Will.i.am

will.i.am And Lil Wayne Master ‘The Formula’ With Their Scorching New Single

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Ahead of the upcoming F1 Grand Prix Race in Miami, which is set to take place this Sunday (May 7), will.i.am has shared a fiery new collaboration with Lil Wayne.

On “The Formula,” the pop and hip-hop veterans remind listeners of their place in the game. Will experiments with drill sounds as he delivers snappy, clever bars.

“Lightning quick, y’all can’t stick with it / I stay slick like I’m liquid / Super complex, ain’t comin’ simplistic / I told ’em, I told ’em, I told ’em I’m sick with the cold / So let me encode ’em / I got the ammo, so watch me reload ’em /I’m comin’ with flammables, time to explode ’em,” he raps.

Swooping in with some more heat his Wayne, with a verse chock-full of car metaphors

“Call me, ‘Weezy F1’ / My car fly like the Jetson’s / You a small fry, need ketchup / Fall behind or you can catch up / You can fall down or you can step up / Been a long time since I messed up / I told Father Time I’m his step-son,” he raps.

In a recent interview with us, Will pleasantly recalled meeting Wayne for the first time, and described the vibe he got from him.

You can listen to “The Formula” above.

will.i.am Tells Uproxx About The First Time He Met Lil Wayne Ahead Of Their Collaborative F1 Track

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A new summer banger is on the way. Lil Wayne and will.I.am have the formula for a new heater. Appropriately titled “The Formula,” Lil Wayne and will.i.am’s new collaboration arrives ahead of F1 Grand Prix Race in Miami this Sunday.

The single drops tonight at midnight, but ahead of the release, will.i.am spoke with Uproxx about working with Lil Wayne.

Both Will and Lil Wayne have been in the game for nearly three decades. In our interview, Will recalled his first time meeting Weezy and how he had a familiar energy.

He doesn’t quite remember how exactly their first meeting happened, however, Will has nothing but fond memories of Weezy.

“All I know,” Will said, “is that when I first met Little Wayne, I felt like I’ve known him my whole life because he has that ‘this is my cousin, this is my family member,’ vibe. So, I don’t remember the first time. I don’t know if it was in the early 2000s, I just know when I met him, I had the vibe that I’ve known him forever.”

Will.i.am and Lil Wayne’s new single is part of a series of singles by various artists that will arrive this summer, and an album that will drop in November.

In the meantime, you can check out a clip of the interview above.

Saweetie & Will.I.Am Face Off In Karaoke Megamix

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Saweetie and Will.I.Am go head to head in a new video. In it, they perform a classic rap karaoke showdown. They were both guests on the new competition show, That’s My Jam. The show combines elements of several others, heavily borrowing from shows like Wheel of Fortune and Carpool Karaoke. The four contestants featured on the episode were Saweetie, Keke Palmer, Will.I.Am, and Joel McHale. After being split into two teams by gender, the contestants go up against one another in several one on one battles. When Saweetie and Will.I.Am. stepped up to the mic, the category chosen for them was classic rap. The two performed the songs to varying degrees of success.

Saweetie is the target of both praise and ire within the rap community. She released her first commercial single “Icy Girl” in 2017. The track features the rapper freestyling over the instrumental to Khia’s iconic single, “My Neck, My Back.” Unfortunately, Khia is not a fan of the sample. Back in December 2022, Saweetie released her most recent EP, THE SINGLE LIFE. She called it her most honest project. Fans are still eagerly awaiting the release of her debut full-length album, Pretty Bitch Music. Originally, the album was originally slated to be released in 2021. Last year, Saweetie promised it would be released before the end of 2022, but there is no confirmed release date as of April 2023.

Saweetie Shows No Love For California

During the “Mega Mix Showdown” between Saweetie and Will.I.Am, the duo performs many classic songs over one beat. Some of the songs they take on are DMX’s “Party Up,” Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize,” and OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson.” However, when the time comes for Saweetie to rap Tupac’s legendary “California Love,” she seems not to know the lyrics. This is notable considering that the rapper is from California herself.

Saweetie is a very successful rapper, but success isn’t without its challenges. In early 2021, a video of her rapping acapella went viral on social media. This prompted criticism from some who feel that her flow isn’t up to par. Saweetie responded by sharing a longer freestyle on her social media channels, demonstrating her skills as a rapper and shutting down her critics. Even though she is not everyone’s cup of tea, Saweetie doesn’t let the hate get her down. What do you think of the rapper’s karaoke performance? Let us know in the comments.

Saweetie And Will.I.Am Sang Karaoke West Coast Classics And Got Soaked In ‘That’s My Jam’

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Jimmy Fallon’s new-ish show, That’s My Jam, really does have a fun gimmick. Taking the simplicity of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke (which is ending after this season anyhow) and plugging in a bunch of other game show mechanics like a “wheel of fortune” randomizer and the Double Dare-esque spray of water, That’s My Jam not only gives celebrities a chance to wow audiences with incredible performances but also to be more “relatable” by doing something we all do — trip up singing our favorite songs.

