Black Eyed Peas - Behind the Front

Black Eyed Peas bring some positivity and fun back into hip-hop. Musically there is almost no realm this group does not touch -- right from the jump, the stylistic innocence of "Fallen Up," complete with striking guitar licks, sums up what Bep is all about. They attack the so-called hardcore MCs playing the role of dress-up: "I see you try to dis our function by stating that we can't rap/Is it cuz we don't wear Tommy Hilfiger or baseball caps?/We don't use dollars to represent/We just use our innocence and talent." The wonderfully crafted, old-school-influenced first single, "Joints and Jam," is perfect for the summertime frame of mind. With "Karma" they explore the notion of reaping what you sow. "Love Won't Wait" is a simultaneous infusion of R&B and hip-hop, as the group deals with a deteriorating romance. But the undisputed champ of this recording is "Positivity" -- you can't help but reminisce about yesteryear's MCs kicking conscious lyrics to educate the hip-hop masses. "Nowadays it's hard to make a living/But easy to make a killing/Cuz people walk around with just one inch of feeling/I feeling nauseated from your evil drug dealing/Blood spilling, the definition of top billing." In all honesty, the MCs who make up Bep -- Taboo, Will, and A8 -- are not going to be confused as being super-lyrical by any means. But their chemistry and insightful, original topic matter is used with enough efficiency to mask that slight blemish. ~ Matt Conaway, All Music Guide

Name Credits Brian Lapin Engineer, Moog Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond), Producer, Mixing, Bass Carlos Guaico Bass, Fender Rhodes Darell Cross Drums Dave Pensado Mixing David Haines Engineer Dawn Beckman Vocals Eddy Schreyer Mastering Einstein Brown Vocals Gretchen Anderson Project Coordinator Ingrid Dupree Vocals J. Curtis Guitar Kevin Feyen Guitar Kim Hill Vocals Lou Michaels Engineer Macy Gray Vocals Mark Leroy Design, Art Direction Matt Nabours Violin Mike Fratantuno Bass, Guitar Miles Om Tackett Cello, Bass Paul Chan Design Paul Poli Producer, Turntables Peter Kim Bass Planet Swan Vocals Ramy Antoun Conga Sierra Swan Vocals Storm Hale Photography Suren Galadjian Illustrations Terence Yoshiaka Drums, Percussion The Motives Turntables Tim Latham Mixing Tommy O. Flute Will Adams Fender Rhodes, Moog Synthesizer, Producer, Marimba, Theremin, Organ (Hammond), Mixing will.i.am Producer