After putting in work behind the scenes for a decade—and contributing to tracks by Wreckx-N-Effect and SWV—Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams broke through with their own futuristic sound in '98. Combining punchy drums with wild synth lines, they scored club hits for Noreaga, JAY Z, and the Clipse. The duo then smoothed-out the template to go pop with Snoop, Usher, and Justin Timberlake.