Black Eyed Peas

Black Eyed Peas  jsou hiphopová skupina z Los Angeles. V současné sestavě působí od roku 2003, kdy se k will.i.amovi (William Adams, *1975), apl.de.amovi (Allan Pineda Lindo, *1974) a Taboovi (Jaime Luis Gómez, *1975) přidala Fergie neboli Stacy Ann Fergusonová (*1975). 

Počátky kapely sahají do roku 1992. Tehdy se na škole potkali vyznavači stejného stylu hudby William Adams a Allan Pineda Lindo. Jedanlo se o nepříliš známý žánr, rap mixovaný s jazzem. Kluci tedy založili tedy skupinu, jíž pojmenovaliTribaly nations. Nahráli dokonce i desku Grass Roots, ta ale nikdy nevyšla. Poté do skupiny přibyl další člen, Eazy E. V dalších letech kapela hrála po klubech v Los Angeles a získala početné fanoušky. V roce 1995 Eazy E. zemřel. O tři roky později se skupina přejmenovala na Black Eyed Peas a zároveň vydala své první album s názvem Behind the Front. To obsahovalo track Joints & Jams, singl, který se stal součástí soundtracku k filmu Bulthworth.

Důležitý přelom století
Přelom tisíciletí přinesl Black Eyed Peas dvě události. V roce 2000 vydali druhé album Briding The Grap a jejich řady opustila zpěvačka Kim Hill, která s nimi začala hrát po smrti Eazyho E. Důvody nikdy neuvedla, pravděpodobně se však rozhodla věnovat se sólové kariéře. Opravdu průlomovým byl rok 2003. Black Eyed Peas si našli náhradu za Kim v podobě Fergie. Ta se jak tvorbou, tak stylem odívání výrazně lišila od ostatních losangelesských hiphopových zpěvaček. V roce 2003 vyšla kapele deska Elephunk, která slavila takový úspěch, jako žádné jiné hiphopové album. Nahrávky se prodalo 7,5 milionů kusů a získala 4 nominace na ceny Grammy. Album – vybavené rozvolněnými rytmy a rozjařeným funky zvukem – představilo zvuk 21. století, zvuk neomezený žánry, melodiemi ani generacemi. Z Elephunku pocházely i úspěšné singly. Where is The Love se dostalo na první příčky hitparád snad všude na světě a v Británii se stalo nejprodávanějším singlem roku. Shut U suverénně kraloval žebříčkům v celé západní Evropě. Remake písně Let‘s Get Retarded  (pojmenovaný Let’s Get It Started) se stal melodií finále basketbalové NBA.

Korunka s několika diamanty
Pokud byla deska Elephunk klenotem moderní hudby, čtvrté CD s názvem Monkey Business lze považovat za korunu ozdobenou několika takovýmito klenoty. Vyšlo v lednu roku 2005 a v součtu získalo po celém světě 32 platinový desek. Kromě toho za ně byli Black Eyed Peas nominováni na čtyři Grammy, z nichž ale získali „pouze“ tu za Nejlepší popové vystoupení. 10. prosince 2005 nahrála skupina v rámci akce Make Some Noise pořádané organizací Amnesty International svou verzi hitu Johna Lennona Power to the People. Muzikanti ji zveřejnili při příležitosti akce John tribute 2007 na podporu lidských práv a řešení humanitární krize v Darfúru.

V březnu roku 2006 zveřejnili Black Eyed Peas na iTunes CD remaků svých největších hitů Renegotiations: The Remixes. Obsahuje písně jako Ba Bump, My Style, Feel It, Disco Club, They Don't Want Music, nebo Audio Delite at Low Fidelity. The END, páté studiové album, které Black Eyed Peas nahrají se zpěvačkou Fergie, má vyjít v březnu roku 2009. Název, který znamená "The Energy Never Dies" je příznačný, protože skupina opakovaně ohlásila, že další alba již neplánuje.

