SOMETHING UPBEAT (UPDATE)

Day one of Pharrell Williams' Something in the Water fest featured this cheerful tableau as the event host/producer/artist/ impresario greeted collaborator/pal Justin Timberlake. Usher, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, T.I., Lil Baby, Ozuna, 6LACK, Tierra Whack and Gracie Abrams were among the performers on the initial day of the Live Nation-presented D.C. confab celebrating Juneteenth Weekend.

This ebullient two-shot with superstar Usher, who has years of experience steering clear of our unsavory publication, comes courtesy of Pharrell's IG feed.

Tyler, The Creator was joined by collaborator 21 Savage and Pharrell for a perf of new single "Cash In Cash Out." The festival also, notably, brought cash in—and, more importantly, assembled a lot of fans for several days of peace and music. (Photo: Nicolita Bradley)

In addition to the music and schmoozing, the kickoff of the event saw a panel during which five promising HBCU students learned that Pharrell (seen above with some other friends and below onstage with rapper Tobe Nwigwe, at right) was personally cancelling their student debt. Greg Oribhabor took the striking photos.

Above photo credit: Ahad Subzwari