"Elephunk": That sounds like it could have been the name of a Parliament album.......

I would start this review by telling you how I got this album, but that would be irrelevant.......

So I won't.....

So, let me give you some background on this group, from as much as I've heard. Black Eyed Peas started as an underground/about to be mainstream rap group from L.A., comprised of Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap (what's up with the periods?), and Taboo. Their first two albums "Behind The Front" and "Bridging The Gap" were well-received but didn't give them the Big-time success that I'm sure their label wanted. So, their label stated that after their third album, they would drop them, assuming that the 3rd album would follow the same path of the first two. Fortunately (or unfortunately, judging by their next album Monkey Business), this didn't happen. Maybe it was because of the addition of their new member, Fergie (the girl who did Sally's voice in the Charlie Brown movies. Pretty random, eh?). Or, maybe they were determined to prove their worth with this album in an attempt to stay on the label. Is this true? Did they put forth blood, sweat, and tear to make an album that would be theirt shining blaze of glory before they left? Or did they fart on a record (figuratively speaking) and say "Alright, see ya later...."? WE WILL SEE:

ELEPHUNK BY BLACK EYED PEAS SONG BY SONG

(Note: one thing I noticed about this album: almost every song sounds like you've heard it before in a movie or on a commercial, which can be inviting. Probubly because they were pushing this album with as much publicity as they could...)

1. Hands Up – 3:35

Immediately, a trumpet sample kicks in, as Will.i.am decides to tell you to check it out continuously. Then, the chorus kicks in, basically announcing that this is a party album.

Hands up, coming with rhythms to make your head jerk
Hands up, we makin' our whole joint short circuit
Hands high, touch the sky, get 'em up

Then, Will raps to the time of the trumpet as he says:

Get 'em up, get 'em up, get 'em up, get 'em up, get 'em up, get 'em up

Then, come the verses. Will actually delivers with his verse, throwing in a multi-syllabic flow that randomly speeds up and some nice metaphors and wordplay action.

After the chorus, apl.de.ap and Taboo spit Run-D.M.C. style(not as good, of course...). They're also trying to match Will.I.am's speed, but it's just not done as well, as some of Taboo's enunciation is lost in a quick flow and apl seems a little lazy. The fast flow just doesn't fit them in this song. Then, the song ends like this:

We the riggy-riggy-riggy-riggy-riggy-riggy-rah
The higgy-higgy-higgy-higgy-higgy-higgy-hah
The riggy-riggy-riggy-riggy-riggy-riggy rah
The riggy-riggy, riggy, riggy-riggy, riggy
Riggy-riggy, riggy, ri-ri-riggy, ri-ri-riggy
Riggy-riggy, ri-ri-ri-riggy

What exactly is a "riggy-rah"? I thought he meant "we riggy-rock the higgy-house" but there's a "the" after we, and house doesn't rhyme with rock. Anyways, while he's doing that, the trumpet repeats the fluttering sound, then it is quickly slows down as we are thrown head-first into the next song.

3 out of 5

2. Labor Day (It's A Holiday) - 3:58

Weird reverberating synths introduce us to the next track as the drowned out sounds of "oooh oooh" become clearer and clearer. Then, here comes the beat. I think it's sampling the sample that Public Enemy used in "Night of the Living Baseheads". It's just another party song. I thought they were going to confront the topic of labor day and not having to work, but they just flexed some sub-par party-rhyme skill. Check out Will's verse:

"and thats the way we do it/
we get a lil loopy of the ignorant fluid/
and act a lil stupid just in case ya didnt knew it/
and thats how we do it dont ask why we do it/"

Wow. He used "do it" 3 times in those couplets.

Anyways, it cuts into half the chorus and then back into the verse, cutting back into the full chorus as Fergie sings, and her voice is... above par. It's not amazing, but it's not bad. I like the harmonies a little.

Then, what the heck is Taboo doing in this verse? Check it out:

we gon stay out late/
party till the morning n wake up late/
we do it til the day break/
we gon on and then, on and on and/
..................... dance to my rhyme/
i can holla accapellas deaf till ya blind/

Make no mistake about that last line. That is actually what Taboo said. I mean, crap, it sounds like they just spit some random freestyles on the track and then forgot to erase the vocals. I'm not going to comment on Apl's verse. I'll just say this: he doesn't save the song in any way.

All in all, it's not that great of a song at all, but it's danceable. Still, for me, if you don't come with some sort of lyricism, what's the point of putting your vocals on the track? This joint would have been better off without the verses. Just chorus and the beat, but that didn't happen. Remember when I said either they "put forth blood, sweat, and tear to make an album or just fart on a record and said "Alright, see ya later....""? Yeah, it's leaning towards the latter right now.

