Black Eyed Peas
210453
226110531
2008-07-16T21:30:58Z
Seán Travers
6734852
{{Infobox Musician <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
|Name = '''Black Eyed Peas'''
|Img = BEP 2001.jpg
|Img_capt = Left to right: [[will.i.am]], [[apl.de.ap]], and [[Taboo (rapper)|Taboo]] in 2001
|Img_size =
|Landscape = yes
|Background = group_or_band
|Alias =
|Origin = [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]], [[United States]]
|Genre = [[pop music|Pop]]<br>[[Pop Rap]]<br>[[Dance Pop]]<br> [[contemporary R&B|R&B]]<br> [[Alternative Hip Hop]]<br>[[Funk music|Funk]]<br>[[Electrofunk]]<br>[[Hip Hop Soul]]<br>[[Gospel]]
|Years_active = 1995–present
|Label = [[Interscope Records|Interscope]], [[A&M Records|A&M]]
|Associated_acts = [[Justin Timberlake]], Dante Santiago, [[Right Said Fred]], [[The Pussycat Dolls]], [[Macy Gray]]
|URL = [http://www.blackeyedpeas.com/ www.blackeyedpeas.com]
|Current_members = [[will.i.am]]<br>[[apl.de.ap]]<br>[[Taboo (rapper)|Taboo]]<br>[[Fergie (singer)|Fergie]]<br>|Past_members = [[Kim Hill (soul musician)|Kim Hill]]
}}
{{dablink|This article is about the American hip hop group. For the vegetable, see [[Black-eyed pea]].}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2007}}
The '''Black Eyed Peas''' are an [[United States|American]] [[hip hop music|hip hop]]/[[pop music|pop]] group from [[Los Angeles]]. The group is currently composed of [[will.i.am]], [[apl.de.ap]], [[Taboo (rapper)|Taboo]] and [[Fergie (singer)|Fergie]]. Since their breakout album ''[[Elephunk]]'' in 2003, they have seen international fame for their pop/[[dance music|dance]]-oriented style of hip hop music. Black Eyed Peas have sold an estimated twenty-seven million albums and singles worldwide.
==History==
Black Eyed Peas went to centenary state high school and got their start in 1988 when [[will.i.am]] (born 1975 William James Adams Jr.) and [[apl.de.ap]] (born 1974 Allan Pineda) began [[rapping]] and performing together around Los Angeles. The pair signed to [[Ruthless Records]] (run by [[Eazy-E]]) after catching the attention of the nephew of [[Jerry Heller]] (Eazy-E's manager). Along with Mookie Mook (Burning Star), Dante Santiago & DJ Motiv8, they called their group "[[Atban Klann]]". Their debut album, ''[[Grass Roots (Atban Klann album)|Grass Roots]]'', was never released because Ruthless did not consider the social themes reflected in the group's music to be marketable to their audience.
After Eazy-E died of [[AIDS]] in 1995, They changed their name to Black Eyed Peas; will.i.am explained on the front cover of the ''Monkey Business'' album that "Black Eyed Peas are food for the soul", hence the name. will.i.am has cited the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] as an influence and said he named his band after a food, like them. They replaced their original third member Mookie, with Dante Santiago the Peas original singer. Then [[Taboo (rapper)|Taboo]] (born Jaime Gomez) joined the group. In 1996, they produced and appeared on a song entitled "That's Right" for [[Brian Austin Green]]'s hip-hop album ''One Stop Carnival''. Later, they began using [[Kim Hill (soul musician)|Kim Hill]] as a steady background singer. Unlike many hip-hop acts, they chose to perform with a live band and adopted a musical and clothing style that differed wildly from the "[[gangsta rap]]" sounds of other Los Angeles-based hip-hop acts at the time. Through the mid-'90s, they performed in the local club circuit alongside fellow acts such as [[Ozomatli]] and [[Jurassic 5]].
