Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles. As of 2009, the group is composed of will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie. Since its breakout album Elephunk in 2003, the group's pop/dance-oriented style of hip hop music has sold an estimated twenty-seven million albums and singles worldwide. Will.i.am (born 1975 William James Adams Jr.) and Apl.de.ap (born 1974 Allan Pineda) began rapping and performing together around Los Angeles. The pair signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E) after catching the attention of the nephew of Jerry Heller (Eazy-E's manager). Along with Mookie Mook (Burning Star), & DJ Motiv8 (DJ Of B.E.P.), they called their group Atban Klann. Their debut album, Grass Roots, was never released because Ruthless did not consider the social themes reflected in the group's music to be marketable to their audience.