April 15-21, 2004

musicpicks

N.E.R.D./Black Eyed Peas

Hip-hop

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are both fine as hell. That's a fact. And when they're not posing in Billionaire Boys Club gear in Vogue or producing platinum hits for P.I.M.P.'s and pop princesses under the moniker of the Neptunes, they're creating their own off-the-wall musical vision. Former high-school-band members, these suburban Virginia Beach boys weren't always this cool, chilling with P. Diddy and sporting diamond-encrusted skateboards. They were straight-up nerds, and in homage to that era in their lives, they -- along with their homey Shay -- produce music that is at once technologically advanced, intelligent and a little bit goofy. See them this week in concert with L.A.'s Black Eyed Peas, the former poppin' and lockin' trio whose subtle fly-guys-next-door vibe has yet to supersede their goof factor (adding the chick from Kids Incorporated didn't help matters). After the tour, it's a good bet N.E.R.D's Williams will deadpan James Brownish hooks on the next BEP single.

Sun., April 18, 8 p.m., $25, with Clipse, Electric Factory, Seventh and Willow sts., 215-336-2000.

—Maori Holmes

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