Amari World: PHARRELL AT THE APOLLO AKA RANDOM TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY PHARRELL WILLIAMS

Last night Pharrell Williams performed at the legendary Apollo Theater in front of a sold-out crowd and millions of viewers over a live stream. A very appreciative and "Happy" Pharrell took the stage and put on a very intimate show for his fans. Much like his fans and "suns"(singers, dancers, and band) Pharrell's set was very diverse. Pharrell was even joined by both Busta Rhymes and T.I during the show. Throughout the night Pharrell made sure to keep ALL his fans satisfied performing tracks from his new album GIRL, along with club favorites he produced, and classic Nerd, and BAPE, BBC era hits. I can only imagine how difficult it is to choose an actual set for an artist with a catalog as amazing as Pharrell's. Between songs Pharrell made sure to continuously thank everyone who's helped him get to where he is today. There was a repeated theme of equality, "Happiness", and humbleness during his show directed by the legendary Spike Lee. It's funny because the show was in Harlem and the only Black people in attendance were me, Busta Rhymes & T.I (lol...it was a predominately white audience). I'd say it was about 65% White people and then the other 35% was OG Pharrell fans inspired by the BAPE/BBC era (which I'll get into later). But yea, I challenged myself last night to find another Black guy that white people loved more than Pharrell.... yea I failed at that. I don't blame them either, at one point in the show he stopped to talk about woman empowerment and how he's gonna be the biggest supporter and "be on the right side of history". So overall the show was dope man Pharrell did a great job, the crowd left very "Happy" and he's definitely the Peoples Champ.

"Inserts corny caption"
Pharrell is happy!

Now if yall dont mind I wanna write about the Pharrell I know and grew to love! The BBC/Ice Cream wearing Bape Sta rocking, the man who introduced the world to Lauren London, beautiful exotic women of all types in his videos, and arguably greatest Producer of MY generation. The mans a genius... a lot of times people fail to realize all he's done and accomplished. AND this is all before the last couple of years when he became an GLOBAL icon. So imma split this up into two sections, one being his musical influence and impact on the industry and the other his style but more importantly his cultural impact on the teens of my generation.

In My Mind album cover
(Personal favorite)

Lets start off with his musical impact. Like I said before the man is arguably the greatest producer/ song writer of my generation. Please note that when I say my generation I mean MY generation (16-24 year olds) so old heads please take the caps locks off I'm not trying to disrespect anyone from your era like Marley Marl & Pete Rock and them (LOL) . When I think of the top producers of my generation I'm thinking Timbaland, Kanye, Scott Storch, Just Blaze and Pharrell. Now if I'm forgetting someone tell me and we can debate it's all recreational and for the love of the culture. Pharrell has blessed radios and DJ's across the country with many timeless hits. Seriously, there was songs I didn't know Pharrell produced until today when I started some extra research for the blog. Imma hit yall with this plot twist real quick cause we all learn new things everyday, here's ten songs you most likely didn't know Pharrell (Co)Produced or (Co)Wrote... Alright here they go - I'm a Slave 4 U - (Britney Spears), U Don't Have to Call - (Usher), Girls Dem Sugar - (Beenie Man), Hollaback Girl - (Gwen Stefani), Hot In Herre - (Nelly), Rock Your Body - (Justin Timberlake), Girlfriend - (N'Sync), Say Somethin - (Mariah Carey), Touch -(Omarion), and Milkshake - (Kelis). You gotta look at the diversity in those tracks son. I can only imagine Pharrell being in the studio with Britney Spears and then flying to the Caribbean islands to make a track with Beenie Man. Like my man Kanye once said, Pharrell is "the gap like Banana Republic and Old Navy". AND you gotta note that this was only songs that most people don't know are his, I haven't even mentioned his solo work or the songs he has that EVERYONE knows. But nah that's all imma write about music wise cause I don't want this to be too long people been complaining about the length of my post (you know who you are Lol). Word though Pharrell has had an amazing music career that keeps getting better, the dude has 7 Grammy awards man, thats beyond dope!

Peep the Bapestas <3

More than a brand but a lifestyle

Ok now for my favorite part by far, Pharrell's style impact and cultural impact in the game. Pharrell paved the way and gave the whole Rap game a blueprint for creating their own clothing brands. Along with a good friend of his Nigo (Creator of BAPE) Pharrell created the brand Billionaire Boys Club/ Ice Cream in 2005. Now I say Pharrell paved the way because he was the first rapper to really take over the streetwear game. I know the old heads, like my dad and uncles will be like; "but yo, what about Karl Kani and Roca Wear and FUBU and Walker Wear" etc. etc. But yeah, I don't really know about all that so imma stick to my field you feel me. Now, what's most impressive to me and what I think makes him such a great business man was how his Product Placement and Advertising game was too strong. It was no billboards or magazine ad's, nah it was just dope music videos and the people you admire wearing the clothes and after that nothing was really the same. The thing about BBC and Ice Cream is that it was a lifestyle more than a brand. Wearing BBC or a pair of Bapestas represented a certain social class or group you belonged to, you were a cool kid or a n.e.r.d. I remember being in 6th Grade (I'm a high school senior now) and my cousin had spent the night at my crib and he let me wear his light blue camo Bape's to school. I remember taking the bus to school that day thinking I was the coolest kid ever rocking these Bapestas. Too bad I was ahead of my time though cause I had never been teased more in my life than that day. Everyone was telling me I had on fake Air forces, I'm like "Nah man these Bapestas ya'll don't know what ya'll talking about these cost more than any pair of Air forces you got". And just like that you couldn't tell me nothing I loved that feeling of breaking necks, being the center of attention and getting compliments from the people that was about that life. And that's what that whole movement was all about man and no one deserves credit for that other than Pharrell. I remember going to my Uncle Myles house watching the Frontin video, the I Just Wanna Love Ya video, Lets Get Blown and all you saw was BBC and Bape all over. My cousins had all the OG Bape and Ice Cream and they were the coolest people I knew ya dig. It was all about the vision, Pharrell knew and set the vision for a whole culture.

Look how cool those guys look

More Product Placement
Weezy F Baby

To close I wanna say this was a random blogpost but I was just really inspired last night at Pharrell's show. I mean look how far this guy's come you see the pics of him a decade ago and to see him now it's really amazing. I believe Pharrell should be a role model to a lot of the kids in my community because he made it, and he did it the right way you feel me. Pharrell's whole career has always been about positivity and diversity. And it's just really inspiring you know for a young man like me to see someone who likes all the same things as me just break into the game and do his thing. Like Pharrell said in one of my favorite songs of his "my n*gga you can do it too".

Special shoutouts and thank you's to my older cousins for inspiring me to be the fly young man that I am today, just by giving me a taste of that type of lifestyle and being different. Shout-out to Lisa for the close up pics of Pharrell performing and sending them my way I appreciate that! Shout-out to my Dad for inspiring me to start the blog and then encouraging me to continue to blog after I took a long break and for his old-school TBT photos with all the OG Jordans and Polo & Gucci lol. And a HUGE shoutout to everyone who takes the time to read and support the blog I really appreciate that you feel me, I won't forget ya when I make it big time. (Next posts won't be too long I apologize for the length of this post but I just got so much to say and such little time ya dig). Now here's just some random pics of me wearing BBC and Bape as a tribute to Pharrell and that lifestyle we all love.