Black Eyed Peas během své kariéry spolupracovali i s mnoha hvězdami hudebního nebe, například s Too Short,Kelis, Johnem Legendem, RBD, Nelly Furtado, nebo Justinem Timberlakem. Kapela odjela čtyři velká turné. První dvě (2004 a 2005) se konala v Severní Americe a Evropě. Turné v roce 2006 neslo název Honda Civic Tour a diváci mohli kromě Black Eyed Peas vidět i Flipsyde a The Pussycat Dolls. Koncertní šňůra tehdy zavítala mimo jiné i do Izraele. Šlo tak o první sadu koncertů, které mohli fanoušci slyšet na čtyřech kontinentech. O rok později pak kapela zavítala i do Austrálie a Afriky.

zdroj: www.koule.cz

Black Eyed Peas Kick Off “E.N.D.” Tour With Big Tricks, Huge Hits

Kicking off their first tour since 2006, the Black Eyed Peas brought a full bag of tricks to Philips Arena in Atlanta last night. There were smoke machines, lasers, oddly clad dancers, a flying motorcycle, confetti canons and many, many costume changes. Overall, the vibe was, to quote their recent hit, “Boom Boom Pow,” “so 3008″ — kind of Buck Rogers meets Vivienne Westwood — with the Peas running through more than 20 songs in a tightly choreographed, fast-paced two-hour set.

Dive into the BEP’s show in photos from opening night.

The show opened with a large, green robotic face projected onto a video screen behind the center of the stage, as plumes of smoke swirled from the floor. Echoing the band’s recent Grammy-winning album, a mechanical voice intoned, “Welcome to The E.N.D.” Soon after, Will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo and Apl.de.ap rose from beneath the stage, enveloped in green laser light, and launched into “Let’s Get It Started.” Will, dressed in what looked like a bedazzled, silver marching band jacket and a black “Phantom of the Opera”-style face mask, stalked down a long runway that extended into the audience, followed by Fergie, who was wearing a silver body suit and matching boots. Images of flames and computer circuitry alternated on the massive, two-story stage set behind them, with a band safely installed — which is to say, barely visible — on the set’s upper level.

For “Rock That Body,” the quartet was joined onstage by six dancers dressed as stereo speakers. Their mechanized routine at the end of the song offered the first chance for a wardrobe change. The disco-inflected “Meet Me Halfway” followed, featuring Will jamming on key-tar and Fergie at stage center, her hair blown back by wind machines. Will moved briefly to a grand piano to offer a verse and chorus of “Alive,” then shot up off his bench for “Don’t Phunk With My Heart.”

An impressive Will.i.am freestyle that included multiple mentions of 1990s-era Atlanta Falcons running back (and apparent friend-of-Will’s) Jamal Anderson, another wardrobe change and more hits (”Imma Be,” “My Humps”) preceded brief solo sets from each of the Peas, the most memorable moments of which were Taboo’s ride through the arena on a motorcycle suspended from cables, and Will’s DJ set, which mixed snippets of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and “Thriller,” with Estelle’s “American Boy,” House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Otherside,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” and Guns N’ Roses, “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” to crowd-pleasing effect.

The tail end of the set included an energetic take on the surf guitar-led “Pump It,” and an earnest thank you to the audience from Will for the Peas’ continued success in the face of an industry that has been completely transformed since the band began touring 11 years ago. Fergie, now dressed in a black, skin-tight leotard with pointy shoulder blades and an armor plate over her crotch, led the crowd in a sing-along of the group’s breakthrough hit, “Where Is the Love?” to close out the main set. “Boom Boom Pow” and their current hit, “I Gotta Feeling,” turned up in the encore. Fergie briefly wove the chorus of U2’s “With or Without You” into the latter tune, which was capped when confetti canons rained tiny strips of colorful paper on audience members as they made their way to the exits.

