Grudziądz [ˈɡrud​͡ʑɔnt​͡s] ( listen) (German: Graudenz, Latin: Graudentum or Graudentium) is a city of 96 042 inhabitants (2010) on the Vistula River in northern Poland. Situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999), the city was previously in the Toruń Voivodeship (1975–1998).

Initially a defensive gród founded by Polish ruler Bolesław Chrobry, the settlement adopted Kulm law in 1291 while under the rule of the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights and became a city. In 1440, the city joined the Prussian Confederation, and between 1466 and 1772 the city belonged to the Polish province of Royal Prussia.

Following the First Partition of Poland in 1772, the city was annexed by the German Kingdom of Prussia and became part of the unified German Empire in 1871.

The city was the site of a military prison for Polish activists - those released formed Gromada Grudziądz in Portsmouth on 1835, as part of the Great Emigration movement

After the construction of a railroad bridge across the Vistula in 1878, Graudenz became a rapidly growing industrialized city as well as a district centre in 1900.

Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973), commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of hip-hop band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He released his first single "Frontin'" in 2003 and followed up with his first album In My Mind in 2006.

As part of The Neptunes, Williams has produced numerous hit singles for various musicians. The two have earned three Grammy Awards amongst ten nominations. He is also the co-founder of the clothing brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Clothing. He is a member of the supergroup V.A. Playaz with Fam-Lay, Clipse, Skillz, Missy Elliott, and Timbaland & Magoo.

Pharrell Williams was born on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the eldest of three sons of Carolyn, a teacher, and Pharaoh Williams, a handyman. He met Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp where Williams played the keyboards and drums and Hugo played tenor saxophone. They were also both members of a marching band; Williams played the snare drum while Chad was student conductor. With Hugo, Williams attended Princess Anne High School where they played in the school band; there he got the name Skateboard P.