The group were signed to [[Interscope Records]] and released their debut, ''[[Behind the Front]]'', in 1998. The album won the group (and their accompanying live band, the Bucky Jonsons) critical acclaim. The album featured the single "Joints & Jams", which was included on the ''[[Bulworth]]'' [[Bulworth (soundtrack)|soundtrack]]. Their second album, ''[[Bridging the Gap]]'', was released in 2000; it featured the single "[[Request + Line]]" featuring [[Macy Gray]].
Recently the album "Grass Roots" was released onto the internet.
===''Elephunk''===
Their breakout album, ''[[Elephunk]]'', was released in 2003. It was the group's first album to feature the vocals of [[Fergie (singer)|Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson]] who was brought to the group by Dante Santiago and she became the replacement for background singer [[Kim Hill (soul musician)|Kim Hill]], who left the band in 2000.
From ''[[Elephunk]]'' came "[[Where is the Love?]]", a single featuring [[Justin Timberlake]] which became Black Eyed Peas' first major hit, peaking at #8 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. Hot 100]], but topping the charts practically everywhere else, including six weeks at #1 in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] where it became the [[List of best-selling singles by year (UK)|biggest-selling single]] of 2003. The single had similar results in [[Australia]], staying at #1 for 6 weeks as well. The album subsequently spawned "[[Shut Up (Black Eyed Peas song)|Shut Up]]," which peaked at #2 in the UK and topped the charts in many other European countries including [[France]] and [[Germany]], as well as [[Australia]], holding on to the #1 spot for 3 weeks there. ''Elephunk'' won worldwide success and went [[Music recording sales certification|Gold]] and [[Music recording sales certification|Platinum]] in the US, UK, Germany, and other European markets.
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The third single from the album, although significantly re-styled from the original ''Elephunk'' version, "[[Hey Mama (Black Eyed Peas song)|Hey Mama]]" hit the top 10 in the Australia, UK, Germany and other European countries and reached #23 in the U.S. The song received even more exposure in 2003 when it was featured in the second of [[iPod]]'s [[iPod advertising|silhouette TV commercials]].
During Black Eyed Peas' concert tour in [[Asia]] in 2004, apl.de.ap's life story was featured in a weekly [[Philippines|Filipino]] [[Dramatic programming|TV drama]] special called ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya]]'' ("Will You Remember"), which explained his childhood with his poor family in [[Pampanga]], [[Philippines]]. ("[[The Apl Song]]", with the chorus written in [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], a language of the Philippines, from their album ''Elephunk'', also tells his story.) It was at this time that apl.de.ap formed the Filipino Songwriters and Artist Group (FSAG) with Leli, a songwriter also from Pampanga, Philippines, who had developed her writing craft in Compton in the early eighties.
Black Eyed Peas' song "[[Let's Get Retarded]]" was restyled as "[[Let's Get It Started]]" for an [[NBA Finals]] worldwide commercial. The song was quite successful on the charts worldwide, peaking at #21 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. Hot 100]], #11 in the UK, and at #2 in [[Australia]]. This spot featured [[Carlos Santana]]. On the CD, it is listed as a bonus track, and is before the other bonus track "Third Eye." The revised song had great success as a single, particularly on the [[iTunes]] music download service and was also featured on the [[Film soundtrack|soundtrack]] to the stoner road trip comedy ''[[Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle]]''. The song earned the group a [[47th Grammy Awards|2005]] [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]]. Black Eyed Peas were then featured in the video game ''[[The Urbz: Sims in the City]]'' as characters. They re-recorded "Let's Get It Started" and "Shut Up" as well as other songs in "[[Simlish]]," the dialect language used by [[The Sims]] characters. This revised version was also used in the ads for the [[iMac G5]], with will.i.am and Fergie singing about the computer.
