They've
transcended their vigilant
hip-hop roots and have become
a global phenomenon, the
likes of which the music
world has rarely seen. Ever-curious
and ever-confident, that
group is The Black Eyed
Peas, and after energizing
crowds 'round the globe
with the monster-stomp of
Elephunk, it's time for
the quartet – William, Fergie,
apl.de.ap and Taboo to get
down to business – Monkey
Business, that is.
2003’s Elephunk was a breakthrough
album for The Black Eyed
Peas, vaulting them to a
level of success unparalleled
by any other hip-hop group.
The accolades are quick
to recite: 7.5 million albums
sold worldwide, 4 Grammy
nominations, 1 Grammy award,
and an unforgettable performance
on the 2005 broadcast. But
fitted with loose rhymes,
buoyant anthemic funk and
an ebullient live spirit,
the album also heralded
a new sound for the modern
age – one that is inspired
by hip-hop, eschews boundaries
and inhibitions, and cuts
across ages, races and backgrounds.
It is a sound that can be
described only as One Nation
Under A Black Eyed Peas
Groove.
But if Elephunk was the
group being crowned prince
of the castle, then Monkey
Business, their fourth album,
is The Black Eyed Peas conquering
the throne to become King.
It is an album that further
intensifies their passion
for making music together,
for connecting with their
audience through the most
fundamental ways: making
people have a good time.
It is a credo that has inspired
the group since they formed
in the late 1990s, earning
their keep in the nurturing
environment of Los Angeles'
vibrant hip-hop underground.
Even then, the group possessed
a magnetic spirit that helped
them establish a worldwide
following through their
first two albums, 1998's
Behind The Front and 2000's
Bridging The Gap.
In many ways, Monkey Business
is a direct descendant of
its predecessor. The success
of Elephunk kept the group
touring around the globe
for nearly 18 months. "In
going on the road for so
long, we got an idea of
what kind of music we wanted
to play and make,"
explains will.i.am. "Monkey
Business is very much about
the types of songs we play
live. It's about a party.
It's layered differently
and has energy to it that
reflects how we tour – from
the beats to the types of
instruments we used to how
we interact with the audience.
It's very much about us
and the crowd on this record."
Monkey Business was literally
produced and recorded during
The Black Eyed Peas everlasting
road trip. "I was in
Brazil doing some CD shopping,"
will.i.am recalls. "I
came across this compilation
and I thought it was one
thing but it turned out
to be something else. The
Dick Dale song 'Miserlou,'
was on it. At first I was
angry – this isn't what
I wanted to buy," he
laughs. "But then,
really, that song is hot.
I said, 'we should do a
song like this.' I jump-started
the computer and made some
beats on the train. Then
we had to fly to Tokyo and
I tightened up the beat
on the plane. Then I recorded
vocals in this park in Tokyo.
And that's how we recorded
the song, 'Pump It.'"
The song, a jump-up party
anthem, is one of the featured
tracks on Monkey Business
– and made its debut in
a commercial for Best Buy
electronics. "It's
the beauty of technology
now – you can record anywhere,
anytime, any which way.
And I love that song because
it feels like our live shows,
it has that energy."
Monkey Business also furthers
the bond the group forged
as friends during the making
of Elephunk. Before recording
that album, the three original
members of The Black Eyed
Peas – will.i.am, apl.de.ap
and Taboo – had been ensnared
by personal demons. "I
remember that we were each
talking about the things
that were haunting us and
seemed to be crippling us,"
recalls will.i.am. Adding
the vocal talents of singer,
Fergie, the group used music
as a therapeutic vehicle.
Making music with that near-desperate
fervor also is maintained
on Monkey Business, says
will.i.am. "You're
always challenged not to
go back to those bad habits
in life," he says.
"When you're comfortable
living, you sometimes think
that, well, I beat it once
so I can do it again. But
you never really escape
the things that haunt you."
Thus, making Monkey Business
became an effort put forth
by all the members of the
group – the first the foursome
co-wrote together – and
the more sophisticated songwriting;
the layered grooves of the
record and its fulfilled
spirit reflect that. "This
was really about all of
us building a house together,"
says will.i.am.
"Don't Phunk With
My Heart" is a gripping
soulful serenade that will.i.am
describes as a sequel to
The Black Eyed Peas song,
"Shut Up." "Not
sonically but in subject
matter," he clarifies.
"When you're on bad
terms with a significant
other, you don't want to
break up. You tell her things
and at the time you really
mean them. But she's saying,
stop f****ing with me."
If it sounds like the personal
lives of the members infiltrated
their songwriting, it is
mostly because it did. "Don't
Lie," is a song will.i.am
says was born of true experience
of deceptively bending the
truth to an ex-girlfriend.
"It's a song about
owning up and apologizing
and realizing your faults.
It's about being a man or
a woman – an adult – and
confronting situations honestly."
Singer Justin Timberlake
joins the group again for
the song, "My Style."
He first sang on the song,
"Where Is The Love?,"
the breakout single from
Elephunk. "We get along
real well," says will.i.am,
"and he sees music
in a very similar way. Plus,
he's just a good dude."
The song was produced by
famed beat-maker Timbaland.
"I like experiencing
things I've never experienced
before," will.i.am
says. "It brings you
out of your comfort zone
and that can be creatively
inspiring. And Timbaland
is an incredible talent."
Other collaborators join
The Black Eyed Peas on this
album, too, like Sting on
"Union." Neo-folk
singer, Jack Johnson is
sampled on the song, "Gone
Going." The Peas also
got to live something of
a dream when they hooked
up with the Godfather of
Soul, James Brown, for the
song, "They Don't Want
Music."
"That was just stupid,
man," will.i.am says.
"Being a fan of hip-hop
and knowing that the music's
backbone is based entirely
on James Brown – the concept
of hitting the beat on the
"one," it's an
otherworldly experience."
The Black Eyed Peas remain
one of only a handful of
select groups that have
been able to collaborate
with Funk's inventor. "We
met in the UK, at the Mojo
Awards, and we talked about
working together. I remember
when we recorded; I played
him the beat all nervous
and everything. We all sat
in the room and he nodded
his head and grunted in
approval."
That song is reflective
of the Peas' fluid funk
that can run from generation
to generation – and is one
of the reasons why the group
is beloved and respected
worldwide. "I think
the fact that we just have
fun with music is the reason
why it works for us,"
says will.i.am. "We
love music and melodies
and don't try to distinguish
ourselves from regular music
fans. It's really that simple."