G.E.E.K. C.H.I.C.

In the meantime, N.E.R.D. is on the road (their 23-city tour began March 15 in Atlanta), hoping to win new fans. And if that grass-roots marketing campaign fails? Well, Williams says, at least they've recaptured how it felt before all the fame and money: ''[When we started], we just made music to do it, not ever knowing it was going anywhere.'' He pauses, wistfully. ''That s -- -was fun.''

N.E.R.D. UP!

Fly or Die's crazy-quilt musical approach may not seem quite so odd once you consider some of the artists N.E.R.D. say inspired them.

His influence is all over Fly (especially on the tune ''Backseat Love''). ''He was ill,'' says Williams, ''but, damn, I couldn't name any of the albums. There are so many of them. Name some of the songs.'' Hugo [Sings]: ''She was a valley girl, valley girl...'' Williams: ''Oh, yeah!''

''That song 'The Pusher' -- [Sings] 'You know I smoked a lot of grass/Oh, Lord, I popped a lot of pills' -- is incredible! That singer [John Kay] kills that,'' Williams says. ''That's the group that needs to be out right now -- someone influenced by blues that just makes dope rock & roll.''

''A dope band,'' says Williams of the revered pop-jazz experimentalists. ''The album I like is Pretzel Logic. 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' is on there. And 'Any Major Dude.'[Sings]'Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you, my friend...'''

''Kids who listen to rock should listen to Coltrane,'' says Hugo. ''It's limitless music. It doesn't rely on lyrics or anything. Getting exposed to those chord changes and being taken to a whole other world through his music -- it's an experience. He opened up the world to me.''