|
The Black Eyed Peas Reinvent the Recipe for Success
by Nadya Vlassoff
 The
evolution of music over the last several decades
has spawned several new genres, which, in the
last ten years, have been spliced into even more
sub-genres. Experimentation with different sounds
while mixing international beats with remastered
digital tracks has opened the door for musically
gifted artists to crave out their own unique place
in an overcrowded market. However, in a market
where various sub-genres of popular music aren't
necessarily the most original, artists and acts
have had to repeatedly reinvent themselves in
order to expand not only their style and image
but also their sound.
From "Behind the Front" in 1998, "Bridging the Gap" in 2000, and "Elephunk" in 2003 to "Monkey Business" in 2005 and now "The E.N,D." and the huge hit single, "Boom Boom Pow" in 2009, the Black Eyed Peas have gone through a unique evolution, reinventing their line-up, style, and pop-club-funk-hip hop sound as they pioneer new frontiers from today's current wave of electro, techno and dance. In the early years of the late '90s and early '00s, Black Eyed Peas went from a pseudo trio of hip-hop innovators on the fringes of the mainstream to an explosive quartet of musical diversity that not only produced catchy beats with positive messages but also influenced an entire decade of emerging artists. Interestingly, with the release of "The E.N.D.", BEP is now breaking new musical ground that was paved long ago by the legacy they've already left behind as the early Black Eyed Peas.
 Aside
from recent solo projects and their own BEP
albums, will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo
have worked with a slew of industry professionals
in recent years, collaborating with artists
such as Justin Timberlake, Esthero, Nas, Michael
Jackson, Jasmine Trias, Nelly Furtado, and John
Legend (to name only a few) while also moulding
new and upcoming acts LMFAO and Paradiso Girls
and helping others like the Pussycat Dolls.
Now over a decade in the business, the Black
Eyed Peas continue to rise above their musical
peers, as proven by the massive 2009 success
of "Boom Boom Pow" from "The E.N.D." Given how
"Boom Boom Pow" became the first Black Eyed
Peas single to reach #1 on the domestic and
international Billboard charts, one could look
at BEP and say that will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap
and Taboo have finally come of age after five
full-length studio albums.
Aside from their eclectic tastes in fashion and funky beats, what is it that sets BEP apart from the rest of their contemporaries? For one, and a major factor, BEP has never shied away from pushing the parameters of popular music, asking questions along the way that put music, their peers, and the industry under the microscope. Ironically, will.i.am would probably ask anyone, including us, "What's popular music? How do you define pop? Does it have to be popular?" It's that very sense of wonder that enables BEP to reinvent themselves within a rapidly changing musical era.
 However,
will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo have
experimented with many styles and genres while
often working within pop parameters as a base
to build outward and push the boundaries of
what we know of as popular, perhaps radio friendly,
music. Black Eyed Peas creativity has never
come from a musical place of aiming to impress
critics, even fans to some degree.
Arguably the boldest, most musically astute move in the history of BEP was the introduction of Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson in 2003 who replaced BEP back-up singer Kim Hill. The addition of Fergie opened up the group to a wider range of styles and a more diverse bag of melodic tricks, as they honed a broader ability to appeal to larger demographics across several genres.
In 2006 the Black Eyed Peas collaborated with Sergio Mendes on "Timeless," which added a new twist to classic song. You can hear everything from Bosa Nova and Samba, to funk, rap, hip hop and electro pop. While many artists contributed to the Mendes album, including Erykah Badhu and Justin Timberlake, BEP successfully produced a musical infusion of dance beats with Portuguese melodies. The result was a dance hit that was fit for a lazy Sunday afternoon or in a club on a Friday night to a packed house. It was, and still is, fun music for any mood.
 Expanding
their musical horizons, Black Eyed Peas collaborated
with super producer Timbaland for the release
of "Monkey Business," which, as will.i.am publicly
admitted, was largely recorded on the road while
the group was on tour to promote "Elephunk,"
the 10 million selling album that propelled
the Black Eyed Peas to even bigger mainstream
heights.
Black Eyed Peas are popular subterranean hip-hop with electro melodic fluidity and vestiges of personal storytelling mixed with danceable, ethno-sonic significance. In "The E.N.D.," after five full-length studio albums and years of musical maturity under their belts, it looks and sounds like the Black Eyed Peas are just getting started.
|