===''Monkey Business''===
Their next album, ''[[Monkey Business (album)|Monkey Business]]'', was released on [[June 7]], [[2005]]. Much of the pre-production writing was performed on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus while on Black Eyed Peas/[[N*E*R*D]] tour of 2004. The album's first single, "[[Don't Phunk with My Heart]]," was a hit in the U.S., reaching number three on the U.S. Hot 100. The song reached the highest peak yet of their career (in the U.S.) and earned them another Grammy for [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]]. The song also reached three in the UK, and five in [[Canada]], and stayed at number one for three weeks in [[Australia]]. Some radio stations, skittish about complaints of obscenity, played an alternative version, "Don't Mess with My Heart." "[[Don't Lie]]," the second single from the album, saw success on the [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. Hot 100]], reaching #14, although becoming somewhat more successful in the UK and Australia, reaching a peak of #6 in both countries. "[[My Humps]]," another song from the album, immediately achieved commercial success in the U.S. and fairly substantial radio play despite the sexually suggestive lyrics, reaching number three on the U.S. Hot 100. However, many mocked the song for its poor lyrical content; John Bush, writing for [[Allmusic]], described it as "one of the most embarrassing rap performances of the new millennium."<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:yfu06ja47180 http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:yfu06ja47180] ''Allmusic.com'' </ref> Despite this, the album ''Monkey Business'' debuted at number two on the [[Billboard 200|U.S. ''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart, selling over 295,000 copies in its first week and was later [[RIAA certification|certified]] triple platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]. Their next and last commercially-released single from the album was "[[Pump It]]," which borrows much of its sound from "[[Misirlou]]", specially [[Dick Dale]]'s version.
As well as being a hip-hop album, ''Monkey Business'' also features some [[Steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic guitar]] playing from [[Jack Johnson (musician)|Jack Johnson]] in the [[Single (music)|single]] "Gone Going."
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In September 2005, Black Eyed Peas released an ''[[iTunes Originals]]'' playlist of their greatest hits, as well as some that were re-recorded especially for purchase through iTunes. The play list includes popular songs such as "[[Don't Lie]]," "[[Shut Up (Black Eyed Peas song)|Shut Up]]," and a new version of "[[Where Is the Love?]]." It also has small stories containing info and commentary about the songs and how the group first met.
On [[November 27]], [[2005]], Black Eyed Peas performed at the half-time show at the [[Canadian Football League]]'s [[93rd Grey Cup]] in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]].
On [[December 10]], [[2005]], the Peas cover of the [[John Lennon]] classic "[[Power to the People (song)|Power to the People]]," which was mostly recorded on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, was released by [[Amnesty International]] as part of the [[Make Some Noise, Amnesty International|Make Some Noise]] campaign to celebrate human rights. The song was later released on the 2007 John Lennon tribute album, ''[[Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur]]''. The same day, Black Eyed Peas performed their version live on the UK television program ''[[The Record of the Year]]'' together with [[John Legend]] and [[Mary J. Blige]].
On [[March 21]], [[2006]], Black Eyed Peas released a [[remix]] album, entitled ''[[Renegotiations: The Remixes]]'' to [[iTunes]]. It features remixed versions of "Ba Bump," "My Style," "Feel It," "Disco Club," "They Don't Want Music," "Audio Delite at Low Fidelity," and the standard version and video of "[[Like That (song)|Like That]]." The following week, it was released on [[Compact Disc|CD]] without the [[music video]]. Participants on the [[Extended play|EP]] included [[DJ Premier]], [[Pete Rock]], [[Erick Sermon]], [[DJ Jazzy Jeff]], and [[Large Professor]].
Already having produced the bulk of the Peas' albums, will.i.am has begun his solo career in earnest by producing and collaborating with a variety of musicians, among them [[Sergio Mendes]], [[Carlos Santana]], [[Too Short]], [[Kelis]], [[John Legend]], [[RBD]], [[Nelly Furtado]], [[Justin Timberlake]], and [[Nas]].