1 out of 5

Then the weird synths return and are slowed down as with the first song, except it slows down... slower....

3. Let's Get Retarded - 3:35

"What?" you may be asking. "I thought the name of the song was "Let's Get It Started"." Well, this is the unedited version.

It starts of with Fergie singing the title, followed by a splatter of bass drum kicks. Following that, is a fun bass line that moves in staccato (actually this song is pretty much all staccato, from the bass to the harmonies, but that's what I like about it). A building intro from the Peas is heard as they say: "And the bass keep runnin' runnin', and runnin', and runnin', and runnin', and runnin', and runnin', and runnin', and" ...you get the idea.

Then Will, Taboo, and Apl proceed to spit respectable party verses. A nice added bonus to the verses is how every once in a while it sounds like a chorus of people are singing to the raps. After each verse, the insane chorus kicks in; I don't think I have to tell you how it goes. THIS is how you make a good party song.

4 out of 5

4. Hey Mama (ft. Tippa Irie) - 3:34

Carribean drums and hypnotizing harmonies open up the next track. Then we hear the okay-sounding chorus. Then, for some reason, we are told to rewind, which is weird, because the song just started. Instead of actually rewinding, the first bridge kicks in by Tippa Irie. Then comes Will with a verse that's so-so, with lines like:

"I got a naughty, naughty style and a naughty, naughty crew/
But everything I do, I do just for you"
and
We multiply like we mathamatists
Then we drop bombs like we in the middle east

A little controversial but I'm sure he meant no harm by it. He continues onto the 2nd verse (Taboo and Apl seem to be missing). Although I think he might have needed their help, as he seems to have run out of steam, reverting to half of the 2 verses being the same thing with slightly different wording:

(I do) what I can/
(Double-U) -ill.i.am/
And still I stand, with still mic in hand/
(So come on mama, dance to the druma)/

"Now she be: fergie/
from the crew: B.E.P.
come and take heed, as we take the lead/
(so come on papa, dance to the druma)/

The introduction to only those two and the other 2 (Taboo and Apl) missing from the song almost completely might be a contributing factor to why not many people seem to know Taboo and Apl that much. Of course, like I said, he might have needed them in this ong, looking at his verse:

"The beat bump bumpas in your trunk trunkas
The girlies in the club with the big plump plumpas
And when I'm makin' love, my hip hump humps"

He's really searching for rhymes, huh? I like the Raggaeton feel and Tippa Irie's appearance, but they lose points for abandoning crew members. Tsk, tsk, tsk. But seriously, it's an okay song, but it gets caught being right after "Let's Get It Started" so the grade for this song loses a point by comparison. Also, why do these songs keep slowing down at the end? That gimmick is wearing on me.

3 out of 5

(By the way, what's up with Fergie slipping in that Jamaican accent every now and then?)

5. Shut Up - 4:56

FINALLY! A song with some substance! I believe it's about a failing relationship. Apparently, Will is on tour and cheats on his girlfriend (guess who's playing the part of the girlfriend). This must not have been the first time, because she wants him to just shut up and leave.

Also, those weird synths are back...

But there's a nice sample of string section instruments, followed by the drums. Fergie's really the star here as her emotion for the song is felt. Be prepared to hear "shut up" a LOT in this song, though. Will (once again) spits the first verse:

Girl, me and you were just fine (you know)
We wine and dine
Did them things that couples do when in love (you know)
Walks on the beach and stuff (you know)

He gets points off for lyrical laziness. As well, Taboo seems to be talking about another relationship, throwing things off:

Why does he know she gotta move so fast/
Love is progress if you could make it last/
Why is it that you just lose control/
Every time you agree on takin it slow/

The last verse is the best, as Will and Fergie actually argue on the track while singing. It's very entertaining. The emotion that they put forth can't be just seen on a white screen with black letters. You should see the video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-NzUwnVCm0U

The thing that takes away points is the CONTINUOUS bridge near the end. They could have trimmed that down. But at least they didn't slow down Fergie's outro.

3 out of 5

6. Smells Like Funk - 5:04

A sort of jazzy, funky beat knocks for "Smells Like Funk". Remember "Labor Day" and how the verses had nothing to do with the title? Well, they REALLY did a 180 from that, writing exactly about the title of the song. In fact, maybe a little TOO exact. Check it out (by the way, this is thte first song where someone besides Will.i.am goes first, if you disregard his intro to the verse):

Taboo:
Big booty funk, toe jam funk
Underarm funk, like you headlockin' a skunk
Reaking like diseased athlete's feet
The stench didn't come till after this beat

Then, Will comes in with "F" words all over his verse. Look up the lyrics and you'll know what I'm taking about. You know, we haven't heard any verse from Apl.de.ap for about 10 minutes, but he does deliver with his verse:

Meaty, fat, nasty like Ms. Fat Booty's tights
Gettin' dirty like mudfights and dirtbikes
[...]
The odour's so contagious that it shows up in your dream/
Man, you could pick me out like food in between/
Your two front teeth...

