Black Eyed Peas - Fallin' Up (1998)
Black Eyed Peas (R.I.P.) 1995-2002
The Black Eyed Peas were an American hip hop group, consisting of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo. Originally an alternative hip hop group, they subsequently added R&B, pop and Jazz influences. Although the group was founded in Los Angeles in 1995, it was not until after their release of a Dr. Pepper commercial in 2002 that they were ousted as sellouts and subsequently the group fell apart as a Hip-Hop group.
Since that time, the original members of Black Eyed Peas have become backup singers to Pop artist Fergie, losing entirely their aesthetic commitment to the Hip-Hop genre.
1988–2002: Atban Klann, Behind the Front, and Bridging the Gap
The Black Eyed Peas date back to 1988, when eighth-graders William Adams (will.i.am) and Allan Pineda (apl.de.ap) met and began rapping and performing together around Los Angeles. The pair signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E) in 1992, catching the attention of Eazy-E manager Jerry Heller's nephew. Along with another friend of theirs, Dante Santiago, they called their trio Atban Klann (ATBAN: A Tribe Beyond a Nation).[5] Will 1X (aka will.i.am), apl.de.ap, Mookie Mook, DJ Motiv8 (aka Monroe Walker), and Dante Santiago formed Atban Klann. Their debut album, Grass Roots, was never released due to Ruthless records founder Eazy-E's death.[5]
After Eazy-E died in 1995, Atban Klann reformed and changed their name to Black Eyed Pods, and then Black Eyed Peas. Dante Santiago was replaced with Jaime Gomez (Taboo), and Kim Hill became a steady background singer. Unlike the "gangsta rap" sounds of Los Angeles-based hip-hop acts at the time, the trio performed with a live band and adopted a conscious musical and appearance style. After being signed to Interscope Records and releasing their debut, Behind the Front (1998) the group (and their accompanying live band) earned critical acclaim. One of the singles from the album was "Joints & Jam", and was featured on the Bulworth soundtrack. Their second album, Bridging the Gap (2000), produced the singles "Weekends" featuring Esthero and "Request + Line" featuring R&B singer Macy Gray.
2013–present: Upcoming third studio album and 20th anniversary
During an interview with NRJ, will.i.am in talking about his solo album also confirmed that The Black Eyed Peas would start recording sessions for their third studio album in 2013.[19] In an interview on Capital Breakfast, will.i.am said that the Peas will reform in 2015 for the 20th anniversary.