===2005 tours===
In 2005, the Black Eyed Peas had a European and American tour to promote their latest album, "Monkey Business". They were also an opening act for singer Gwen Stefani. "Live from Sydney to Vegas" is a concert from this Tour.
===2006 tours===
In April 2006, Black Eyed Peas hit the road again as the featured headliner for the 6th Annual [[Honda Civic Tour]]<ref>[http://www.HondaCivicTour.com http://www.HondaCivicTour.com] ''HondaCivicTour.com'' Retrieved on 04-27-07 </ref> with supporting bands [[Flipsyde]] and [[The Pussycat Dolls]]. They again brought the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus on the tour with them to craft new songs for Fergie's solo debut album. Black Eyed Peas also had their first European tour, which opened in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]] and continued to [[Ireland]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Italy]] and [[Germany]].
Fergie has her own album out- The Dutchess, and Will.I.Am has a few of his own- Must B 21 etc. On [[25 July]], [[2006]] Black Eyed Peas entertained fans in [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]].
On [[July 31]], [[2006]], Black Eyed Peas spent time during their final tour stop in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]. However, they did continue to tour, but it was not with Honda, it was an independent tour titled, "Monkey Business tour", after their second studio album released with Fergie.
Black Eyed Peas have starred in a series of web shorts for [[Snickers]] called Instant Def, appearing as a group of hip-hop superheroes.
On December 31st, 2006, Black Eyed Peas performed at the [[Ipanema]] Beach in [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]] for more than 1 million people, being their biggest concert until nowadays.
*Honda Civic Tour - 2006
*Monkey Business Tour - 2006
===2007 tours===
Black Eyed Peas performed at the [[Live Earth concert, London|UK leg]] of [[Live Earth]] on [[July 7]], [[2007]] at [[Wembley Stadium]], [[London]]. [[will.i.am]] also performed a new song, "Help Us Out", at the event, which is now on his album, ''[[Songs About Girls]]'', as "S.O.S. (Mother Nature)".
Black Eyed Peas headlined the main Ocean Stage at the [[Summer Sonic Festival]] in Tokyo, Japan on August 11, and Osaka, Japan on August 12, 2007. The act comprised of the band performing their hits, as well as Fergie singing solo tracks from The Dutchess. Will.i.am also sang songs from his upcoming album.
In 2007, Black Eyed Peas embarked on the [[Black Blue & You Tour|Black Blue & You World Tour]], visiting over 20 countries, including [[Macau]], [[Sweden]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Hungary]], [[South Africa]], [[South Korea]], [[Malaysia]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]], [[Israel]], [[Singapore]], [[China]], [[Australia]], [[Nigeria]], [[Mexico]], [[Thailand]], [[Venezuela]], [[Guatemala]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Argentina]], [[El Salvador]] and [[Brazil]]. This tour was presented by [[Pepsi]], in conjunction with the new 'Pepsi More' advertising campaign, featuring Black Eyed Peas. In fact, ''More'' was a promotional single made just for the new Pepsi spot.
===The Peapod Foundation===
A Free Sunday concert in May in [[South Africa]] with Black Eyed Peas launched the [http://www.peapodfoundation.org/ Peapod Foundation]. All tickets were previously handed out to the public through an [[Short message service|SMS]] campaign and ticket giveaways to ensure that people who wouldn't ordinarily have a chance to afford the concert could see the band perform.
