Black Eyed Peas

Black Eyed Peas

Black Eyed Peas are an American hip hop and pop group formed in Los Angeles in 1995. The group’s current line-up consists of will.i.am, Taboo and apl.de.ap. They come out of the Los Angeles rap scene, but early on they choose a live-band format and a musical and visual style that differs from the gangsta rap sound associated with many other local acts.

Origins and early line-up

will.i.am, born William James Adams Jr. in 1975, and apl.de.ap, born Allan Pineda in 1974, begin rapping and performing together around Los Angeles in 1988. They sign to Ruthless Records after attracting the attention of the nephew of Jerry Heller, who manages Eazy-E. With Mookie Mook, Dante Santiago and DJ Motiv8, they perform as A.T.B.A.N. Klann. Their planned debut album, Grass Roots, is not originally released because the label does not consider its social themes marketable. A single, “Puddles of H2O”, appears in 1994.

After Eazy-E dies in 1995, the group changes its name to Black Eyed Peas. will.i.am later explains the name as meaning “food for the soul”. Mookie leaves and Dante Santiago takes over as the original singer before Taboo, born Jaime Gomez, joins. Dante Santiago remains a guest vocalist and appears regularly on tracks from the group’s first four albums. In 1996, the group produces and appears on “That’s Right” for Brian Austin Green’s hip hop album One Stop Carnival. Kim Hill later becomes a regular background singer.

Albums and commercial success

Black Eyed Peas sign to Interscope Records and release their debut album, Behind the Front, in 1998. It receives critical acclaim, alongside the group’s live band, the Bucky Jonsons. The album includes “Joints & Jams”, which also appears on the Bulworth soundtrack. Their second album, Bridging the Gap, follows in 2000 and includes “Request + Line” featuring Macy Gray.

After replacing their female background singer with Fergie, the group releases Elephunk, which marks a major breakthrough, and then Monkey Business in 2005. The latter includes “Pump It”, “Don’t Phunk With My Heart”, “Don’t Lie” and “My Humps”. The group has sold an estimated 56 million albums and singles worldwide. The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies), their fifth album, is released in 2009 and includes “Boom Boom Pow”, “I Gotta Feeling”, “Meet Me Halfway”, “Imma Be” and “Rock That Body”.

Style and collaborations

The group works with a live band and builds a sound that combines hip hop and pop. Their early club circuit appearances in the mid-1990s place them alongside acts such as Ozomatli and Jurassic 5. Their recordings and performances also involve a number of collaborators and contributors over time, including Macy Gray, Brian Austin Green, Kim Hill, Fergie, Mookie Mook, Dante Santiago and DJ Motiv8.