Neptunes, the production duo responsible for hits such as Mystikal's "Shake Ya Ass," Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Got Your Money," and Jay-Z's new single, "I Wanna Love U," are preparing to release their own album, "N.E.R.D.

The Virginia-based Neptunes -- made up of childhood friends Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo -- have traveled the far reaches of the musical galaxy, working with artists ranging from Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit to SWV and Capone-N-Noreaga.

The two are no strangers to the top of the charts, although "N.E.R.D.," the first album project under the Neptunes name, finds the pair boldly going where they've never gone before, where the pressure is to create hits of their own that are as hot as the songs they've produced.

"We refer to the Neptunes as beings [from] out of this world, and bringing music that was out of this world [and] not necessarily like anything

else,"

Pharrell told MTV News' Sway of the duo's sound. "It's definitely an atmospheric difference. That's basically what the insinuation is." [RealVideo]

Past Neptunes projects include Kelis' "Kaleidoscope" LP as well as tracks on Beenie Man's "Art And Life" and Mase's "Harlem World.

Neptunes will release "N.E.R.D." ("No-one Ever Really Dies") in January of 2001.