This song might actually make you want to take a bath. Ironically, they're talking about poop and how much their track stinks, but the song is good, besides some weird exclamations ("If you smellin' elephant $h!t then it must be us"? "Stinkin' like fat ladies $h!tt!n' out hogs"? That doesn't even make sense!) Points for being creative, points off for the over-the-top, but points back on for the synth-bass riff with the added mini-jam session at the end. I'll let them have this star.

4 out of 5

7. Latin Girls (ft. Debi Nova and Dante Santiago - 6:17

Congas kick this in, followed by the Spanish-tinged beat. Will really slips over himself, especially with the oddly prejudice line "Feminines that are Latin call ya friends
And call your cousins cause I know you got dozens of them". Really? Wow. Also the overt sexuality almost kill the song. In fact, fact if it weren't for the nice beat, the mixing of English and Spanish in the last verse, and jam-session at the end, this song would be getting 1 star. Also, remember how I said on the Labor Day song that Apl "doesn't save the song in any way"? Well, you can call Apl "saving grace", because he steps up his game a little with the lyrics, making the song SO much more enjoyable as he rhymes to his Latina cutie. PEEP:

"We got connection like a novel to a reada/
I can relate cause latin girls look Phillipina/
Check your history there's no mystery between us/
Destiny made it possible to be us/"

Hats off, Apl.de.ap. Oh yeah, and by the way, Apl's mom is Filipino, just so you know.

3 out of 5

8. Sexy (ft. Sérgio Mendes) - 4:43

Two "song-for-the-ladies" joints back to back. That can't be good. Especially since the odds are against this song. For one, this is a Will.i.am solo joint, and hasn't been able to hold his own on a full song. Second, he has already done a song about women, and his consistency to keep his lyrics tight, ESPECIALLY when rapping about the same thing more than once (see "Labor Day" and "Hey Mama") so far hasn't been very good, so I'm not expecting much. And that's exactly what I got. ONCE AGAIN, the production saves this song from sucking, with the shredding guitar solos, the chilled out atmosphere that the piano sets, and the jazzy horns. Heck, the chorus isn't even that good. This would have been a great instrumental, but NO! Will HAD to say something. In fact, I'll show you the whole verse right here, so you can take in all the atrocity:

i took ur picture/
with one particluar
reason and its ta/
capture ur character/
i like to sit and stare at 'cha/
aint nothin wrong with starin at cha/
girl dont get scared that i envison us getting married and i/
aint tryin to rush nuttin/
cuz i aint Russian/"

I have to cut off this verse. Somebody, please tell me he freestyled this. Please tell me he didn't sit down, take the time to find a pen, write this down, go into a studio, do multiple recordings of this verse while his production team was there, pick one that apparently sounded better than the rest, put it on an album, AND HAD IT REPRODUCED AND SHIPPED ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, KNOWING THAT SOMEONE WOULD HEAR IT!!! PLEASE, SOMEONE TELL ME HE JUST FREESTYLED THIS AND SOMEONE FORGOT TO ERASE IT!!!

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Okay, *sniffs* I'm cool. Sorry, folks. Now where was I? Oh yes. Will's verses sucked, the instrumentals ruled. Let's move on.

2 out of 5

9. Fly Away - 3:35

Oh. I can't believe it. I've found a 5 star song. Thank you, God.

This one is a Fergie solo. Also, it's not a strictly party song. It sounds like it's going to be simple at the beginning with the simple intro, but they surprise you and kick into high gear. An uplifting beat with a free-flying guitar soars into the headphones as Fergie's vocals float over the elavating track (enough entendres for you?). The concept is that Fergie is a famous singer's girlfriend. The boyfriend, of course, must go on tour. She reveals that even though it hurts her, she won't show it as she tells him to do what he loves. This is a song that you really have to hear to feel her. It givers off a positive attitude. Oh, yeah, and Fergie's vocals are great. Still, what's up with the random Jamaican accent? Oh well, I don't care, because the songs bangs.

5 out of 5

10. The Boogie That Be - 5:12

Instantly, the great song is cut off. Which is good, because you don't want it to overstay it's welcome. What replaces it is a blaring of sirens in the background. Then, this song comes in. Honestly, like "Labor Day" (which seems to be the buttcrack of this album) the original is better. What's worse: the introduction to Fergie rapping. Sorry, but she's just not that captivating when she's rapping. In fact, the first couplet that she spits makes me laugh a little at it's simplicity. But then she starts singing, and all is forgiven, kind of. This time, the music and instrument solo doesn't save it either. Slightly danceable, but like I said, the original is so much better, I can't give this above a 2.

