Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas is a hip-hop act from America, based in Los Angeles. The line-up of the band is Fergie, Will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo.

The Black Eyed Peas: The Early Years

The Black Eyed Peas signed to Interscope Records and released their debut album in 1998. The album was entitled Behind the Front and received critical acclaim, as did their live backing band, The Bucky Jonson. The single 'Joints and Jams' was selected for the soundtrack of Bulworth, which starred Warren Beatty and Halle Berry. The album included appearances from De La Soul, Macy Gray and Chali 2na of Jurassic 5. Two years later, they released their second studio album, Bridging the Gap, which also featured Macy Gray, on 'Request Line'.

The Black Eyed Peas: Breakthrough & Career

In 2003, The Black Eyed Peas released their third studio album, Elephunk. It was the first of their albums to feature the vocals of Stacy 'Fergie' Ferguson, who replaced Kim Hill. The original choice of singer had been Nicole Scherzinger, who went on to become a singer of Pussycat Dolls. Elephunk contained the single 'Where Is the Love?' which featured Justin Timberlake and was the band's first major hit. Another hit single from the album was the track 'Shut Up', as was 'Hey Mama'.

The Black Eyed Peas re-recorded 'Shut Up' and 'Let's Get It Started' in 'Simlish': the language used in The Sims computer game.

The Black Eyed Peas then released Monkey Business in 2005, much of which was written during their tour with N*E*R*D. the lead single for the album was 'Don't Phunk With My Heart'. Monkey Business features Jack Johnson on guitar.

The biggest hit from the album was 'My Humps', which was critically panned (largely for its lyrical content) as much as it was commercially celebrated. They toured the album supporting Gwen Stefani. The Black Eyed Peas also performed at the London leg of the Live 8 concerts along with Razorlight, Eddie Izzard, Kasabian and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In 2005, The Black Eyed Peas' cover of John Lennon's 'Power to the People' was released by Amnesty International. They have also performed the song live with Mary J Blige and John Legend.

A remix album entitled Renegotiations: The Remixes was released to iTunes. Among the various remixers were DJ Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock and Erick Sermon.

June 2009 saw the Black Eyed Peas release The E.N.D. (the Energy Never Dies). The track 'Boom Boom Pow' was a number one hit for twelve weeks in the US and also reached number one in Australia, Canada and the UK. The track 'I Gotta Feeling' was produced by David Guetta and will.i.am has stated that the sound of the album was inspired by The Presets. The third single from The E.N.D. was 'Meet Me Halfway'.

The Black Eyed Peas: Side Projects

Will.i.am has had a successful solo career in his own right and has collaborated with a number of high profile artists, including Michael Jackson, Cheryl Cole, Sergio Mendes, Carlos Santana and U2.

Fergie has also had a successful solo career, with the release of The Duchess, her 2006 album.

Apl.de.ap announced that he was working on a solo album, with Chad Hugo of the Neptunes as well as Illmind of G-Unit.

Taboo announced that his debut, self-titled album would be released in 2010.