Singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams says he'll never be as successful as Jay Z and admits he was "deluded" to think he could compete with him.

Williams thought he could compete with the `Holy Grail` rapper when he started releasing solo material, but he believes he was wrong and was trying to be someone he wasn't when he recorded his debut `In My Mind` in 2006.

"It was in my mind, but not in my heart. It was this caricature that I'd built in my mind, that fitted in with what Snoop and Jay were doing,` contactmusic.com quoted Williams.

"Some of the things I said on that record, all the bragging, it's not necessary. It doesn't say anything about you, apart from how shallow you are,` he added.