Behind the front

My fallout with Black Eyed Peas front man and producer will.i.am dates back to the group's 2000 effort "Behind the Front" where it became blatantly obvious, through their appearances in Target ads and the like, that the Peas were itchin to go Pop. That being said, I don't have a problem against an artist or group striving for mainstream appeal, its just that when they do, it is often at the expense of their music's quality. It would be no different with the Peas as they would continue to put out rap tailor made for Walmart and as a result we all have will.i.am to thank for "Where is the Love?", "My Humps", and Fergieliscious...

But lately, will.i.am has been making some noise in the internet rap geek circles (guilty) by lending his production to the likes of Bustah Rhymes ("I Love My Bitch"), Too Short ("Keep Bouncin'"), and more recently The Game's "Compton", Nas' "Hip Hop is Dead", and Common's "I Have a Dream". It would seem impossible that the man behind "London Bridge" (don't front, it knocks) could team up with The Game for some bangin' gangsta boogie.

But really, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Sure BEP gets a lot of shit for making shamelessly sell out albums but peep the group's early work as Atbann Klan (they were then signed to gangsta rap icon Eazy E's Ruthless Records though their album Grass Roots was never released), their first major label album "Behind the Front", or even will's BBE instrumental album "Lost Change". The beats on these projects are vintage will.i.am: there's nothing really intricate going on but the tracks ooze an organic quality that isn't afraid to show its pop tendencies.

Maybe it just took rappers other than the Peas to rap over will's beats for people to take notice. But seriously, for all this hype over Jay Z coming out of retirement, The Game dropping "Doctor's Advocate", and The Clipse's "Hell Hath No Fury"... maybe will.i.am is the real story of this year in Hip Hop.