Pharrell

Pharrell

In My Mind (Star Trak/Interscope)

Before we put the finishing touches on Andre 3000's trophy for most self-indulgent figure in hip-hop, consider this dud of a solo debut by the Neptunes' Pharrell. Why this most capable producer insists on flossing his remedial rapping and singing abilities every chance he gets reaches beyond reasonable comprehension. It's doubtful Pharrell was actually trying to sound like a neglected beagle on his Snoop Dogg collaboration "That Girl," but his wobbly moans speak for themselves. Joined by Jay-Z for "Young Girl," Pharrell mistakes Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me" as a serious enough artistic statement to use it as a building block for his own personal definition of righteously retro. "Our Father," where it's obvious by Pharrell's enthusiasm that he was really feeling himself as he laid down his vocals, calls into question whether he took the time during the editing process to listen back to his own verse. Purposefully limiting its reach on any sort of intellectual level, In My Mind rests on the sophomoric lusts and laurels of Pharrell's cartoonish alter-ego Skateboard P. While such a lighthearted world-view might infuse a hot club track like "Baby" with all of the sweaty spunk it requires, Pharrell's all-too-shallow schtick becomes monumentally tired over the course of an entire album.