Pharrell Williams is set to release his first solo album in eight years.

The 'Get Lucky' star has signed to Columbia Records for the release, which will follow his 2006 LP 'In My Mind'.

According to The Guardian newspaper, the album will feature his track 'Happy' which he recently recorded for the world's first 24 hour-long music video.

It featured the 40-year-old rapper and producer along with cameos from Odd Future, Magic Johnson, Steve Carrell and Jimmy Kimmel - dancing through the streets of Los Angeles.

Pharrell has had a successful year in music, after collaborating with Robin Thicke for the hit 'Blurred Lines' and working with Daft Punk on their comeback single 'Get Lucky'.

Speaking to GQ after being named Hitmaker of the Year by the magazine, he said his success of the songs, which both went to number one, was down to people wanting to escape from all the bad things in the world.

He said: ''Both songs are for people who need a break. There's a lot of fucked-up travesty in the world.

''Sometimes you just need a Hallmark card. Sometimes you just need to shake your a**.''