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Hip-hop artists with commercial aspirations need never appear pandering to their audience, since a tough, defiant stance -- aka keeping it real -- is exactly what will draw in most crossover listeners anyway. Nevertheless, the Black Eyed Peas quickly embraced the pop world after the surprising success of third album Elephunk, and only continued their repositioning as a mainstream act with 2005's Monkey Business. That focus is immediately clear on the opener, "Pump It Up," where they gladly welcome listeners on a track whose sample -- Dick Dale's "Misirlou," already ubiquitous before it appeared in Pulp Fiction -- has to replace "Walk This Way" or "I'll Be Missing You" (more on Sting later) as the most conspicuous case of an unmissable rock riff being used on a rap track. With the Wal-Mart audience safely in tow, the group moves on to motivate its hip-hop base by reaching for every trick in the grab bag of contemporary urban music. These attempts are either serviceable or wildly unsuccessful. "Disco Club" is one of the few serviceable tracks, an apt re-creation of Cassidy's "Hotel." Wildly unsuccessful is the group's utilization of its newest member, Fergie, to function as an imitator of the hyper-sexual Kelis/Ciara archetype on "My Humps," which makes for one of the most embarrassing rap performances of the new millennium (sample lyric: "My hump (9x)/My lovely little lumps"). Unlike Elephunk, the Justin Timberlake feature here ("My Style") is placed early in the program, and it's bolstered by a Timbaland production, which eases the strain of an otherwise featherweight jam. Most of the songs on Monkey Business are the same type of party rap singalong that Black Eyed Peas made their name with on Elephunk. But other than "Disco Club," the only one that works as anything but background party music is "Feel It," a rare production by the group's apl.de.ap (will.i.am handles most of the rest). At the very tail end of the disc, there's one brief glance at Black Eyed Peas' history as a socially conscious group -- "Union," featuring Sting and Branford Marsalis, which floats the usual bromides about peace and equality (and swipes the sound and speak of Bob Marley in the process). Monkey Business could easily sell just as well, or better, than Elephunk, but what the group made sound effortless in the past sounds strained and canned here.
© John Bush /TiVo
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William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Stacy Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicholas Roubanis, ComposerLyricist - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tal Herzberg, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Thomas Van Musser, ComposerLyricist - Taboo, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Full Force, ComposerLyricist - Stacy Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Printz Board, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tal Herzberg, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Neil Tucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Harris, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - RON FAIR, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Kalyanji Anandji, ComposerLyricist - Indeewar, ComposerLyricist - Charlie Baccarat, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Nathaniel Hills, ComposerLyricist - Tim Mosley, ComposerLyricist - Marcella Araica, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Stacy Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Danja, Producer, Co-Producer - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Timbaland, Producer, Unknown, Other - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - TONY MASERATI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Rudolf, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Justin Timberlake, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Demo Castellon, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Venus Brown, D J, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Van Musser, ComposerLyricist - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Jaime Gomez, ComposerLyricist - Stacy Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tal Herzberg, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - Chris Peters, ComposerLyricist - Drew Peters, ComposerLyricist - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - RON FAIR, Producer, Additional Producer, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Taboo, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Brady, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - David Payton, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Organ, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Kamaal Fareed, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Jaime Gomez, ComposerLyricist - Ted Howard, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Osinachi Nwaneri, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Newley, ComposerLyricist - Leslie Bricusse, ComposerLyricist - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Unknown, Other, StudioPersonnel - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Talib Kweli Greene, ComposerLyricist - Ethan Willoughby, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Printz Board, Mellotron, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Benjamin Brown, ComposerLyricist - George Bennett, ComposerLyricist - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Donat Mittoo, ComposerLyricist - Tippa Irie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - TONY MASERATI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Harris, Keyboards, Drum, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Producer, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Leroy Sibblis, ComposerLyricist - Lloyd Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - Fitzroy Simpson, ComposerLyricist - Taboo, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Brady, ComposerLyricist - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dante Santiago, FeaturedArtist - Robert Lyn, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Stacy Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Printz Board, Producer, Co-Producer, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - apl.de.ap, Producer, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Strings, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - TONY MASERATI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Neil Tucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Harris, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Dylan Dresdow, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - will.i.am, Engineer, Vocals, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Taboo, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Dante Santiago, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Suzie Katayama, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Printz Board, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce Dukov, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Katia Popov, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Endre Granat, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Funes, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Derouin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Bisharat, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Erdody, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Tal