If N.E.R.D’s addition of sexy female memberRhea turns them into ubiquitous, radio mainstays (a la Black Eyed Peas post-Fergie), it won’t be because they started making sellout, pop music. The Pharrell-fronted band performed a record by the name of “WTF” or “Radio” on 90210 last night, and it seems like they aren’t making any drastic departures from their beloved signature sound. Which is good, because the new song sounds dope. We’re looking forward to hearing the full version on Instant Gratification sometime next year. Nevermind the corny dude raising the roof at the 50 second mark though. We usually don’t watch this show either.
Tune in to Complex.com every morning at 8 AM for your daily “Wake N’ Watch” video.
A teaspoon of sugar helps the medicine go down and a sexy singer/dancer/pantominer helps stale pop groups sell records. It’s pretty simple. Take a middling, directionally challenged musical group that can’t seem to get their albums to chart, add a sexy female and BAM! Success strikes and the group will start selling out the Garden, performing for the President and their lead singer will appear as a hologram on CNN to give his take on the current political climate. Or so it went for the Black Eyed Peas when will.i.am smartened up and recruited Fergie to join the group back in ‘03.
Now it seems Pharrell wants to do the same with N.E.R.D. Recently, a PYT has been seen accompanying P, Chad and Shay on stage at various tour stops, leaving people wondering who she was. Then Star Trak rapper Fam-Lay was kind enough to clear up the confusion via Twitter, letting the world know that the girl in question was named Rhea and that she was the newest member of N.E.R.D. Oh yeah, and that she’s dope! But just how dope is she? Is she good enough to make N.E.R.D. sell a milli and get Pharrell on MSNBC as a talking head? In other words, is she as good as Fergie? Keep reading for our comparison, then vote for your favorite token female…
