The Black Eyed Peas originally started as an underground hip hop group in the early 90’s named Atban Klann. They were signed the Easy-E’s Ruthless Records but were not able to release an album due to their material being too positive for Easy-E’s label. When Easy-E died of AIDS in 1995, Atban Klann renamed themselves Black Eyed Peas and started working on their debut album. Behind the Front came out in 1998 and received much critical acclaim from the underground hip hop crowd. The single “Joints and Jams” was featured on the Bulworth soundtrack and gained some airplay. But it wasn’t until 2003 and the addition of female vocalist Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, that they released their breakthrough album, Elephunk.

Elephunk’s major hit was an anti-war song titled “Where Is the Love?” It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard charts and number1 in Europe for more than six weeks. “Where Is the Love?” was the biggest selling single in the UK for 2003. Elephunk went platinum all over the world and the Black Eyed Peas began touring extensively promoting their album and working on their next release. During this time, the NBA picked up the song “Let’s Get It Started” for their national campaign which sent the Black Eyed Peas into the mainstream market more than anything else could have, the public was now aware of them and they wanted more.

On June 7, 2005 they released the album Monkey Business and it debuted at number 2 on the Billboard charts, selling 295,000 copies in one week alone. The Black Eyed Peas were no longer an underground hip hop band playing at clubs, they were now international performers that could fill large venues. Black Eyed Peas concert tickets began selling out across the country and at present their tour is sold out. It will be interesting to sell what happens with this group and how they will face the next ten years in the hip hop genre.