like a new dynamic bein added to the group lol..
Nice work man. Hope it’s the first of many more post. You and your Pharrell biz.
Damn,that’s a nice list..it would have been intereting to see any of them with N*E*R*D. Ill article as usual!
While Kelis would be an obvious choice, Lyyke Li would have definately loved to see Lyyke Li join forces with NERD, it would have give a different dimension to their music. Janelle Monae would have also been cool to see. Good choices otherwise, couldn’t have compiled a better list myself.
I didn’t know its SantIgold now. I like her a lot…she still locked up in a room w/ that trouble andrew guy?
Anyway…I think Gwen Stefani would complete that dream team like know other! Or maybe even Va$htie! I don’t know if bshe has any musical talent but damn! She’s a gift from god!
Good post my dude. I learned a few things just now.
Nice article. I think the move with a new chick should be good. Will probably give them new ideas, no boundaries, and no expectations with people they have already worked with like Kelis. Time will tell if it’s a good move or not. You know NERD won’t drop any material if it doesn’t fit though.
Seriously, who is this chick?
Why fuck up a good thing and add anyone else at all?
N.E.R.D. was good as they were. I feel like with “Seeing Sounds,” they might have been at the top of their game. Now they want to go and throw in a new element.
I guess we’ll see what happens.
nice picks, I will be checking some of these gals out for the first time. And I don’t think NERD could ever turn into black eyed peas (thankfully).
Great Great article man!!
My top 2 picks would be Kelis and Janelle Monae.
Janelle could match the energy that N.E.R.D brings to the shows with ease and is a excellent singer to her credit,but there is no other female singer that does a Neptune produced track justice better than Kelis. Her voice + Their Beats= GOLD.
I hope Rhea meshes in good and at the same time, doesn’t changes the sound and subject matter of the group. When I saw that see was added, I was skeptical, but i’m willing to give her a chance.
2 thumbs up. Very fresh.
Hmm.. compelling argument. My only addition might be Ms. Erykah Badu. She’d kill it one the “run to the sun”-type jazzy records, she could go hard on the “spaz”-type records too. That’d be crazy.
Or what about Lauryn Hill? Now THAT would be crazy. Like.. crazy, crazy. Literally.
What about FeFe Dobson!? We all just forgot about her lol
I def think Kelis would’ve been a great look. Great Post btw.
Deffyyyyy
N*E*R*D x Karen O. That would be crazy.
my vote goes to Santigold.
Great post by the way, modi!
whoa, wasn’t expecting to see lykke on there, but i like it! that’s my pick.
Out of the choices listed I would say either Lykke Li or Kelis. Janelle Monet has her own thing going and her own solo energy…I think she would do well doing a song with NERD though..it would be pretty hot. Kelis hasn’t been up to much in the last year or so anyway so she could use the exposure. She’s pretty blatant in her sexual references too so she would most likely be comfortable with their earlier stuff.
Dope choices Modi!! While any of these (save Teyanna Taylor…something about her irks me) would be great options I think Santigold or Janelle Monat would be the hotness.
Keep the articles comin!!! Love your perspective
good analysis, i feel like any of those artists would easily fit with n*e*r*d’s sound. i prob woulda picked lykke li or teyana. lykke li presents a diversity that doesn’t really exist in music right now. she’s kind of like a toned-down lady gaga to me. don’t sleep on her stage presence either i saw a hulu video of her and she was wild. teyana taylor would bring sex appeal as well as a completely capable artist. we’ll see how new girl works out though.
taylor! never! hahahah she is so terrible, and Modi i expected better of you than to even mention the name. Santigold has to be the hands down choice, she would get busy in that role
I think that it’s great they are putting someone on that we don’t know. I am curious to see how she will work and blend with the group. It might make them less appealing to their underground fans for doing the predictable thing. Who knows! As long as pharrell is front runner up- they’ll be JUST fine!
Love the article
WTF?!
I’m just now hearin about this for the first time. WHAT is goin ON? RHEA? Come on, P…really? Has ANYONE heard her music? Just youtube her! She’s worse than Cassie!
I think this is WORSE than the Fergie move, by far.
It’s almost lower blow than Sarah Palin…who is now a rockstar to conservative hockey families with kids under 18.
Basically this is N*E*R*D, a group of guys fast approaching their mid-30s (if they haven’t already got there yet) reaching way down deep into the cess-pool of youtube R&B sidekick girls that look good on a poster. How could anyone approve of this?? You might as well be watching that episode of Golden Girls where Blanch dates a prep-school boy…with your meat hangin out on the couch!!!!!!
I don’t know how well she’ll mesh with their surf n’ skate roots, but I hope she doesn’t get too much influence, like Fergie did.
Maybe she will. Maybe she’s a real cool chick in real life. In fact, I’m sure she is. I’m sure they couldn’t work out such a deal, but my pick would DEFINITELY have been Kelis. Pregnant or not this is about the music people!
