Pharrell Hints At Jay-Z's "Blueprint III" Follow-Up

Producer Pharrell Williams may be the latest artist latching on to rap mogul Jay-Z's upcoming solo album as the music hitmaker confirms they are working on new records.

While brief with his words, Pharrell said his "So Ambitious" rhyme partner has recruited him to make music.

Skateboard P says he's in "full producer mode." During a private tasting for his new liqueur, Qream, Pharrell briefly touched on several artists he plans to get in the studio with. Pharrell insisted on keeping things quiet about producing new music for Jay-Z, but was able to confirm that he will be working with him in the near future. "Yes. I'm working with him but he's not talking about what he's doing. Whatever he needs I got him. I just can't go into [it]," P continued. "There's some magic." (VIBE)

Earlier this month, Jay's "Death of Auto-tune" co-producer No I.D. said his Blueprint III follow-up was taking shape.

"Jay has started again," reveals No I.D., who worked with the hip-hop superstar on "Blueprint 3" hits like "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" and "Run This Town." "He played me a couple of things. I gave him some music while we were at the 'Watch the Throne' sessions. But with Jay, you never know what he's really doing, thinking, planning until it's really done... I'm sure he'll make a decision one day to make an album very quickly, like he usually does. He's one of the best, period. I think he's at a place where he has visions of what he wants to do, and it's not really dependent on any of us. It's dependent on his vision and he's gonna do it, [and] hopefully I'll be involved." (Billboard)

Watch the Throne contributing producer Verse Simmonds recently talked to SOHH about contributing to Jay's next solo effort.

"I'm really antcipating [his new album] and I'm really excited about it because we're really going to go hard and try to make sure we make a big stamp on that album as well," Verse told SOHH when asked how excited he is to contribute to Jay's upcoming solo LP. "I think when everybody listens to the [LP and the] Watch the Throne album and see our contributions to that too, it's going to make a lot of people really pay a lot of attention to us. You know what I'm saying? I'm really excited about." (SOHH)

Last September, rap veteran Q-Tip said he was working on Jay's solo LP as well.

"You know, I hate to sound self-involved but I feel like I haven't peaked yet. I have a lot to give still. I still look the part... I still got it. I'm getting ready to work on stuff for Mary J. Blige... Kanye [West] and I are gonna continue to work together. We're doing some stuff for Jay-Z's new album that's coming out in the spring, and then after Jay's thing I'm gonna start recording my new album...Kanye should be working on that, too." (XXL Mag)