Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
There is a certain level of caution when approaching a Black Eyed Peas [click to read] album. The trio-turned-quartet molded a career out of being the Fugees without a Lauryn (sorry Fergie). That is to say, they've capitalized on their own eccentricities by making them Pop-friendly. Every Peas release inched them further into the mainstream. However, The E.N.D. brings them a step back, using will.i.am's production to prove their versatility...and at times, they make a convincing argument.
The moneymaking "Boom Boom Pow" begins The E.N.D., which is a gift and a curse to some, considering if this was the only reason why they bought the album, they need not move past that. But they should. Fergie's slapstick raps in a similar key to "Fergalicious" (bka J.J. Fad's "Supersonic") don't add much to the Chicago Juke-influenced track, but she breaks up the monotony of the 808s. While The E.N.D. isn't some mind-blowing experiment in digitization as the album's segues might suggest, it is one of the few Pop releases that could be played from beginning to end - as background noise or anything else.
"Rock That Body" follows, with an "Atomic Dog" feel like the late '70s burgeoning era of Rap, modernized enough to sound like a cross between Chromeo and Daft Punk. In fact, most of The E.N.D. rests on that theme. While will.i.am produced 90% of the album save a few tracks including "Showdown" a strange poppy drum concoction co-produced by the Peas' apl.de.ap, the biggest problem with The E.N.D. isn't in the concept; it's in the execution. will.i.am simply doesn't have the team to fulfill his boardroom dreams.
His plans for Fergie as a mid-'80s Madonna are derailed by her desire to be a real singer, evidenced by "Meet Me Halfway" where all it needed was a chirpy chick, but Fergie wanted to "sang." The good news is the album is chock full of funky production that often drowns out any misleading vocals. It even closes with a primarily instrumental "Rockin To the Beat" but not before digging into their socially conscious pockets with "One Tribe" a Live Aid-sounding version of "Where Is the Love."
You know an "urban" group can penetrate the "mainstream" when the only threatening band member is a crazy white chick, and the Black Eyes have paved their way based upon that. It's an old artist trick to win their fan base with super pop only to make room for their "serious" albums. The E.N.D. may be that starting off point, or it may just be the Peas' experimental album. Regardless of what's next, the now is decent enough.
The moneymaking "Boom Boom Pow" begins The E.N.D., which is a gift and a curse to some, considering if this was the only reason why they bought the album, they need not move past that. But they should. Fergie's slapstick raps in a similar key to "Fergalicious" (bka J.J. Fad's "Supersonic") don't add much to the Chicago Juke-influenced track, but she breaks up the monotony of the 808s. While The E.N.D. isn't some mind-blowing experiment in digitization as the album's segues might suggest, it is one of the few Pop releases that could be played from beginning to end - as background noise or anything else.
"Rock That Body" follows, with an "Atomic Dog" feel like the late '70s burgeoning era of Rap, modernized enough to sound like a cross between Chromeo and Daft Punk. In fact, most of The E.N.D. rests on that theme. While will.i.am produced 90% of the album save a few tracks including "Showdown" a strange poppy drum concoction co-produced by the Peas' apl.de.ap, the biggest problem with The E.N.D. isn't in the concept; it's in the execution. will.i.am simply doesn't have the team to fulfill his boardroom dreams.
His plans for Fergie as a mid-'80s Madonna are derailed by her desire to be a real singer, evidenced by "Meet Me Halfway" where all it needed was a chirpy chick, but Fergie wanted to "sang." The good news is the album is chock full of funky production that often drowns out any misleading vocals. It even closes with a primarily instrumental "Rockin To the Beat" but not before digging into their socially conscious pockets with "One Tribe" a Live Aid-sounding version of "Where Is the Love."
You know an "urban" group can penetrate the "mainstream" when the only threatening band member is a crazy white chick, and the Black Eyes have paved their way based upon that. It's an old artist trick to win their fan base with super pop only to make room for their "serious" albums. The E.N.D. may be that starting off point, or it may just be the Peas' experimental album. Regardless of what's next, the now is decent enough.
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Comments 64 posts
D D H:
This album is hot yall trippin, a album that every track is listenable
Young Freestyle:
corny as hell. i can't believe this wack album outsold flo rida's.
DJ Khaira:
Great music but its far from Hip Hop.. and there are some weak tracks. It should have been cut down to one disk cuz I dont know what I'm listening to by the end of it. 'Songs About Girls' was a better album
R.O.D 253:
THEY SOME WHITE SUBURBAN KID TEEN IDOL ACT...THEY IS NOT HIP HOP 4 REAL...THIS SOME DUMB TECHNO-ELECTRONIC-SPACE SHIT THAT NO ONE OVER THE AGE OF 17 WILL BUMP....I HATE CLUB CD'S!! HIP HOP STILL DEAD 2006-PRESENT
hip dee hop:
this album should not be reviewed on HIPHOPdx, its not hip hop
DR Jam:
* I meant, the problem isn't the [concept]*
DR Jam:
the review's author is dead right. The problem isn't the album, it's the execution. Some tracks just don't quite have it going on, and others it feels like Will.I.Am. is actually spoilling it. Sometimes, I'm like shut up and give the whole track to Fergie.