Last night’s teams consisted of Community‘s Joel McHale with Will.I.Am and Keke Palmer with Saweetie. During the “Mega Mix Showdown” segment, the two rappers took on some of the classics of the genre — roulette and riff-off style, having to keep the beat between the randomized songs. The tracks included DMX’s “Party Up,” Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize,” OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson,” and Tupac’s “California Love.”

Considering both rappers hail from California, you’d think they’d kill that last one, but… Fortunately, they recovered on Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” with Eve’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” offering a grand finale. For the “Slay It, Don’t Spray It” segment, though, the girls’ team had to take on pop hits like “Wrecking Ball” — which Keke proclaimed “nobody knows” — while the boys nominated Joel McHale to sing Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” as Will bundled up for the inevitable rinse. Who gets the big spray? You can check out the video below to find out.

Black Eyed Peas’ Top 10 Streamed Songs

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The Black Eyed Peas have been one of the most successful and influential pop groups of the last two decades. From sold-out concerts to numerous accolades, this legendary dance-pop group has made itself into a global sensation. The group currently consists of artists Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and formerly also included Kim Hill and Fergie. They are widely known for their catchy melodies and energetic sound, along with innovative beats that make them stand out. The Black Eyed Peas have unequivocally shared an endless string of songs that the world will always remember, and here are the ten most popular.

10. Pump It

“Pump It” was released as a part of the 2005 album Monkey Business, The Black Eyed Peas’ fourth studio album. The song was heavily influenced by Dick Dale’s 1962 surf version of “Misirlou”. Specifically, Will.i.am heard the song and was immediately inspired to make a few beats matching the same energy while on the plane to Tokyo, and soon recorded the vocals for the song there. This song was a quick hit and continues to be loved by fans across the globe.

9. Meet Me Halfway

Released in September of 2009, “Meet Me Halfway” was one of the biggest hits off of their fifth studio album, The E.N.D.. This song is still listened to by many and played in public spots everywhere in America. Also, it was performed at the 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, as well as many other events at the time in an effort to promote the song. Certainly, this fun dance-pop tune gave fans a new view of The Black Eyed Peas and allowed them to see their music in an even more energetic light.

8. Where Is The Love?

This 2003 hip-hop hit reigned as the lead single from their third album, Elephunk. “Where Is The Love?” was written by Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, and George Pajon. The song was written about the state of the world and how there is a lack of love, using a passionate, soulful sound to deliver the importance of this message. Evidently, this release truly revealed that The Black Eyed Peas were not only in it for the music, but additionally to use their platform for good.

7. Don’t Phunk With My Heart

“Don’t Phunk With My Heart” was recorded in 2005 as a part of the album Monkey Business. The song was both produced and engineered by Will.i.am, written about both sides of a break-up. Overall, this one stands out as it is not only dance hip-pop, but it also effortlessly combines soul, jazz, and rap as well. It may be a hit, but it certainly isn’t at the top of the list compared to these upcoming tracks.

6. Imma Be

This track off of The Black Eyed Peas’ 2009 fifth studio album is arguably their most catchy. It was initially meant to be released as a promotional single song, but instead ended up becoming one of their biggest hits. Also, this song was included and featured in multiple films including The Other Guys and The Hangover Part II. Undeniably, this song is captivating and unforgettable.

5. RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)

RITMO (Bad Boys For Life) was released by The Black Eyed Peas and Colombian singer J. Balvin in 2019. It features a sample of the 1993 song “The Rhythm of the Night” by Italian group Corona, making it especially stand out. Overall, the song remained on the charts for 27 weeks, being quite the recent hit for the group. It is still fairly relevant on social media and remains a popular hit to this day.

4. Just Can’t Get Enough

This song was written and released along with The Black Eyed Peas’ sixth studio album, The Beginning in 2010. And, the song made its way around the world, traveling to the top-five charts in New Zealand, Australia, Greece, France, and more.

3. Boom Boom Pow

Boom Boom Pow is a super popular EDM/dance-pop released by The Black Eyed Peas in 2009. Quickly, it became the group’s first number-one single on the charts, staying at the top for 12 weeks. In this song, Fergie raps “I’m so three thousand and eight, you so two thousand and late.”, an iconic lyric giving the track a futuristic, electro energy. It was heavily influenced by popular electro music that would often play in clubs at the time.

2. My Humps

“My Humps” is a hip-hop/electropop song released in 2005 as a part of their fourth studio album Monkey Business. Initially, the song was performed as a duet between Will.i.am and Fergie, and it is definitely one of their more sexually suggestive songs lyrically. Although this track was released over fifteen years ago, it is currently facing issues in the form of a lawsuit. There has been a parody of the song called “My Poops” used for a new kids’ toy, which is now being investigated and is resulting in a lawsuit.

1. I Gotta Feeling

“I Gotta Feeling” was released in 2009 and was nominated for The Grammy’s Record of the Year and won the award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Two years after its release, it became the first track in American history to sell over seven million digital copies. Also, formerly held the record as the most downloaded song of all time on iTunes. Overall, The Black Eyed Peas were and continue to be one of the most successful groups of the 2000s, and they continue to prove that to this day.