A couple of things to note here. Fergie completely changed the dynamic for the black eyed peas, they went from backpackin to headlining; successful move in eyes. you could make the case that they sold out to their original fans, but that music will be there. You can always come back to it. Its great to see the progression they’ve made. In my humble opinion any artist or group who isn’t growing and maturing and expressing that through their work is not worth listening to. With that being said, with N*E*R*D, I have seen and watched how far they’ve come as artists. The first album In Search Of… really opened my eyes to a world outside of radio hip hop; it was majestic. Think about it go, songs like Provider, Bobby James, Tape You, RockStar, Brain… I feel like i should list the whole damn album. Point is the shit is a retrospective classic. It didn’t get the credit it deserved. Fly or Die took us in a different direction, the album possessed a pseudo rock feel, and in terms of the track order was a bit more thematic. Alot of people weren’t ready for it, said they sounded different. I thought it phenomenal. When i went to Richmond back in 08 to see that show those sounded great live. They also performed some, what was then, new material off the Seeing Sounds album. once again, people weren’t ready for it… but now Everybody nose that album is fucking great. You Know what i bet we’ll look back on this and laugh about it. I’ve always trusted my favorite musicians and given them the space to create something without judging it before I’ve had a chance to experience, contemplate and assess their work. Its for that reason I trust this move they made. I don’t know much about Rhea. guess what? I don’t need to, if they think they needed to add her to the group, so be it. I’m sure N*E*R*D will be coming out with some new shit so hot my eardrums will have 3rd degree burns just from listening to the album. Good Lawd.
its between kelis, and Santigold for who would be the listeners choice for the 4th member though. I don’t really think either would bring an exceptional dynamism to the group .Lykke Li would be insane though. she’s way to nice. in fact, I want her to make a feature on the new album, that would be amazing.
yay! i love good writing, these days you cant find it on these blogs!
anyways, I agree, Teyana Taylor has yet to define who place in the game. word is she is releasing a cosmetic line called “Dope Lips” (lol). I am not surprised.
Also, Lykke Lye is the shit!!! I love her collabos with Bjorn and Kleerup
im with lykke li creatively on this one but i just cant see her matching their energy level at a show. that said, kelis is a close second.
TEYANA-KNOCK IT OFF! she just needs to model and tweet. but, Kelis…..number one pick for moi.
and that’s all she wrote.
Great article – I definitely spent some time googling her and I didn’t find too much. I’ve never been a huge a NERD fan so I don’t think my opinion is too valid. From what I do know of them, I’m going to have to go with Kelis.
wow. good to see that we’ve got people talking in this conversation. sounds like kelis, lykke li, and santigold are the most popular.
people also sound like janelle may be too soft, and teyana may not be…anything to base anything around.
@maud: i think that you may be right. the unknown girl brings a whole new element to the new N*E*R*D: mystery. and now we’re looking forward to the music they’re about to make without already coming to conclusions like we would if we already knew the artist. plus, let’s be real. these other girls all have successful careers without the help of a band. they can rock by themselves for a while and everything will be good.
Any of these ladies would have been awesome! I love JM!
Damn…teyana taylor it is..
dude, this is something i have a strong opinion about. i’m pissed about this new member.
I think Rhea needs a chance.
I’m sure they wanted a chick who wasn’t already famous. Pharrell said he only wanted someone who could replace him having to sing in the falsetto. sheesh
Interesting choices… I personally wouldn’t go with Kelis. I think she has too much of an established pop image on her own that doesn’t mesh well with their music…but that’s just me. Teyana Taylor does open up hype shows, but I’m not feelin her here. I agree that Lauryn Hill and Gwen Stefani should be added to the list!
Definitely Kelis and Janelle Monae. They fit the script better than Angela Davis in a black film, better than Sticky Fingaz in a “BET Films presents…”, etc etc you catch my drift
Let’s see what the N*E*R*D guys have in store for us though. I’m sure they aren’t dumb enough to kill the buzz.
Interesting argument. I agree with few folks who mentioned that as a group, NERD has to evolve and go the next level…even if that means adding another person. I think its great they added a female voice…because let’s be real…You ALWAYS need a female sound/voice/energy when creating music. As to your argument that they chose the wrong female. I disagree with you fully. All the women you listed are established artists. They don’t need to be with the guys to make their mark. ESPECIALLY Janelle and Kelis. We as fans would be unable to differentiate the persona that these women have created for themselves from the new one they’d have by being a part of NERD. They would overpower the guys and the boys..sorry to say..would just become like the Pips. And IF they had to chose from folks you listed…maybe Lykke Li would be only one who could add something to the group…both musically and image-wise. But still, she has her own growing following in Europe and here so she really doesn’t need to be part of their group. Lastly, you gotta keep in mind the marketing/branding aspect of the group. Its safe to say that everyone on here agrees they needed a female…..but they also need one who will have certain look/attitude.Someone who can tap into an area that they may have been unable to tap into…musically and aesthetically. She may be a great singer…or just have a different sounding voice. Fergie vocally is no mariah carey. But she is a white woman who can carry a note, noone knew her background prior, she had crazy taste in clothes and had attitude to back it all up. So if we are to go with the argument that alotta folks on here have made, that NERD is trying to copy BEPs…well they are doing it right so far. They picked a ethnically-vague, attractive, fashionable(from this picture she has decent taste…or maybe her stylist does) and I’ll ASSUME she can sing…least better than the guys…so it sounds like they are about to break into the pop world..at least in the way that maybe they have been trying to do for so long…not that I am trying to imply they don’t have a strong following…but they haven’t reached a point yet where they solely are selling out stadiums as headlining acts. But with this new change they may just be able to do that. and hopefully still stay true to their sound.