Black Eyed Peas
Album : Elephunk
Release Date : May 26, 2004
Label : A&M Records

Review :

Elephunk was recorded in three spurts, beginning in 2001. According to their website, it was named Elephunk "to conjure up a big, deep funk sound." And if I had to describe the album in one word, "funky" would be the obvious choice. Mixing hip-hop with R&B, jazz, latin, rock, and pop, Black Eyed Peas have their bases covered, and as a result produced one of the most creative (albeit not very cohesive) albums out this year.
The album starts with a bang, and keeps going. The first track, Hands Up, is a jazz-infused song that will have your head bopping. Labour (It’s a Holiday) combines elements of Madonna’s Holiday and R. Kelly’s Fiesta, but does a far better job than most people who think they invented the remix.

Shut Up, one of the best songs on the album, and by far my favourite, starts off as an argument between a couple that quickly escalates into a screaming match. Fergie really gets to display her set of pipes, and she displays more passion in her pinkie finger than Britney Spears has in her whole body. The pop influenced Shut Up may come across to some as just another song riddled with constructed attitude, but underneath it all, I think the appeal lies in its realistic portrayal of a relationship failed.

Smells Like Funk is a big shout-out to the Black Eyed Peas’ funkiness, and it’s well deserved. With lyrics like, "If it smells like funk it must be us/’Cause nobody’s funky like us/’Cause we keep it stinky," and heavy beats, it’s a light-hearted song that showcases will.i.am’s talents as a producer, as well as an emcee. Let’s Get Retarded may not have been the best politically correct choice for a title, but is also a light-hearted single with a catchy chorus.

For a more international flavour, Latin Girls delivers the Latin beats, while The Elephunk Theme incorporates this year’s hottest trend, Indian music. To slow things down, listen to The Apl Song, a guitar-based rap ballad reminiscent of Thugz Mansion, which features apl.de.ap rapping in both Tagalog and English. It’s also one of the more poignant songs on this album, and the sincerity in which apl.de.ap talks about his homeland is affecting. Anxiety features rock band Papa Roach (whom they met while on tour), and its spiraling guitar riffs nicely complement the piercing lyrics.

Where Is the Love ? is perhaps one of the weakest songs on the album, although it is also one of the most conscious. With Justin Timberlake on back-up vocals (but discreetly missing from the music video), the song explores the humanity lacking from the world today. It’s poppy and radio-friendly, which is perfect for airplay, but a disappointment considering the other material on the CD.

Many have criticized Elephunk for not being deep, for not being up to par with Black Eyed Peas’ prior releases. But it’s always a catch-22 in this industry. Artists who explore other avenues may not sell records, while artists who are manufactured sell records but are scorned by critics. Have Black Eyed Peas sold out for putting out an album that is radio-friendly and yet still tries to deliver a message ? Perhaps, with this experimentation, it’s just an indication that they’ve grown as artists. With Fergie joining their group, they’ve been able to expand their sound and create something that goes beyond straightforward hip-hop. And it doesn’t hurt that Fergie can sing.

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