Black Eyed Peas Sue Toymaker for Unauthorized Use of Turning “My Humps” into “My Poops”

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Black Eyed Peas Sue Toymaker for Unauthorized Use of Turning 22My Humps22 into 22My Poops22

There has been a lot of discussion in the media recently regarding the unauthorized use of another’s art. From accusations that the Lensa app used artists’ works without permission to Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene using Dr. Dre‘s music in a political video, patent and copyright law is shaping up to be a major issue in 2023. Now, the Black Eyed Peas have entered the fight with a lawsuit against toymaker MGA Entertainment, the makers of the Poopsie Slime Surprise toy, used the group’s 2006 hit “My Humps” without permission.

The lawsuit was filed by the group’s label, BMG, in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Amongst other things, it alleges that MGA Entertainment displayed “willful copyright infringement” and “exploited, without authorization” the group’s art as part of its promotional campaign for its “Poopsie Slime Surprise” product line, which featured “a unicorn doll that excretes sparkling slime.” BMG is seeking $10 million in damages, as well as requiring that MGA destroy all copies of “My Poops.”

A YouTube video shows animated unicorns dancing to digitally-altered lyrics where they showcase the toy’s “pooping” features.

Legal experts state that MGA’s primary defense will be that the song was used as a parody, since using art for the purpose of parody is protected by free speech law. However, there are legal limits when it comes to whether or not MGA exploited the song to make a profit.

“My Humps” was a major hit for the group in 2006 and continues to remain popular today, accruing over 700 million views on YouTube. The video also won Best Hip Hop Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. The original video is shown below.

The post Black Eyed Peas Sue Toymaker for Unauthorized Use of Turning “My Humps” into “My Poops” appeared first on The Source.

Will.i.am Says That Biggie And 2Pac’s Music Doesn’t “Speak To My Spirit,” Reveals What Artists Inspired Him

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While 2Pac and Biggie are referred to as two of the greatest, if not the greatest rappers of all time, there is a group of people who might have liked their music, but not as much as others. Will.i.am is in that group of people.

In a recent interview with Hip Hop Confessions, the Black Eyed Peas co-founder said that 2Pac and Biggies type of music “doesn’t speak to my spirit.”

“Like when people say 2Pac and Biggie, I’m such a Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul head that I don’t like 2Pac and Biggie,” the 47-year-old explained. “That kind of music doesn’t speak to my spirit. I like Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One, I like—if it’s like, 2Pac or Biggie? It’s KRS-One. Why those two?”

Will.i.am added that 2Pac and Big spoke to the projects whereas De La Soul and ATCQ was his escape from the projects.

“I hold Eric B. and Rakim like that. 2Pac’s dope—don’t get me wrong,” he said. “It’s not like I don’t think he’s dope. It spoke to the projects. My escape is De La/Tribe out the projects.”

Will.i.am added,“It took me out the projects physically, as far as being able to reach my dreams, that was my path out. … It kept me safe while I was in the projects,” he said. “Had I loved 2Pac and Biggie while I was in the projects, I probably would have been stuck in the projects still.”

You can check out his full comments below.

The post Will.i.am Says That Biggie And 2Pac’s Music Doesn’t “Speak To My Spirit,” Reveals What Artists Inspired Him appeared first on The Source.

Lizzo Roasts Black Eyes Peas’ Biggest Hits In A ‘Saturday Night Live’ Sketch

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Fans know that music aside, Lizzo is a magnetic and entertaining personality. She got to show that off to a larger audience this past weekend when she was both the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Given that music is her day job, it found its way into the show beyond her performances, including in a sketch about Black Eyes Peas, which pokes fun at the group.

The skit was presented as studio footage from a session where the band recorded multiple hits, and after the group performed a bit of “Boom Boom Pow” for producers (Lizzo and Aidy Bryant), Bryant noted, “Those were actually the temp lyrics that we sent to describe the beat of the track.” Lizzo added, “Yeah, you were supposed to replace them with your own lyrics. You know, like, with words.”

After going back and forth on that song some more, they move on to “I Gotta Feeling,” with Lizzo and Bryant showing amazement at the song’s simple lyrics. Bryant then instructed, “Everyone yell a refrain together, something that feels true to who you are as a group.” The band responded, “Mazel tov, l’chaim!”

They also made a nod to “Let’s Get It Started,” or rather, the original version of the song, the controversially titled “Let’s Get R*tarded.” Noting the song’s title is a work in progress, with just “Let’s Get” confirmed so far, Bryant notes, “It has to be something that we can say forever.” Lizzo assured, “We can figure that out later.”

Historical accuracy isn’t necessarily the most important thing in an SNL sketch (for example, this wasn’t actual Black Eyed Peas studio footage), but it’s worth noting (or maybe it isn’t) that the sketch’s fictional recording session was set in 2008, but “Let’s Get It Started” was released in 2004.

Watch the sketch above.