Spymob, who backed N.E.R.D’s debut album, In Search Of…, will serve as the openers as well as the backing band for the N.E.R.Dy threesome.

So who or what exactly is this N.E.R.D? For starters, the acronym stands for No one Ever Really Dies and is a nod to the members’ beliefs about energy and souls. Now that the name mystery is solved, what about the group itself?

N.E.R.D comprise Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, otherwise known as The Neptunes. Shay, a friend of the duo, is the third member of the group. The Neptunes are best known as one of the most respected production teams in the hip-hop community, having worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Mystikal, the Backstreet Boys, No Doubt, Mary J. Blige, and Kelis.

As they explain, “The Neptunes are who we are and N.E.R.D is what we do.”

N.E.R.D’s debut album dropped this March, with the Spymob crew serving up the live instrumentals. Spymob, together since the early ‘90s, switched up their career direction in 2001 and began to play supportive roles on projects by other artists.

Founding member John Ostby duetted with Kelis on “Mr. UFO Man” for her album Life Is Good and they’ve been close by N.E.R.D’s side since.