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BUY THE CD
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While I had mixed feelings about The Black Eyed Peas’ last album, Elephunk, that’s not the case with Monkey Business. The first song, “Pump It,” sets the stage for a high-energy album—and the Peas definitely deliver this time around.
Monkey Business is the Black Eyes Peas that fans have come to know and love. On Elephunk, their first post-Fergie album, they seemed to be doing a little trial-and-error, trying to figure out what worked. But they’ve definitely found it—and they’re running with it. Monkey Business is full of the Peas’ irresistible funk/pop/hip-hop. I dare you to try to sit still while listening to it.
In addition to the singles that you most likely already have permanently stuck in your head (like “Don’t Phunk with My Heart” and “Don’t Lie”), the album includes a few surprising collaborations and remixes. You probably wouldn’t expect a Black Eyed Peas / Sting collaboration, but here it is. “Union” is a reworking of Sting’s hit, “Englishman in New York.” And I definitely wasn’t expecting the Peas to put their own twist on “Gone,” one of my favorite Jack Johnson songs. But that’s what “Gone Going” is—and, despite the seemingly clashing genres, it’s shockingly good. Danceable, even.
Then there are the less-surprising collaborations. Justin Timberlake, who worked with the Peas on Elephunk’s “Where Is the Love?” is back on “My Style.” And James Brown, the Grandfather of Soul himself, makes an appearance on the funky “They Don’t Want Music.”
You wouldn’t expect an album that features both James Brown and Jack Johnson to feel cohesive—but it does. It just flows from one song to the next, and it all works together perfectly.
If you find yourself cranking the volume on your car stereo every time a Black Eyed Peas song comes on the radio, you won’t want to miss this album. It’s everything you love about the Peas—nothing more, nothing less.
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