|
|
|
November 2, 2005
Are you a Black Eyed Peas fan? Then read on.
If you enjoyed this group’s previous album, Elephunk, then their latest release, Monkey Business, will blow you away. Although they sample quite a bit on this CD, they make the older songs fresh and new again, starting with Dick Dale’s “Miserlou” and ending with Sting’s “Englishman in New York.”
Interesting how the first track “Pump it” evolved. Front man
Will. i. am bought an album with Miserlou on it by accident. However, once he heard that hypnotic guitar he decided to write lyrics to update the song, creating the most high energy blast on the album. B.E.P also does a fantastic remake of “Pass the Dutchie” by Musical Youth. While the original song owes its charm to the voices of children, B.E.P brings the song back with a more urban and adult sound in their rendition called “Dum Diddley.” Sarah Ferguson a.k.a. Fergie transforms her voice like a chameleon, singing reggae as if she were putting on a comfy sweater. I don’t care what the critics say, Fergie is more than eye candy, her voice is fierce yet feminine at the same time, skillfully altering her vocals to fit the different musical styles of Monkey Business. There’s a reason why there are literally petitions out there encouraging Fergie to come out with a solo album. While Will. i. am is masterful at assembling beats and lyrics, apl.de.ap has his own intensity and innovation. In the song called Bebot, apl raps the entire song in Tagalog, the lyrics flowing effortlessly to the point where after you hear it a couple of times you can even sing along yourself. I love hearing rap music in different languages, and it isn’t often I see artists take a risk like this. I wish more foreign artists could cross over internationally be able to express themselves in their native tongue to a larger audience. Maybe apl will pave the way for other talented foreign rap artists like the French MC Solaar. (His song “Le Nouveau Western” comes to mind.)
The cameos alone on this record are impressive, we’re talking James Brown, Sting, Qtip, John Legend, and Talib Kweli. Being a huge Tribe Called Quest fan, I was so excited to see the resurrection of Qtip! In the song “Like That” he doesn’t disappoint with his rhythmic chants in a baritone voice. Add to that John Legend singing back-up vocals and a vintage bossanova track, and hip-hop can’t get any better. And speaking of resurrection, James Brown is at his best with the song “They Don’t Want Music.” The Godfather of soul fits in B.E.P like a glove, never missing his trademark grunt between horn blasts while shouting “You gotta ROOOOLL wit tha funk if ya wanna have a good time!” The song “My Style” features the soft back-up vocals of Justin Timberlake. The beginning of the song has an almost garage sound with a lazy guitar twang in the background, the perfect song to play while relaxing with friends in a velvet lounge with a mojito in hand. The last song on the album, Union, remains true to the original B.E.P vision: delivering great music with a message. I never thought in a million years that anyone could ever cover ‘Englishman in New York” and do it justice, but B.E.P does, and one reason is that Sting actually sings in this song, updating the lyrics to reflect today’s issues His resonant voice could still give any hot-blooded woman goosebumps!
I only wish B.E.P. infused more of these societal messages throughout the CD, because that’s what set them apart from the rest of the bands when they first emerged in the hip hop scene. Depending on the listener, songs like “My Humps” or “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” can be seen as tongue-in-cheek at best, and vapid at worst. Regardless, Monkey Business is anything but—B.E.P has mastered so many different genres successfully, delivering their most amazing work yet. Can’t wait to see how this band will evolve in the future.
Until next time…
|
 |
