“THE ENERGY NEVER DIES” IN THE BLACK EYED PEAS’ MUSIC

“We got to capture what was going on in the world and our lives. People can relate to that better because they know what we are feeling and what we are all about” (“Black-Eyed peas Interview” Ugo.com:1). -The Black Eyed Peas

In the quote above a Black Eyed Peas member (Apl.De.Ap) states how he feels while recording songs and how the world inspires and understands their songwriting. Rap/Hip-hop music have been around since the late 1970’s in New York City. Icons in American songwriting are Bob Dylan and Mariah Carey. The Black Eyed Peas [Fergie, Will.i.am, Apl.De.Ap, and Taboo] need to be included in this iconic group. American songwriting will be overviewed. Six of The Black Eyed Peas’ best songs will be discussed. Kelefa Sanneh and Ann Powers both agree that The Black Eyed Peas is one of the finest songwriters in American music. In order to prove this, it is first necessary to examine songwriting.

Dictionary.com defines American songwriting as: “writing the [American] music and [English] word of [American] songs” (1). Masters of Hip-Hop/Rap songwriting know what it takes to produce a quality product. Among the most important elements of outstanding songwriting are alliteration, Camarillo 2. consonance, allusion, lyric poetry, personification, and figurative language. Additional elements include couplet, simile, imagery, metonymy, onomatopoeia, and a refrain. Examples of these terms will be put to use in several Black Eyed Peas’ songs.

The first work to be examined is “Electric City,” which is an energetic song about how great music is when it is blasted. An important excerpt is: “Ghetto blaster blastin’ on your block…” (11:7). Here, The Black Eyed Peas provide an example of alliteration because the words “blaster”, “blastin’”, and “block” all contain the repetition of initial consonant sounds (B) in a group of words close together. This shows The Black Eyed Peas’ impressive ability to incorporate alliteration into their music. Another key quote is: “We killin killin killin radio station…” (11:18). The artists include an example of consonance in this line because the words “killin”, “killin”, ”killin”, and “station” all end with the same letter (n). This reveals their innate ability to include consonance in their music as well.
The second verse to be covered is “One Tribe,” which is about spreading the love across the world and trying to reunite as one. “And the continent is called Pangaea…” (14:15)- is a line from the song that does not have a specific meaning, but it does show The Black Eyed Peas’ unique talent to incorporate allusion into their songs [note the reference to a historical place, which is Pangaea]. Likewise, “Let’s break walls, so we see through/Let love and peace lead you…” (14:81-82)- is an extraction from the verse that speaks about how a person should always be peaceful and loving. Camarillo 3.
This reveals the bands strength to include lyric poetry into their songs [note the lines are focusing on the emotions of the band and how they feel]. The next song to be detailed is “Imma Be,” which is a song about the world and how we should forget about all the problems and reunite as one.”I don’t really mind when they bouncin’ them checks…”(4:42)- is a line talking about how the world is obsessed with money today and it also incorporates personification because checks are inanimate objects that cannot bounce. In the same way “Imma be spreadin’ my wings…”(4:19)- describes the process of maturation and includes figurative language by giving the line this deeper meaning of going somewhere in life and presenting a new face. This great song gives examples that only the best songwriters of rap/hip-hop use. Another extraordinary work to be overviewed is “Now Generation,” which is about the world and its eagerness to obtain the latest gadgets and styles in the world today. The following line shows the Black Eyed Peas’ gift for composing couplets, as they talk about the most popular internet sites: “Myspace in your space/Facebook is a new place…”(13:16-17). Equally important “Quick in a hurry/Like your name is flash…”(13:56-57)-are two lines which contain a simile by comparing the two lines and incorporating the word like. This provides another key point in why the Black Eyed Peas are one of the finest rap/hip-hop songwriters. The fifth masterpiece to be presented is “I Gotta Feeling,” which is a song that deals with one of those nights were one goes out and knows that they are going to have a great night. This next line includes the Black Eyed Peas’ great talent of including imagery into their music, as they bring back childhood memories that a person can picture in their head with: “Jump off that Camarillo 4. sofa…”(5:10). Likewise “Here we come/Here we go…”(5:64-65)- is an awesome line about the how a person ventures from place to place and includes metonymy because the words come and go are two closely related words and go substitutes come. This helps prove that the Black Eyed Peas are one of the best songwriters. The final song to be put under a microscope is “Boom Boom Pow,” which is about the greatness of loud music and the cool beats that come with it. This next excerpt reveals the bands heaven-sent talent to merge onomatopoeias in their songs, as they say words that imitate their actual sound: “This beat go boom boom pow…”(1:33). Moreover “Boom boom boom(yeah)[x2]/Boom boom boom[x2]…”(1:4-5)- is a line with no meaning, but it does uncover the Black Eyed Peas’ ability to include a refrain into their songs [this refrain appears three times in the song]. This helps prove that the Black Eyed Peas are one of the best hip-hop/rap songwriters.

The first professional who thinks that the Black Eyed Peas are among the best American songwriters is Sanneh Kelefa. In an article entitled “Clean-Scrubbed Peas Rap in a Phunky Groove,” found in The New York Times, Kelefa states: “The Black Eyed Peas seem eager to help solve all of hip-hop's problems. They're a cheerful, clean-scrubbed, multi-ethnic quartet based in Los Angeles, and they deliver hip-hop hits without any of the usual dirty jokes and dirtier threats” (1). This quote compliments the band’s ability to write peaceful and clean hip-hop songs. “Electric City,” “One Tribe,” and “Imma Be” are three great songs which express Kelefa’s critique. Camarillo 5.
Another professional critic who concurs with the thesis is Ann Powers. She says, in an article titled “Album review: Black Eyed Peas’ ‘THE E.N.D’” from The Los Angeles Times, that: “’The E.N.D.,’ the group’s fifth studio album and the third since the singer Stacy Ferguson (better known as Fergie) joined and took it from earnest hip-hop underground to the glamorous, necessarily compromised pop mainstream, is more accomplished and more confounding than any of the foursome’s previous efforts. It’s likely to dominate radio and the internet this summer, its sharp flavors simultaneously driving listeners nuts and drawing them back”(1). This excerpt tributes the band’s funky new music from their latest album “The E.N.D.” “Now Generation,” “I Gotta Feeling,” and “Boom Boom Pow” are all spectacular songs which support Ann’s critique.

American songwriting has been discussed. Six of the Black Eyed Peas’ best songs, “Electric City,” “One Tribe,” “Imma Be” et al, have been discussed. Sanneh Kelefa said the Black Eyed Peas have a new way of rapping which is more diverse, groovy, and does not contain the profanity that other rappers use. It has thus been proven that the Black Eyed Peas I one of the finest songwriters in American music.
-Sarah Rodman

“The group flits easily from disco stomp to burbling pop to hip-hop-tinged funk. Dealt with individually, substance-free, grammatically suspect dance-floor jams like the current monster hit

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“Boom Boom Pow,” the slinky “Imma Be,” or the fuzzy “Missing You” could be booty-shaking guilty pleasures” (“Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D.” The Boston Globe: 1).