Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk

 After Journey in Land of Hip Hop, BEP Find What They Want To Do and What They Are Good At
Elephunk, the third album of the Black Eyed Peas, shows consequential musical differences from their preceding albums. Dominant musical style was shifted from organic hip hop to pop funk; at the same time, range of the styles through the whole album got broadened; and a regular female vocalist officially joined the group.

Most songs from their first and second albums are based on repeated beats, even performed by a live band. On the contrary, many from Elephunk have prototypical pop tune structures: thematic parts and bridges. Now the audience's primary perception of a song is neither its beat nor its lyric, but its thematic melody (Think "Let's Get Retarded," for example). This must be a big turn-off for fans who have supported the BEP as a hip hop group, while making the band more accessible to a huge chunk of pop listeners.

The BEP even clearly declare that they are a funk band ("If it smells like funk then it must be us"--"Smells Like Funk"); meanwhile, they add other elements to the new album. Latin flavor permeates through the album, along with film-score-like melancholy ("Shut Up"), Tagalog song ("The Apl Song"), alternative rock ("Anxiety"), and love and peace anthem ("Where is the Love?").

The new female vocalist, Fergie, appears in most tracks as a background vocal at least, and takes important roles in some, such as "Shut Up," "Fly Away," and "The Boogie That Be." The BEP had frequently featured female vocalists before, but as a fixed member, Fergie tremendously contributes to the band for establishing its own, recognizable sonority.

Most importantly, as a result of the changes, musical quality of the current BEP's pop funk is better than the previous BEP's organic hip hop. Seemingly the BEP have finally found what they want to do, which fortunately matches to what they are good at, after their journey in the land of hip hop. September 12, 2006

 favorite cd
this cd is amazing i don't know one bad song on this cd and anxiety is good some other people are wrong February 27, 2006

 So-So Album
This album could have been a little better than it was but i cant complain about it cuz there were a few good songs on that cd (lets get it started lets get retarted where is the love) but was it really necisarry to swear in almost all of the songs? this cd is really a PARENTAL ADVISORY cd but it doesnt say it!
I heard about that one from the TARGET website from some other dude. Anyway...it could have been better without the swearing. Also i cant listen 2 it on my stereo cuz my parents think there is 2 much swearing in it...it sucks! January 4, 2006

 Elephunk ~ Black Eyed Peas
Elephunk~ Black Eyed Peas is a great album with great production value. I love the samples, vocals and the vibe of this great album. The lyrics are well written but the decision not to include the lyrics is weak. Apart from this, the book-let is very well done and I love the photos of the band and the font is easy on the eye. This is a great album not to miss out. Highly recommended indeed. December 16, 2005

 This is the best hip hop album i've heard in such a LONG time!
WOW! I kept hearing about it from my sister, and I never gave it much thought. I recently got ahold of the album after hearing Holiday on a bodyboarding video, and thought it was really cool with the video, I was just straight trippin' off this mix.

Man, I love these guys. December 2, 2005

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