Herzberg, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sid Page, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Joseph Puig, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Josefina Vergara, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mario DeLeon, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Natalie Leggett, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Low, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Julie Gigante, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Levy, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Izo Orindgreff, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Thornblade, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Hammond Organ, Vocals, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Tammy Hatwan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Dembow, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Tsan, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Roberto Cani, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Songa Lee, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Johnson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackie Brand, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - RON FAIR, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Oswell, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Rene Mandel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Vicki Miskolczy, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Grunfield, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Darryl Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Stacy Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Printz Board, Trumpet, Moog Bass, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - JAMES BROWN, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Neil Tucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Watkins, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Izo Orindgreff, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Robert Thompson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Bittersweets, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregg O. Mays, ComposerLyricist - Damon Woods, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Printz Board, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Chaos, Engineer, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - Neil Tucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Izo Orindgreff, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Engineer, Vocals, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Jean Baptiste, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Tidd, ComposerLyricist - Michael Mathews, ComposerLyricist - Taboo, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Dante Santiago, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Melvin J. Lewis, ComposerLyricist - David Saevitz, ComposerLyricist - Michael Matthews, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Noizetrip, Producer
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Limon, Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Larry Blackmon, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Printz Board, Trumpet, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - TONY MASERATI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Neil Tucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Izo Orindgreff, Flute, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Producer, Engineer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Fratantuno, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Taboo, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Dante Santiago, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Jenkins, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Rick James, ComposerLyricist - Keith Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - will.i.am, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
Branford Marsalis, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Kirkland, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Stacy Ferguson, ComposerLyricist - George Pajon Jr., ComposerLyricist - apl.de.ap, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Fergie, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Sting, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Manu Katche, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Vocals, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Mino Cinelu, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Taboo, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Villaroman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
John Stephens, ComposerLyricist - will.i.am, ComposerLyricist - The Black Eyed Peas, MainArtist - Ray Brady, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Interscope Records
Album review
Hip-hop artists with commercial aspirations need never appear pandering to their audience, since a tough, defiant stance -- aka keeping it real -- is exactly what will draw in most crossover listeners anyway. Nevertheless, the Black Eyed Peas quickly embraced the pop world after the surprising success of third album Elephunk, and only continued their repositioning as a mainstream act with 2005's Monkey Business. That focus is immediately clear on the opener, "Pump It Up," where they gladly welcome listeners on a track whose sample -- Dick Dale's "Misirlou," already ubiquitous before it appeared in Pulp Fiction -- has to replace "Walk This Way" or "I'll Be Missing You" (more on Sting later) as the most conspicuous case of an unmissable rock riff being used on a rap track. With the Wal-Mart audience safely in tow, the group moves on to motivate its hip-hop base by reaching for every trick in the grab bag of contemporary urban music. These attempts are either serviceable or wildly unsuccessful. "Disco Club" is one of the few serviceable tracks, an apt re-creation of Cassidy's "Hotel." Wildly unsuccessful is the group's utilization of its newest member, Fergie, to function as an imitator of the hyper-sexual Kelis/Ciara archetype on "My Humps," which makes for one of the most embarrassing rap performances of the new millennium (sample lyric: "My hump (9x)/My lovely little lumps"). Unlike Elephunk, the Justin Timberlake feature here ("My Style") is placed early in the program, and it's bolstered by a Timbaland production, which eases the strain of an otherwise featherweight jam. Most of the songs on Monkey Business are the same type of party rap singalong that Black Eyed Peas made their name with on Elephunk. But other than "Disco Club," the only one that works as anything but background party music is "Feel It," a rare production by the group's apl.de.ap (will.i.am handles most of the rest). At the very tail end of the disc, there's one brief glance at Black Eyed Peas' history as a socially conscious group -- "Union," featuring Sting and Branford Marsalis, which floats the usual bromides about peace and equality (and swipes the sound and speak of Bob Marley in the process). Monkey Business could easily sell just as well, or better, than Elephunk, but what the group made sound effortless in the past sounds strained and canned here.
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:10:04
- Main artists: The Black Eyed Peas
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Music Group International
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2005 Interscope Records ℗ 2005 Interscope Records
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