The Best Neptunes Remixes

Year released: 2001

Pusha T and The Neptunes did the unthinkable. They made the Backstreet Boys not just listenable, but almost, dare we say it, enjoyable. Pusha's blistering first verse over that signature Neptunes minimal, snapping percussion lets the listener know that this is no ordinary Backstreet Boys song, and the hard drums and occasional skittering synth line that continue throughout the remix serve as a constant reminder of the production duo's genius.

Year released: 1998

Featuring some addicting electro-inspired patterns and a shuffling drum beat, there is little choice but to get down when The Neptunes' remix of "Don't Let It Go" comes on. This definitely has that late '90s feel to it. Looking back, it feels a little dated, but at the time, this was that futuristic sound that would hint at things to come.

Year released: 2007

One thing Chad and Pharrell are especially good at is making mainstream pop music interesting and inventive. They've done it producing hits for Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, and others, and they did it with their mix of "Wind It Up." Their version avoids the weird yodeling that the radio version of the song included, and powers along on a futuristic bass line that would feel at home on a Fade to Mind release. It  works on a Gwen Stefani song too.

Year released: 1998

Rather than stripping back the production, on this remix The Neptunes beefed up Dame Grease's original dark, slow-moving beat. speeding things up, adding some seductive female vocals, The Neptunes give the song an undeniable groove and bounce that the original was sorely lacking.

Year released: 2002

While Alicia Keys' 2001 cover of this Prince song is stripped down and sparse, The Neptunes effectively fill the soundscape that backs her beautiful vocals, making this a nice addition to the many versions of this song.

Year released: 2005

Although this is more a hip-hop style "remix" where a new rapper hops on the same beat as the original, it was released as a "Neptunes remix," and thus deserves a place on this list, thanks to the bubbly, tribal percussion-heavy beat. It's not the usual habitat for Houston's Bun B and Slim Thug, but they inhabit it with ease, while Pharrell's light falsetto provides some light relief.

Year released: 2000

Snoop Dogg does his thing here, and his rhymes alone make this remix worthwhile. The beat itself does not hit as hard as some of the other tracks cited in this list, but it gives a slight edginess thanks to a subtly revamped backing synth.

Year released: 2001

Though the subject at hand is no light matter, The Neptunes' remix of Garbage's "Androgyny" wouldn't feel out of place at a party on a summer night. Making some substantial changes, Pharrell and Chad Hugo implement entirely different drums and a string section, cutting back on the rock-infused sound of the hook. The track-reversal that follows the two-minute mark is a highlight on an already solid song.

Year released: 2003

Kelis' original "Milkshake" is a sassy—but at its heart, fun—song, but The Neptunes' remix takes it into much darker territory. The beat is incredibly sparse and pared back, while both Pharrell and Kelis rap for the first half of the track, with that recognizable chorus not coming in until well past the two minute mark. This Neptunes "Milkshake" remix is a masterclass in taking a straightforward pop song and making it weird and wonderful.

Year released: 2000

Whereas the original "By Your Side" matched a slow-moving backdrop with the softly singing Sade, The Neptunes' rendition is packed with more bounce, harder-hitting kicks, and a comparatively blatant string arrangement. The end result complements its origins well, with Sade's voice taking on an even more powerful stance.

Year released: 2013

The Neptunes brought some punch to The Jackson 5's 1971 track "Never Can Say Goodbye" in their 2010 remix, recorded for the posthumous Michael Jackson Remix Suite 1 project, adding hip-hop characteristics to a sweet and soulful record. The light touches work well and give the original some supplemental headnod-inducing power. Remixing anything associated with Michael Jackson is sensitive territory, but the reward can be worth it.

Year released: 2001

The musical relationship between Daft Punk and The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams runs deep. Years before Pharrell was crooning over 2013 smash radio records with the French electronic duo (and "Get Lucky" was played forty times a day on the radio), he famously remixed an earlier hit with "Harder Better Faster Stronger," the Daft Punk-produced track that was flipped in 2006 for one of Kanye West's most successful singles.

Year released: 2003

The Neptunes' take on The Rolling Stones' classic record, "Sympathy For The Devil," is not only fantastic, but comes wrapped up with a great set of visuals. If this specific track and video prove one thing, it's that you should never doubt the abilities of Pharrell and Chad Hugo. Remixing such a highly revered record is no easy undertaking, and many producers would be scared of remolding a track like this in their own image, but The Neptunes manage to add their signature sound without losing any of the original's personality.