Charlie Wilson
The soulful voice behind the hook on Snoop Dogg's 2003 hit "Beautiful."
Charlie Wilson is an American singer featured on Snoop Dogg's 2003 single "Beautiful." He appears alongside Pharrell Williams as a guest vocalist on the track, which was released on January 27, 2003, as the second single from Snoop Dogg's sixth studio album, *Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss*. The song was written by Snoop Dogg and produced by the Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo). "Beautiful" reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. Wilson's contribution to the song helped it achieve international success, peaking at number four in both Australia and New Zealand.
- Character Role
- Protagonist / Cultural Icon
- Affiliation
- Dogg Pound Records / Independent Artist
- First Appears
- Early 1990s Music Scene
- Status
- Active and Legendary
- Signature Style
- Long Dreads, Sunglasses, Casual Luxury
Lore & Background
Charlie Wilson's involvement with "Beautiful" came as a featured artist alongside Pharrell Williams. The song was released on January 27, 2003, as the second single from Snoop Dogg's sixth studio album, *Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss*. The track was written by Snoop Dogg and produced by the Neptunes, with Wilson providing vocals. "Beautiful" reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. It also performed well internationally, peaking at number four in both Australia and New Zealand. The music video, filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featured three distinct settings: Escadaria Selarón in the Lapa district, Parque Lage at the base of Corcovado, and Copacabana beach. In 2024, the song appeared on Williams' soundtrack album *Piece by Piece (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)*. A solo remix of the song with Charlie Wilson was included on Snoop Dogg's 2003 mixtape *Welcome 2 tha Chuuuch Mixtape Vol. 2*.
In Their Own Story
In 2003, Charlie Wilson lent his voice to Snoop Dogg's single "Beautiful," a track produced by the Neptunes and released on January 27. The song climbed to number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. Its music video, directed by Chris Robinson, was shot across three iconic Rio de Janeiro locations: the colorful Escadaria Selarón stairs in Lapa, the grounds of Parque Lage near Corcovado, and the Copacabana beachfront. At Parque Lage, Brazilian actress and model Michelle Martins appeared as Snoop Dogg's love interest, while a group of drummers performed a long interlude not included in any radio or album version. The video reached the 6th spot on the LAUNCH Music Videos Top 100. A solo remix featuring only Wilson was later included on Snoop Dogg's 2003 mixtape *Welcome 2 tha Chuuuch Mixtape Vol. 2*.
Reader's Guide
Charlie Wilson appears as a featured vocalist on Snoop Dogg's 2003 single "Beautiful," alongside Pharrell Williams. The song was released on January 27, 2003, as the second single from *Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss*. It was written by Snoop Dogg and produced by the Neptunes. Wilson's contribution helped the track reach number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. The music video, filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was directed by Chris Robinson and produced by Karen Gainer. It featured three locations: Escadaria Selarón, Parque Lage, and Copacabana beach. A solo remix with Charlie Wilson was included on Snoop Dogg's 2003 mixtape *Welcome 2 tha Chuuuch Mixtape Vol. 2*. In 2024, the song appeared on Pharrell Williams' soundtrack album *Piece by Piece (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)*.
Did You Know?
- Charlie Wilson is one of two featured vocalists on Snoop Dogg's 2003 single "Beautiful," alongside Pharrell Williams.
- The song reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.
- A solo remix of "Beautiful" featuring only Charlie Wilson was included on Snoop Dogg's 2003 mixtape *Welcome 2 tha Chuuuch Mixtape Vol. 2*.
- The music video for "Beautiful" was filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at Escadaria Selarón, Parque Lage, and Copacabana beach.
- In 2024, "Beautiful" appeared on Pharrell Williams' soundtrack album *Piece by Piece (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)*.