==Discography==
{{main|Black Eyed Peas discography}}
*1992: ''[[Grass Roots (Atban Klann album)|Grass Roots]]'' (As [[Atban Klann]])
*1998: ''[[Behind the Front]]''
*2000: ''[[Bridging the Gap]]''
*2003: ''[[Elephunk]]''
*2005: ''[[Monkey Business (album)|Monkey Business]]''
*2006: ''[[Renegotiations: The Remixes]]''
*2008: ''The '''E.N.D.''' (The '''E'''nergy '''N'''ever '''D'''ies)''
===Number-one singles===
{{dablink|The following singles reached number one in the United World Chart, the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], and/or [[Germany]]. For a full singles discography, see [[Black Eyed Peas discography]].}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!align="center" rowspan="2" | Year
!align="center" rowspan="2" | Album
!align="center" rowspan="2" | Single
!align="center" colspan="10" |<ref name="uscharts">{{cite web | title=Britney Spears: Billboard Singles | work=AllMusic.com | url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BRITNEY|SPEARS&sql=11:d9dfylk1xpsb~T51 | accessdate=2007-01-06}}</ref><ref name="ukcharts">{{cite web | title=UK Top 40 Hit Database | work=EveryHit.com | url=http://www.everyhit.com/ | accessdate=2007-01-06}}</ref>Peak positions<ref name="auscharts">{{cite web | title=Australian Singles Chart | work=AustralianCharts.com | url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=%2E%2E%2E+Baby+One+More+Time&cat=s | accessdate=2007-01-06}}</ref><ref name="uwc">{{cite web | title=United World Chart | work=MediaTraffic.de | url=http://www.mediatraffic.de/previous.htm | accessdate=2007-01-06}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
! width="60"|<small>WORLD</small>
! width="60"|<small>UK</small>
! width="60"|<small>AUS</small>
! width="60"|<small>GER</small>
! width="60"|<small>FRA</small>
! width="60"|<small>IRE</small>
! width="60"|<small>NZ</small>
|-
|align="center" rowspan="2"|2003
|align="center" rowspan="2"|''[[Elephunk]]''
|align="left"|"[[Where Is the Love?]]" <small>(feat. [[Justin Timberlake]])</small>
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|16
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|"[[Shut Up (Black Eyed Peas song)|Shut Up]]"
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="center" rowspan="3"|2005
|align="center" rowspan="3"|''[[Monkey Business]]''
|align="left"|"[[Don't Phunk With My Heart]]"
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|"[[Don't Lie]]"
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|12
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|5
|-
|align="left"|"[[My Humps]]"
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|-
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
|align="center" colspan="3"|'''Total number-one songs
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|4
|}
==DVDs==
*2004: "[[Behind The Bridge To Elephunk]]"
*2006: "[[Bring In The Noise, Bring In The Phunk]]"
*2006: "[[Live From Sydney To Vegas]]"
==E-Books==
*2008: "Black Eyed Peas: The Chart History"
==Grammy Award history==
{| class="wikitable"
! width="300" rowspan="1"| Category
! width="100" rowspan="1"| Genre
! width="214" rowspan="1"| Song
! width="100" rowspan="1"| Year
! width="100" rowspan="1"| Result
|-
| Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group
| Pop
| "[[My Humps]]"
| 2007
| Won
|-
| Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
| Rap
| "[[Don't Phunk with My Heart]]"
| 2006
| Won
|-
| Best Rap Song
| Rap
| "Don't Phunk with My Heart"
| 2006
| Nominated
|-
| Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group
| Pop
| "[[Don't Lie]]"
| 2006
| Nominated
|-
| Best Pop Collaboration w/ vocals
| Pop
| "[[Gone Going]]"
| 2006
| Nominated
|-
| Best Rap Song
| Rap
| "Let's Get It Started"
| 2005
| Nominated
|-
| Record of the Year
| General
| "Let's Get It Started"
| 2005
| Nominated
|-
| Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
| Rap
| "Let's Get It Started"
| 2005
| Won
|-
| Record of the Year
| General
| "[[Where Is the Love?]]"
| 2004
| Nominated
|-
| Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
| Rap
| "Where Is the Love?"
| 2004
| Nominated
|-
</table>
<noinclude>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons|Black Eyed Peas}}
*[http://www.blackeyedpeas.com/ Official Black Eyed Peas website]
*[http://www.peapodfoundation.org/ Peapod Foundation website]
*[http://www.allbepfanstogether.com/ Official Black Eyed Peas Fan Club website]
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[[Category:Black Eyed Peas| ]]
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