Attended the special dinner at Sony Studios in Los Angeles to honour the singer and activist Sting as MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year. The evening celebrated his contribution to popular music, and honoured his charitable work with Amnesty International and the Rainforest Foundation. Other stars in attendance included Kylie Minogue, Elton John & Dido. (6th February 2004)
They consist of Fergie, Will i am, Taboo and Apl.de.Ap
Won Best International Group at the 2006 Juno Awards in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was a tie with Coldplay.
A Benefit Concert for South Africa
Miller Genuine Draft presents The Peapod Benefit Concert featuring The Black Eyed Peas and friends. The concert is the first major philanthropic endeavor for The Peapod Foundation, founded by The Black Eyed Peas in association with the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The event will also help raise awareness for The Peapod Foundation's philanthropic work in the region. The Peapod is scheduled to take place Sunday, May 28th, 2006 at Johannesburg Stadium at Ellis Park in South Africa.
The Peapod Foundation Benefit is headlined by two-time Grammy winning multi-platinum artists, The Black Eyed Peas, who have achieved sales of nearly 17 million worldwide. Inspired by their first trip to South Africa in 2004, this gift from The Peapod Foundation made possible by the support of Miller Genuine Draft, will bring The Peas together to perform alongside acclaimed South African artists and dancers to deliver an entertainment experience of historical proportion.
"Two years ago we played to commemorate 10 Years of Freedom in South Africa and I made a promise that we would return to give a free show for the people who may never have the chance to get down and celebrate with The Black Eyed Peas, in the true spirit of The Peapod," said will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. "It is with great pride that we bring The Peapod to South Africa thanks to the generosity of fellow Peas: Fergie, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and our band Bucky Jonson, along with Miller Genuine Draft."
To ensure these tickets are distributed to the many that might not otherwise be able to participate in a concert event of this magnitude, alliances are being implemented with local newspapers throughout the region, in conjunction with a manual distribution system within local townships. Additionally, a portion of the tickets will be distributed via a text messaging campaign implemented by Miller Genuine Draft in association with The Peapod Foundation, to raise awareness and funds for the Shanduka Foundation and their Adopt-A-School Program.
"The Peapod Foundation is committed to uniting people on a global scale, via the universal language of music, to bridge cultural boundaries and make a difference in our world," said Christine Hansen, CEO of The Peapod Foundation and President & CEO of Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. "We are unbelievably excited to deliver on our promise to South Africa, and sincerely thank Tony Feldman, Polo Molina, The Black Eyed Peas and the Miller Genuine Draft Company for the opportunity to bring our dream to reality."
Black Eyed Peas can be heard on the following channels:
Biography
Positive messages and breakdancing are integral parts of hip-hop culture, but by 1990 those elements had been temporarily eclipsed by the tough gangsta image and bleak but compelling lyrics of West Coast groups like N.w.a. However, despite sharing a zip code, Black Eyed Peas' vision goes beyond the cracked-sidewalk vignettes and sampled gunfire of Los Angeles' gangsta style. The socially conscious group's earliest connections go back to high school, when Will.i.am and Apl.de.ap were part of Tribal Nation, a breakdancing crew. Eventually the pair focused more on music -- hip-hop, specifically -- and split off into their own as Atban Klann, their esoteric name an acronym for A Tribe Beyond a Nation. Eazy-e's Ruthless Records signed the group in 1992, but many in the Ruthless camp were puzzled by the group and the enthusiasm of Eazy, who had no problem reconciling his own gangsta style with the peace-minded breakdancing of Atban. Although an album was recorded, Ruthless shelved it, unsure how to market a group whose style wasn't dependent on violent braggadocio like N.w.a
Black Eyed Peas
by Wade Kergan
The death of Eazy-e in 1995 signaled the end of any further deals with Ruthless. Undaunted by the experience, Will and Apl recruited another dancer/MC, Taboo, and reappeared as Black Eyed Peas. Bep began playing shows around L.A., impressing hip-hop fans with their mike skills and dazzling them with their footwork as well. In 1998 their debut, Behind The Front, was released to critical acclaim -- not only for the trio of MCs, but for their live band and backing vocalist Kim Hill as well. Featuring guest appearances from Jurassic 5's Chali 2na, De La Soul, and Macy Gray, Bep's sophomore effort, Bridging The Gap, was released in 2000. The group's third album, 2003's Elephunk, featured a new member (Fergie, who replaced Kim Hill) and became their biggest hit yet, storming the Top 40 with three singles ("Where Is the Love?," "Hey Mama," "Let's Get It Started"). Two years later, the quartet returned with a heavily crossover date, Monkey Business. ~ Wade Kergan, All Music Guide
