Today in Hip-Hop: Pharrell Drops ‘In My Mind’ Album

On this day, July 25, in hip-hop history...

2006: Pharrell Williams had proven his prowess as a producer ten times over by the time he dropped his solo debut, In My Mind, on July 25, 2006. And still, Skateboard P blew hip-hop away with his bubbly, comedic, raspy and soulful body of work.

Fans of Pharrell had been waiting a long time for this album to drop. Always a perfectionist, the 16-track offering took three years to put together. With pristine production from P himself and features from hip-hop's heavy hitters—Jay Z, Nelly, Slim Thug, Snoop Dogg, and Pusha-T just to name a few—In My Mind offered tangy, dance-inducing sounds paired with funny annotations about the little things in life. The biggest singles off the album include "Can I Have It Like That" featuring Gwen Stefani, "Number One" featuring Kanye West and "Angel." And not only was it a timestamp of hip-hop's evolving sound, but the album also ushered a new era in hip-hop fashion by incorporating brands like A Bathing Ape and Billionaire Boys Club into P's personal brand.

In My Mind debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 142,000 copies in its first week. The LP received mixed reviews from critics when it was first released, but went on to be nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2007 Grammys. It would be eight years until the Virgina Beach maestro dropped his follow up with 2014's G I R L. Nevertheless, 12 years later, In My Mind stands as a monument of yet another shift in hip-hop culture.

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