will.i.am

will.i.am

will.i.am is an American rapper and producer from Boyle Heights, California. Born William James Adams Jr. in 1975, he performs in hip hop and pop rap and is of Jamaican descent. He has rapped since his teenage years and starts recording under the name Will-1X after being discovered by Compton rapper Eazy-E, who signs him to Ruthless Records.

Black Eyed Peas

He is a founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, formed with Taboo and apl.de.ap after he leaves Ruthless following Eazy-E’s death in 1995. The group later adds Fergie and moves into mainstream pop with a run of hit singles. will.i.am also co-writes many of the group’s songs, and Sergio Mendes serves as the group’s producer.

Solo work

will.i.am releases four solo albums: Lost Change, Must B 21, Songs About Girls and #willpower. His solo work includes a number of commercially successful singles and collaborations with artists including Mick Jagger, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Phife Dawg, Snoop Dogg and Nicole Scherzinger. His best-known solo hit is “Scream & Shout”.

Other projects

Before joining the Black Eyed Peas, he attends the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. He later begins designing clothing, launching his own i.am line in 2005 and a premium denim collection, i.am Antik, with Blue Holdings in 2007. He also works on the Barack Obama campaign song “Yes We Can” and its video, and provides the voice of Moto Moto in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. In film, he appears as John Wraith in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Record labels and other affiliations

His later label and company names include Musicane, will.i.am Music Group, i.am.composing, llc and Will I Am Music LLC. He is also associated with ATBAN Klann and Jawbreakers.