It’s not every day that a world-famous artist and producer opens up about parenting—and certainly not with the level of depth Pharrell Williams shared in his recent interview on Rick Rubin’s Tetragrammaton podcast. You might know him as the man behind hits like “Happy” or his iconic collaborations with Daft Punk, but did you know Pharrell is also a dad to four kids? (His oldest, Rocket, is 16, and he has 7-year-old triplets.)
And not just any dad. Pharrell is, in his own words, a strict dad. Yes, the man whose music makes you want to get up and dance is also setting boundaries and teaching his kids life lessons—because, as he put it, “the world is harsh.”
“I don’t play”: Pharrell’s philosophy on tough love
“I’m strict about it,” Pharrell told Rubin, explaining his parenting approach. “The world is harsh. … When parents say things like, ‘Oh, I never want my kids to struggle the way that I did’… Well, you have to understand, the way your struggle produced you being a hardworking, critical-thinking individual.”
Pharrell’s words hit like a reality check for any parent who’s ever been tempted to shield their kids from all of life’s challenges. It’s not that he wants his children to suffer, but he sees value in what he calls “guided struggle.” By teaching his kids to face challenges, Pharrell believes they can build the coping skills and courage they’ll need to navigate life.
Lessons in empathy and real-world courage
Pharrell doesn’t just talk about values—he models them. He shared that his family spends time during the holidays volunteering at homeless shelters and visiting children in hospitals. Why? Because he wants his kids to understand what true courage looks like.
“A child that wakes up and gets bad news that day and realizes that it’s going to be a tough ride… They wake up every day and they face that day for what it is,” Pharrell said. “I want my kids to have that.”
It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? Pharrell is teaching his children to see strength in others and to develop empathy through real-world experiences. It’s a reminder that parenting isn’t just about protecting our kids; it’s about preparing them to thrive in a world that’s not always kind.
Related: To teach children empathy, you need to model it, mama
Why Pharrell’s message resonates
What’s refreshing about Pharrell’s approach is that it’s about letting your kids know that life isn’t about avoiding hardship—it’s about learning to rise to the occasion.
So, what does this mean for us as parents? Maybe it’s a reminder to lean into the moments that feel hard. To let our kids struggle a bit as they figure out their math homework instead of jumping in with the answer. To hold space for their frustrations while teaching them to keep going.
Pharrell said it best: “When you don’t allow your kids to have guided struggle, they don’t develop the coping skills. … And it oftentimes doesn’t end so well.”
Pharrell’s parenting style isn’t about strictness for the sake of control—it’s about giving his kids the tools they need to grow into thoughtful, resilient adults.
Related: The beautiful reason why Danish schools teach empathy to kids
