History Music / TheBlackEyedPeas

The Black Eyed Peas (also known as Black Eyed Peas or BEP) are a Los Angeles-based hip-hop group, initially composed of members Music/WillIAm, Taboo, and apl.de.ap. Formed in 1995, they began as a [[TheMoralSubstitute less violent]], [[AlternativeHipHop socially conscious alternative]] to the {{gangsta rap}} acts of the time, though they were ironically signed by Music/EazyE of Music/{{NWA}} fame. Two albums were released in 1998 and 2000 to critical acclaim and modest sales.

** "Let's Get Retarded" was changed to "Let's Get It Started" on the radio, and the lyric "Bob your head like epilepsy" was changed to "Bob your head like [[AccentOnTheWrongSyllable me, apl.de]]." This version became so ubiquitous that quite few people don't know the original name of the song.

*** "The true niggas know that the Peas come through" was changed to "the true ''people'' know...".
*** "And then drop bombs like we in the Middle East" was changed to "and then drop bombs 'cuz we shaking to the beat".
*** "Don't wanna squeeze triggers, just wanna squeeze tits" edited out "tits" and replaced it with a [[TheImmodestOrgasm female moan]], of all things.

* BrokenRecord: WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/tis/tpsr/21839-ep-03-imma-be decided to count]] how many times "Imma Be" is {{Title Drop}}ped. It goes '''106''' times.

* ButtMonkey: During the Fergie era, Taboo. Quite a number of songs don't even ''have'' him, which is made more JustForFun/{{Egregious}} by the fact that [[AdvertisedExtra he still appears in the music videos with the rest of the band]].

* MultilingualSong: A few. Most prominently "The Apl Song" whose Tagalog-language chorus is borrowed from the 1979 song "Balita" ("News") by folk rock band Asin ("Salt").[[note]]Rough translation: "Come closer, friends, and listen. I bring news from my homeland. I wish to share the stories and events happening in the promised land."[[/note]].

* StuffyOldSongsAboutTheButtocks: "My Humps". A song about a woman who uses her breasts and buttocks to get what she wants.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/DirtyDancing They had the times of their lives.]][[note]]L to R: [[BlackAndNerdy will.i.am]], [[ButtMonkey Taboo]], apl.de.ap, [[MsFanservice Fergie]].[[/note]]]]

-->--"Boom Boom Pow"

The Black Eyed Peas are a Los Angeles-based hip-hop group, initially composed of members will.i.am, Taboo, and apl.de.ap. Formed in 1995, they began as a [[TheMoralSubstitute less violent]], [[AlternativeHipHop socially conscious alternative]] to the gangsta rap acts of the time, though ironically signed by Music/EazyE of Music/{{NWA}} fame. Two albums were released in 1998 and 2000, to critical acclaim and modest sales.

In 2002, they were joined by a fourth member, Music/{{Fergie}},[[note]]Not to be confused with the wife of Prince Andrew[[/note]] formerly of the girl group Wild Orchid. By the time ''Elephunk'' and ''[[NewSoundAlbum Monkey Business]]'' were released in 2003 and 2005, the group had changed entirely, moving towards a pop sound with Fergie placed front and center, and much simpler lyrical content, intended to appeal to the LowestCommonDenominator. Their new style earned them numerous #1 hit singles and multi-platinum sales, to the point where some people didn't know they did anything pre-''Elephunk''.

The group took a hiatus from 2012-2014, before resuming work in 2015. In 2018, Fergie departed the group. In the same year, ''Series/TheVoice Philippines'' finalist Jessica Reynoso started touring with the group, adopting the stage name J Rey Soul.

Fergie, will.i.am, and Taboo have branched out into acting careers, and Taboo has also written comics. Meanwhile, apl.de.ap works to alleviate poverty in the Philippines through a foundation made in his name. will.i.am and apl.de.ap are also both coaches on different national versions of ''The Voice''.

* HyperDestructiveBouncingBall: In the video for "Pump It", Will.I.Am manages to invoke this with a ''soccer ball'' while fighting a thug.

* SelfEmpowermentAnthem: "Imma Be" which means "I'm going to be"

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/DirtyDancing They had the times of their lives.]][[note]]L to R: will.i.am, Taboo, apl.de.ap, Fergie.[[/note]]]]

The Black Eyed Peas are a Los Angeles-based rap group, initially composed of members will.i.am, Taboo, and apl.de.ap. Formed in 1995, they began as a [[TheMoralSubstitute less violent]], [[AlternativeHipHop socially conscious alternative]] to the gangsta rap acts of the time, though ironically signed by Music/EazyE of Music/{{NWA}} fame. Two albums were released in 1998 and 2000, to critical acclaim and modest sales.

In 2002, they were joined by a fourth member, Music/{{Fergie}},[[note]]Not to be confused with the wife of Prince Andrew[[/note]] formerly of the girl group Wild Orchid. By the time ''Elephunk'' and ''[[NewSoundAlbum Monkey Business]]'' were released in 2003 and 2005, the group had changed entirely, moving towards a pop sound with Fergie placed front and center, and much simpler lyrical content. Their new style earned them numerous #1 hit singles and multi-platinum sales, to the point where some people didn't know they did anything pre-''Elephunk''.

!!Tropes found in their music include:

** See also: "Beautiful Dangerous," Fergie's collaboration with [[Music/GunsNRoses Slash]].

* SpicyLatina: "Girl Like Me", a collaborative single with Music/{{Shakira}}, pays tribute to that image of Latina women, with the lyrics talking about them being [[HotBlooded passionate women]] and [[SexGoddess great lovers]].

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* MultilingualSong: A few. Most prominently "The Apl Song" whose Filipino-language chorus is borrowed from the 1979 song "Balita" ("News") by folk rock band Asin ("Salt").[[note]]Rough translation: "Come closer, friends, and listen. I bring news from my homeland. I wish to share the stories and events happening in the promised land."[[/note]].