Like OneRepublic, Pharrell Williams isn't 'new' by any sense of the word. Before this year, however, his last solo top 50 single in his native USA came in 2006, meaning that his numerous successes over the course of the year (combined with the fact that P wasn't a popular letter for new acts to begin their names with, for some reason) have well and truly propelled him into the mainstream and allowed him to 'break out'. Said successes include 'Happy', a track from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack that has recently gone straight to #1 in the UK, as well as two of the biggest songs of the year Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' and Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' both of which he was involved in as a featured artist. 'Happy' was Pharrell's first solo release in seven years and it remains to be seen whether he will release additional solo material or return exclusively to collaborations. Regardless, his profile has increased this year to the point where either move will likely be a successful one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NV6Rdv1a3I
