The L.A. Times on Sunday published this story out on N.E.R.D. What do you think of it? I just read it and was left scratching my head.

For one, it refers to N.E.R.D. as a 'side project,' which is interesting, because when I talked to Pharrell and Chad, they said repeatedly that N.E.R.D. was more an expression of who they really are musically than their hip hop or pop work. Did they not say that to this writer? I can't imagine why P, an eloquent and skillful interview subject, would leave that out. Hmm.

The writer ends with this line: "...the super producers can't command their huge studio paychecks to work with the likes of Justin Timberlake or Madonna unless they finally decide to stop performing their own music for the masses."

Huh? Aren't they already commanding big paychecks to work with those people while still doing N.E.R.D.? Didn't Madonna specifically recruit the Neptunes for 'Hard Candy?' I'm confused.

What bothers me the most is how they handle our boy Chad Hugo (on right). The writer opens the story with an anecdote about how the day of a Letterman appearance, Chad missed his flight (Who hasn't? Not hard to do.) and didn't answer his phone. He basically paints Chad as this shadowy, elusive almost-slacker, but never really explores that idea fully (by say, quoting other people who know him to find out why he is why he is) and just kind of leaves us hanging, inferring Chad doesn't care about the group. He does note that Chad is a 'homebody' and father, but never goes further with that. 

Hold up L.A. Times! I certainly don't know all that goes on inside that group, but I do know Chad is a beloved character in this area. Everyone I know here has nothing but great things to say about him, like everybody in the Star Trak fam including Fam-Lay and Clipse, and Shay and P -- and Chad and his family are a huge, huge inspiration on tons of people here. Granted he's a bit reserved, but once you get to know him he's a very generous and cool guy who takes his work and private life seriously; I know this firsthand, and would have never written an article suggesting otherwise even if he did never call me back.

So basically...don't be talking bout our VA peeps fool!

Yo L.A. Times: your story gets a big , 'Child, boo!'  

If you want to know the real on N.E.R.D. read my story instead. This is much clearer and informative. What? It is!

N.E.R.D.'s third album "Seeing Sounds" is out Tuesday.

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