Music collective Black Eyed Peas explained why longtime vocalist Fergie left the group. The trio also explained the concept behind their latest album, "Translation," in a new Billboard exclusive.
In the story by Leila Cobo, she asked the Black Eyed Peas whether Fergie has heard their new album. Will.i.am said that their former vocalist hasn't heard it yet, but will have the chance to do so when it gets released. He added that they keep in touch with Fergie, saying that she is "focusing on being a mom."
"Fergie is our sister. So even with these small connections, she's always going to be our sister," Apl.de.up agreed.
J. Rey Soul: A Worthy Successor
They also talked about B.E.P's new vocalist. Black Filipina singer J. Rey Soul, born Jessica Reynoso, formerly joined the Philippine spin-off of "The Voice" under Apl.de.ap's team. Taboo opened up saying how proud he is of J. Rey Soul, adding that their album release is closely followed by his six years of being cancer-free. "Ferg, she's doing the mom thing - but we have an amazing artist we're developing. She's part of this new album, she's part of "Mamacita," Taboo said of Rey Soul.
Will.i.am added: "Imagine you're 23 years old ... and you step out on stage, and the audience says, "That's not [Fergie]!" Instead, Rey Soul still stepped on stage and gives her all. J. Rey Soul makes her music video debut in the Black Eyed Peas and Ozuna track "Mamacita."
The First Peas in a Pod
The band also traces its origins to a trio of high school friends. William "will.i.am" Adams, Jaime Luis "Taboo" Gomez, and Allan "Apl.de.ap" Pineda would form the pillars the is the Black Eyed Peas.
"Hip-hop and urban music, in the beginning, they really didn't f**k with Black Eyed Peas - we weren't hard enough, we weren't gangster enough," will.i.am recalled in the Billboard interview. While he grew up in Boyle Heights in East L.A. and claimed to be "as street as it gets," Will said that it was not the music he wanted to make. He noted that hip-hop and urban music remind him of pain, suffering, and the loss of friends.
"I want to make fantasy, feel-good, people-travel-the-world music," will.i.am added.
Coming Back To The Top With "Translation"
As "Translation" marks their first new album after 2018's Masters of the Sun, Vol. 1, Cobo remarked that their new album feels like a comeback album. Will.i.am agreed, explaining that their 2018 album was more of an "underground jazz record that reflects our origins and beginnings." He added that they intentionally avoided songs that are about "high-volume streaming or radio."
Taboo added that "it was really cool" to focus on the Latin artists that have inspired them. He mentioned famous Latin artists J. Balvin, Maluma, and Ozuna. He also recounted the previous B.E.P. tracks influenced by Latin music, such as "Karma" and "Latin Girls" from their 2003 album "Elephunk."
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