2 out of 5

Hey, the opening part of this next riff sounds like that big hit that made them famous.....






11. The Apl Song (produced by apl.de.ap) - 2:54

Wait, nevermind. Anyway, it's good to hear from Apl again after another 10 minutes of him being M.I.A. on the last 3 (yes, THREE) tracks. I'm starting to think that Apl's the person who's just been added. Anyways, this is his ode to his home country and his mother. Anyways, the chorus is in Philipean-- Filipeanan-- Philipp--- in his native language and the harmonies are very lulling. In 2 verses, he talks about the ghetto he lived in, leaving for America, and coming back to see his mom.

The translated version:
Come closer my friends and everyone listen
I brought news from my homeland
I'll tell you how we live and what goes on
From my beloved homeland.

It's heartwarming, truly, but there's only one problem: it's uncomfortably short. Seriously, if this album were a year, this would be February. This is the February song. That's the new title for this song. Oh well, at least it's very good, but I have to knock them down some points for it not feeling finished. Respect though, Apl.de.ap.

4 out of 5

*someone whispers in my ear* What did you say? I'm not playing tag with a log........ oh..... Tagalog.... that's the language in which he was singing. Oh, hehe, apologies, Apl.

12. Anxiety (ft. Papa Roach) - 3:38

After some nice, gentle music, we've got the exact opposite. Featuring Papa Roach with instrumentation and the hard-rocking chorus, we are given a look into the psyches of Will and Apl (Alright, now where did Taboo go?). The quote for this song goes to Will.i.am though, for these lines:

"My bloods boiling; its beatin' out propaine/
My train of thoughts more like a runaway train/
I'm in a fast car, drivin' in a fast lane/
In the rain and I might just hydroplaine/"

The beat shreds and I would give it a 4, but from 3.4, I have to round down.

3 out of 4

13. Where Is The Love? (ft. Justin Timberlake) - 4:32

FINALLY, we get to the one other 5 star track on here, "Where Is The Love?". The magnum opus of this album.

A Digitized guitar starts us off, followed by a kicking drum and a catchy cello. EVERYONE from the Peapod is in this song (that hasn't happened since track 7!). The lyrics are on-point, except for Will.i.am's opening line. After that, the song takes off. Dropping pure knowledge and introspection, a calm, but driving beat, great singing, and a cool video to match. Peep the jewels:

"I think the whole world's addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate"

And Taboo doesn't disappoint, bringing his best intellect:

"In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy as brothers
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love"

and Apl.de.ap brings us home with the most humanizing verse of that year. Peep:

"Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids act like what they see in the cinema"

So true.

5 out of 5



I can't even believe this was their biggest hit. It's ironic, because they are a party group and the mainstream crowd seems to cater to the type of tracks that are found on the rest of the album. But SOMEHOW, this, their most revealing song that they've probably ever made, became their big hit. There's hope.

Hidden tracks:

There's more?!

15. Let's Get It Started - 3:39 (U.S. version only)

Not much to say here, except that it does have a slightly switched up beat. It feels a little livelier, if that's a word. I Can't really rate it, because it's basically the same song. It's still worth playing, though.

14. Third Eye 3:43 (US version)

If HipHop existed in the 60's, songs like this would emerge. That's basically the summary of this song. Will.i.am. and Fergie (and no one else) sing on the song in a way that makes you feel hypnotized, along with a bass that sometimes reverses with Indian instrumentation and a ticking clock. It's crazy. Then, Will spits a triple cadence flow that is just like the 60's counterculture: Confident, angry, and... not really clear to understand. You tell me:

"Cos he got knives and clips and a bag of that $h!t with two crucifix/
And he's got your back won't flick, give it to your brother as a necklace for Christmas/
Welcome to the valley of the beast where they sing in harmony, where they speak no peace/
Keeping an eye on the fedder, your cheddar, things that ain't really for the better"

I'm just not going to include this song into the equation.


All in all, It's a slightly below par album, mostly due to maybe a little too much experimentation lyric-wise (see "Sexy") and a sense of a lack of unity. If they would have made more "Where is the Love" type tracks, (well, not exactly the same, because that would be lame, but in the same direction of positivity) this album would have bumped a little more. Also, they are in NO way going to replace Rakim in lyrical dominance. But the actual music is kicking.

AND THE RATING IS:

3 out of 5

Thank you and goodnight!