And like Boom Boom Pow, a few tracks actually have potential. They keep growing on me. Black Eyed Peas have always been about long playthroughs and replayability, so I will keep listening to it, and see if starts to sound better. I can only hope that they had some production from cats like the Gorillaz, The Chemical Brothers, Moby, and or Sam Sparro. The way they tackle some tracks just lacked coherence and that magical touch that makes actually good, exciting, and BEP addictive.
Favorite Tracks:
Electric City
Rockin to the Beat
That's the Joint
One Trive - has a positive message, but the execution and flow are average at best. Heard it before, and way better.
Boom Boom Pow - is really what the album is about, some will like it others won't.
An experimental work of dance music--electronica hip-hop with all kinds of musical infusions--rock, pop, techno, jazz, soul, etc...
Anonymous:
And to the idiot who spelled General wrong...BEP do not make hip hop music anymore idiot that make elctro club tracks they are a pop group which i have no problem with but when you bring this bullshit album to the table this is crap....Relapse way sicker than this shit you idiot and Relapse was no classic but it defiantly tops this shit
L-Dub:
good club tracks but besides that album is kinda wack
moh112:
disappointing album
Rapfan from 89:
BEP's definitely in the top 3 of biggest sell-outs in hip hop.
Mr Malik:
Was anyone really surprised that this CD would suck? I mean, they made a deal with target to push this out like No Limit tapes. Ya'll know ya'll used to run to the store to go cop No Limit tapes. You know you did! STOP LYING, bitch ass niggas. Anyways, come make money with me. i make about $80 a week. http://website.ws/averagejo.
47938:
It's sad that something like this sells 300000 copies.
funkthafunk:
this futuristic sound is strait up bullshit
plus shit sounds wack anyway
BEP used to set the trend and make fresh sounds
but this shit is truly wack.. why cant they make futuristic sound without the auto tune and other pop disco bullshit ,, auto tune shit fuckd up WILLIAM fo sho
smh:
smh
fghjk:
Poppy techno garbage. Worst lyrics I've ever heard. Who honestly listens to this shit? And what could you ever get out of it?
Rattlesnake93:
When the hell did the Black Eyed Peas decide to suck dick?
Myth:
If you like this album, you should not be on this site. Actually, if you ever liked black eye peas while you were over 12 years old, you are not a fan of hip-hop, so gtfo.
ResetButton:
uhhhhhhhh, this album isnt exactly hip hop so lets not review it here... its fuckin fire..
dondadada:
awful album.
HOLLAAAAAAAAAAA:
BLACK EYE PEAS SUCK ASS GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE WIT THIS BULLSHIT COMMERCIAL MTV SHIT PLUS THEM 2 UGLY ASS DUDES SPIT LIKE 2 LINES THEY HOMOS BLACK EYES PEAS IS HOMO
bighou:
Their first two albums were dope as shit. I'd give their first to albums all 5's thumbs up. After that and when Fergie joined, Complete Sell outs. They don't even dance in their videos anymore and they are just way too Pop. It's one thing to include Pop in your music but this E.N.D. shit is just plane stupid. If they are making money, fine, but they definitely don't have the same fan base as they did when they came in the game. I wish people would stop buying this garbage to teach them a lesson and go back to the origional fun BEP's that came in the game in 97-98.
Genral:
Black eye peas aren't hiphop???
get the fuck outta here.
Listen kiddes Black Eyes been hiphop before you young asses were born. I agree... Fegerie is the week link but it has cleary brought the group mass appeal.
I thought the review was bang on but the rating was harsh. You can listen to formt he begining to end ... therefore it deserves at least 3 1/2 stars.
THE E.N.D>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Relapse.
And I'm out...
Thasikkis:
Didnt Will.I.Am not wanna go pop around the time Elephunk came out?
They're pretty much sellouts for that exact reason. I don't hate on someone who has NO problem in changing their style but once you say you dont wanna go pop and you make pop music that has no real substance to it..and you don't even put out that occasional song true to yourself then fuck it..I can't respect you/your music
trasher:
LOL this guy who goes on every review board and says he "bought (insert album here) and Asher Roths album today and Ashers was way better." Needs to get a life. Dude you do this for every album dx reviews. Asher Roth blows Equally as bad as BEP. Him and fergie of the same lyrical abilities.