Pharrell Williams - "In My Mind"

Poised at the peak of the American R&B market sits one man, Pharrell Williams. Even though major producers tend to exist in the shadows of their proteges - Babyface may have had a fantastic solo career but I can guarantee there are still a number of chart topping singles you didn't know he produced - Pharrell's always right in your face. And why not, with his distinctive yet charming countertenor, eccentric approach to production, and a laid-back vibe that just says seeeexy, he's the man you just can't miss. Like a master chef, he blends styles and artists into irresistible concoctions. He's made Kelis a "Milkshake," Britney a "Slave," brought the phrase "No-one Ever Really Dies" into the public conscious, and has now collaborated with Japanese hip-hop super-collective the Teriyaki Boyz.

But after years working within his projects N.E.R.D. and The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams, aka Skateboard P, has decided to release his first solo record. And with cleaver in hand, Williams is poised to serve a tasty cut of pop.

In Pharrell's own words, the upcoming album "In My Mind" is a fusion of the various albums he's thought up to date. The album is cleanly cleaved into halves; the hip-hop-flavored antipasto of a first side with rap ala Pharrell (typified by his single "Can I Have It Like That"), and the R&B dessert of a second side with the return of Williams's lickable falsetto (typified by his follow up single "She's An Angel").

However, the meat of the album is in the collaborations. "In My Mind" boasts featured performances from Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, and Daddy Yankee. Further in the collaboration stew, the cover art will be designed by Japanese clothing designer Nigo, who's clothing brand A Bathing Ape Pharrell Williams is known to cherish.