Overview
Before the song even begins, Pharrell Williams (and often Chad Hugo as The Neptunes) loops the first beat of the track four times in quick succession. It’s essentially a "1, 2, 3, 4" count-in, but instead of a boring metronome, it uses the actual rhythm of the song. It creates an instant "get ready" energy and has become one of the most recognizable producer tags in music history—found on everything from Snoop Dogg’s "Drop It Like It's Hot" to Frank Ocean’s "Sweet Life."
