Katie Peterson
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They may share their name with a vegetable, but hey, it makes them memorable.
Few haven’t at least heard the name the Black Eyed Peas. With multiple Grammy Awards and numerous other awards under their belts, their career is one for the ages.
Here’s everything there is to know about the Black Eyed Peas.
Who are the Black Eyed Peas?
The Black Eyed Peas were the face of the 2000s, releasing chart-topping hits like “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling” throughout their continuing career that is approaching 30 years.
Black Eyed Peas Members
The Black Eyed Peas have had a few members since their inception, but three have stuck around throughout the “Imma Be” band’s entire career, both pre-and post-hiatus (1995-2011; 2015-present).
Will.i.am has proudly served as vocalist, pianist, synthesizer wizard, and bass guitarist.
Apl.de.ap, while also providing vocals, has mainly served as the band’s drummer, and Taboo has lent his talents on vocals, guitar, and as DJ.
The only other original member is Kim Hill, who served as vocalist from 1995-2000. After Hill left the band, Fergie came in as vocalist from 2002 until 2011, then again from 2015-2018.
During tours, J. Rey Soul has provided vocals since 2018.
Related: 15 Worst Singers of All Time
When were the Black Eyed Peas Founded?
The Black Eyed Peas, originally known as the Black Eyed Pods, officially formed in 1995 when will.i.am and aple.de.ap formed the group alongside Jaime Gomez (Taboo) and Kim Hill.
The future “Alive” singers were soon signed to Interscope Records and released their debut Black Eyed Peas album Behind the Front in 1998.
How Did The Black Eyed Peas Become Famous?
With an established partnership with a label under their belts, the Black Eyed Peas continued to release albums.
The “Meet Me Halfway” singers followed up Behind the Front with Bridging the Gap in 2000 and released such hits as “Joints & Jam,” featured on the soundtrack for the film Bulworth, “Weekends” featuring Esthero, and “Request + Line” featuring Macy Gray.
While the band earned critical acclaim for these projects, the transition from Hill to Stacy Ferguson, aka Fergie, in 2002 and the release of their third album, Elephunk, really ramped things up.
With a more polished pop sound established, they received positive reviews from Rolling Stone. The magazine noted that after hiring Fergie, they “gave up their pursuit of backpack-rapper cred, they have made a kind of spiritual practice of recording futuristic songs – a total aesthetic commitment that extends from their garish wardrobes to their United Colors of Benetton worldview.”
They proved this new sound with their first single off the album, “Where is the Love?”
The song peaked in the top 10 on the U.S. Hot 100 and became the first major hit for the band. It wasn’t only a hit in the United States either. It hit No. 1 on the UK charts and was 2003’s biggest-selling single.
Black Eyed Peas Career
Hot off “Where is the Love?” the world was graced with more Black Eyed Peas songs such as “Shut Up” and “Hey Mama,” which also saw international success. Then, “Let’s Get It Started” was released, entering the group into a whole new ballgame.
The song was nominated for and earned the group their first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2005. The song also earned them Record of the Year and Best Rap Song nominations.
All was set for the most prominent Black Eyed Peas Tour to date, the Elephunk International Tour, which took them all over Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The Black Eyed Peas released their fourth studio album, Monkey Business, in 2005, hot off their recent tour.
“Don’t Phunk with My Heart,” the first release for the album, brought the group yet another hit that peaked at the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the highest they’d charted nationally at that time. The song earned them their second Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
The song was followed up by such singles as “Don’t Lie” and “My Humps,” the latter of which also reached number three on the charts.
Although there would be a few more tours, including the Harajuku Lovers Tour featuring Gwen Stefani (2005), the Monkey Business Tour (2005-2006), the Honda Civic Tour (2006), the Black Blue & You Tour (2007), and the U2 360° Tour, featuring U2, it would take four years for the band to release another album.
The E.N.D or “The Energy Never Dies” album was released in 2009 and saw the band step away from their typical pop and R&B sound to a more electro-hip hop feel.
One year later, they released their sixth album, The Beginning, in 2010. Both albums produced two more tours and earned them a string of awards and key appearances, such as the Billboard Music Award for the Top Duo/Group and a headlining appearance for the Super Bowl XLV halftime show on Feb. 6, 2011.
The “Just Can’t Get Enough” singers were at an all-time high until July 6, 2011, when they announced an indefinite hiatus while performing a concert at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. The “The Time (Dirty Bit)” band made their final appearance alongside Cee Lo Green and Queen Latifah on Nov. 23, 2011.
