Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk

The Black Eyed Peas are back after a long hiatus. There really hasn't been much coming from these guys, and now girl as well, as they added Fergie to the mix. The last B.E.P. release I was really feeling was Will.I.Am's "Lost Change" on BBE. I think he's one of Hip Hop's most slept on producers and he's even a dope MC.
The album starts off with "Hands Up," a surefire party track, like most of the upbeat tracks on this album. There aren't a lot of quotables on this album, and you don't have to worry about hitting the rewind button here, because the light-hearted lyrics and crazy Will.I.Am beats are perfect for getting people on the dancefloor and keeping the party going. "Labor Day (It's a Holiday" and "Let's Get Retarded" are both tracks that will keep people dancing. Will.I.Am laces some serious beats here, as the jazzy "Labor Day" sounds like it could contend with Just Blaze and his beats. "Let's Get Retarded" is a straight up banger, its got one of the best beats on the album, but as you can probably guess, no one's really saying anything.
"Hey Mama" is a dancehall-ish type track that is DJ-friendly as well. "Shut Up is probably the weakest track on the album, that's one I'm definitely not feeling. "Smells Like Funk" is catchy, I like the flavor on this one. "Latin Girls" is an ode dedicated to, yep you guessed it, Latin Girls. Will.I.Am saves a lot of tracks on this album, some with his rhymes, but mostly with his beats. "Sexy" is a perfect example of this, as the beat really carries the song, because the lyrics are far from being quotable. "The Boogie that Be" is another track that just sounds good in the summer, where it's got a bouncy beat that you can really nod your head to. Papa Roach makes a tight appearance on "Anxiety."
Hands down, the dopest track is "Where is the Love" which also features Justin Timberlake. This is a straight-up track dedicated to love and building. Hip Hop needs this right now, and I was so happy to hear this getting played on Hot 97. This is one that I always got on repeat, the feel-good beat and call for love just blend together so better, and this is one of the only tracks where the B.E.P.'s are actually saying something. I wish more of the album was like this, because they would be considered one of the best if they had more tracks that had meanings instead of having all party tracks. The bonus track is also the title track, "Elephunk," where Fergie proves that her addition to the group is definitely a good look.
Although this album is about love, love for partying, unity, and most importantly, Hip Hop.

By Brian Kayser