N.E.R.D is back.
Seven years since their last album, the trio of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shay Haley have unleashed a brand new single, “Lemon,” featuring a rapping Rihanna.
“The truth will set you free,” Skateboard P says before N.E.R.D’s futuristic bounce begins to bang. “But first it’ll piss you off.”
Over hypnotic production reminiscent of The Neptunes’ golden years, Pharrell makes a call to action. “If not now, then when,” he raps. “If not me, then who / Don’t drink the Kool-Aid, my friends / I tried to tell y’all about this dude!”
Bad Gal RiRi adds some bounce to the confident banger. “This ain’t a scrimmage,” she raps. “Ma’fucka, we ain’t finished / I tell you, we won’t stop … It’s Rihanna, ni**a, my constellation is space.”
To go along with the single, N.E.R.D also unleashed a video, which they are calling a “tutorial.” It finds Rihanna shaving a woman’s head before an energetic dance sequence breaks out.
N.E.R.D is set to reunite on stage at ComplexCon this Saturday (Nov. 4). They are also gearing up to release a new album, their first since 2010’s Nothing. “No One Ever Really Dies” billboards recently started appearing around Los Angeles teasing their return.