David Peisner

Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris Kick Off World Tour

It Happened Last Night

Picking up where they left off last week at the Grammy Awards, the Black Eyed Peas kicked off their world tour at Atlanta's Philips Arena Thursday night, creating an over-the-top electronic-hip-hop-pop-rock'n'roll circus, costarring hometown hero Ludacris and party boys LMFAO.

LMFAO took the stage first and immediately established the fact this was more of a party than a concert. "Where are all my alcoholics at?!" was met with a big cheer, despite the fact it wasn't even 8 P.M. The lighthearted, groove-happy duo serenaded the crowd via auto-tune, subbed Atlanta into "I'm in Miami, Bitch," and had back-up dancers that included kids bizarrely dressed up in Lego costumes. It was like if the Flaming Lips ran head first into the Beastie Boys of the future… at a party.

If LMFAO turned the room into a bash, Ludacris transformed it into a club. A superstar in his own right, homeboy blasted rap over a slew of thumping hits, including "Southern Hospitality," "Money Maker," and "Pimpin' All Over the World," evoking sights and sounds from Atlanta's raging club scene circa 2002.

Living up to his entrepreneurial status, Luda wasn't being shy about plugging his upcoming record, "Battle of the Sexes," as well as his new line of cognac. "I love y'all Atlanta. Hey y'all might remember this one," he spouted, before launching into "What's Your Fantasy," which ended with the audience delivering the rapid-fire styling (lick-lick-lick-you) of the chorus.

While the capacity crowd was certainly partial to their local superstar, there's no question who they were there to see.

The Black Eyed Peas' setup resembled an awards show, decked in LCD screens, catwalks, underlit runways, and a perched stage for the live band. Multiple hologram faces hovered above the crowd; "Welcome to the end," said one in a static-y voice. The group, dressed in what looked like military outfits made out of a disco ball, rose through stage floor amid smoke and laser beams.

Launching into "Let's Get Retarded," the Peas bounced about the stage while the sheer size of the production knocked you on your ass: Every flat surface was a screen blinding with hyper-colors, the sound seemed to come at you from all angles, dancers dressed as transformer speakers marched along perfectly in sync. It felt like being transplanted into a sci-fi movie or that scary boat ride in the original Willy Wonka.

"Welcome to our first night of our world tour," Taboo exclaimed. "And what better place to get it started than Atlanta!"

Not surprisingly, the group wasted little time getting to the crowd pleasers, pummeling through "Rock Your Body," "My Humps," and "Don't Phunk with my Heart." The showmanship was one part theatrical (members flying through the air) and one part predictable (banter seemingly already rehearsed and already stale).

But 30 minutes into the two-hour set, Will.I.Am showed he could bring it old school, as he rapped spontaneously with lines that fans had texted him, tackling topics as they appeared on the giant screens… all while getting the band to speed up the tempo as he went. It was impressive, no matter which side of the "love 'em, hate 'em" pop debate you are on.

Later, the four members each took a solo turn. Apl.de.ap tossed his mic mid-song to breakdance, Taboo spit game as he rode through the air on a space-age motorcycle suspended from the ceiling, and Fergie solicited sing-a-longs from "Fergulicious," "Glamorous," and "Big Girls Don't Cry."

"Do you mind if I turn this arena into a motherfuckin' club tonight?!" was Will.I.Am's solo intro. Mixing and mashing Michael Jackson, Nirvana, and House of Pain, he threw the crowd into a frenzy of fist pumping, dancing, and jumping up and down. It was a perfect way to re-energize a crowd with the rarely-used tactic of blasting other people's music.

"This feels a little bit like the first day of school," said Fergie genuinely. The group, after a third or fourth costume change, reunited to close the show with the punky-athem "Now Generation" and borderline-cheesy sing-along "Where is the Love."

While it was certainly sensory overload at times -- sight, sound, and even social media fused into an overwhelming and extreme production -- the Black Eyed Peas know their place among mainstream pop culture. They push the boundaries of what it means to be one of the top-selling acts in music today.