It would be four years before the Black Eyed Peas would make headlines again after announcing that their seventh studio album was in the works in 2015, just ahead of their 20th anniversary. The NBA playoffs that year brought about the debut of their newest single, “Awesome,” and soon followed it up with “Yesterday.”
They were officially back in business, re-releasing their hit song “Where is the Love?” featuring such artists as Justin Timberlake, DJ Khaled, and Jessie J in the 2016 music video. They also made several appearances while working on their new album, including at the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final’s opening ceremony and Ariana Grande’s One Love Manchester benefit concert.
Finally, Masters of the Sun Vol. 1 was released in 2018. It was followed up two years later with Translation and eventually Elevation in 2022.
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Black Eyed Peas Net Worth
Thanks to their crazy career, the leading members of the Black Eyed Peas have a combined net worth of approximately $30 million as of April 2023.
That’s only based on their time as a group, too. For example, will.i.am has a single net worth of $70 million.
Black Eyed Peas Philanthropy Work
They may have riches up the wazoo thanks to their music, but the “Rock That Body” singers also didn’t hesitate to give back with their songs.
In 2005, they released a cover of “Power to the People” by John Lennon, which was recorded on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and released for the human rights Make Some Noise campaign.
The song was also featured on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, released in 2007, as a tribute album to Lennon.
When they released their music video for “Just Can’t Get Enough” in 2011, they dedicated it to Japan following the Great East Japan Earthquake, which hit on Mar. 11, 2011, and killed nearly 20,000, injured more than 6,000, and quoted more than 2,500 missing.
The group also has its own foundation, The Peapod Foundation. In 2011, with help from the Adobe Foundation, they opened Peapod Adobe Youth Voices in Manhattan.
Who Are the Black Eyed Peas Members Married To?
Only a few members of the Black Eyed Peas have taken the time to tie the knot over the years.
Taboo came first, saying “I Do” to his girlfriend, Jaymie Dizon, on July 12, 2008. His single bandmates will.i.am and apl.de.ap were two of the groomsmen.
Fergie was the next “Big Love” group member to wed, marrying Safe Haven actor Josh Duhamel on Jan. 10, 2009. Unfortunately, their marriage announced their separation in 2017, and they officially divorced in November 2019.
Former Black Eyed Peas singer Kim Hill was previously married but, like Fergie, is also divorced.
Will.i.am has been linked in the past to Nicole Scherzinger, Tila Nguyen, Natalie Imbruglia, and Casey Batchelor.
His bandmate, apl.de.ap, meanwhile, has been linked to KC Concepcion in the past, but busy schedules eventually led to the relationship’s downfall.
Black Eyed Peas’ Children
They’re the mini Black Eyed Peas.
Past and present, many of the “Boom Boom Pow” band members have welcomed children into their lives. Just as he was the first to get married, Taboo was the first to become a father, welcoming his first son, Joshua, on Oct. 13, 1993. Later, he had two more children with his wife in 2009 and 2011.
Fergie’s a mom, too, welcoming her son with ex-husband Josh Duhamel on Aug. 29, 2013.
Kim Hill is also the mom of one son, born out of her former marriage.
People Also Ask
Why are the Black Eyed Peas called that band?
That all came out in 2005, with the release of Monkey Business, when frontman will.i.am explained on the album’s cover that “Black Eyed Peas are food for the soul.”
What religion are the Black Eyed Peas members?
Considering how much God is mentioned in the lyrics to some of their most famous songs, it’s not a surprising question.
There is a mix of religious backgrounds among the members of the Black Eyed Peas. Both Jamie Luis Gomez (Taboo) and Fergie, we believe, identify as Catholic, considering their respective marriages took place in a Catholic Church.
Gomez’s was held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Pasadena, and Fergie’s was also noted as being a Catholic ceremony, although the location was not disclosed.
As for the other members of the group, will.i.am has never officially disclosed what he practices, but social media posts made by the famed rapper indicate a Baptist upbringing.
Related: 19 Famous Singers Who Are Catholic
Who is the most famous member of Black Eyed Peas?
That question bears some opinions, but we’d say that’s a tie between Fergie and will.i.am, with their impressive solo careers outside the Black Eyed Peas.
How rich is Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas?
Fergie has raked up an estimated net worth of $45 million over the years. They say, “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” but we’re sure she’s crying tears of joy over that.
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