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The Black Eyed Peas, who collaborated with James Brown on a song for their forthcoming album, have added another legend to the record.

A literal Legend: R&B singer John Legend recently joined the group for an inspirational tune titled "Change the World." The track is reminiscent of "Where Is the Love," although it won't be the first single from "Monkey Business", which is due in May. That honor goes to "Don't Funk With My Heart."

"It's uptempo, it's like hip-hop Bollywood," Will.I.Am said, referring to the name given to Indian cinema. "It's hot. It's mad different than hip-hop right now."

The Peas shot the video for "Don't Funk With My Heart" last week with the Malloys, who directed their "Shut Up" video last year, as well as clips for Avril Lavigne, Blink-182 and Metallica. Will came up with the concept, but he's staying tight-lipped about it for now.

Along with Brown (on a tune called "They Don't Want Music") and Legend, "Monkey Business" will also feature legendary surf guitarist Dick Dale, perhaps best known from the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack.

"It's almost finished, we've been working hard in the studio on it, finishing up all the interludes on it," Will said. "All the songs are finished and being mixed and mastered. It's dope."

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Chuck Woolery's out and the Black Eyed Peas are in as each of the members look to make their own love connections in the video for "Don't Funk With My Heart."

In the clip — the first single from the group's forthcoming LP, Monkey Business, due in May — each of the Peas try their luck as a dating game-show contestant.

Will.I.Am said he wanted the video to reflect the Peas' individual personalities. "I was like, why don't we do a dating game where we'd play different characters and get to be charismatic and spontaneous?"

The Peas, who reaped mainstream success with their multiplatinum 2003 release, Elephunk, scrapped an earlier treatment for the video because the group didn't feel comfortable with its concept, which singled out two of its members. "They wanted me to be with 11 different girls," the rapper said, noting that the director was suggesting names like Natalie Portman, Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek.

"Then they were going to have Fergie talk to some guys, and I was like, 'It's cool, but where's the Black Eyed Peas?' So that's what spawned the idea for a game show," he continued. "It would allow us to be us, but keep us as a group. So even though Apl.de.Ap is [not included] vocally in the song, he still has an important role in the video."

The group pitched the new idea to another director, but when that budget came in sky-high, they tapped the Malloys (Blink-182, Avril Lavigne), who directed their "Shut Up" video last year.

"We pitched them this idea and they fell in love with it," Will said. "Obviously, those guys are very funny and they added their Malloy touch. Just to see them take an idea that I came up with and take it to another level has been super-fresh.

"This was the first single from Monkey Business and we didn't want any monkeying around," he added with a laugh, noting that the group had to endure five costume changes during the video's two-day shoot in Los Angeles.

At the moment, the group is hard at work putting the finishing touches on its new album, which will include collaborations with James Brown and John Legend (see "Black Eyed Peas Bring In Legends Galore For New LP").

— Brandee J. Tecson, with reporting by Simi Nahil

Q. Why Monkey Business as an album title?

A. Monkey Business basically derives from the way we felt on the Elephunk Tour.

"A lot of time we'd be in these vans being taken to the venues and you'd see all these kids looking in the vans like we were little monkeys."

"They are looking at us, waving bananas in our face saying go on stage and dance monkey, dance monkey, dance, and then get in your box and fly to the next show."


The new record, Monkey Business, is due for release in May 2005 and features collaborations with Sting, John Legend and the godfather of soul, James Brown.

HUGE fan. And love me some Stacey Ferguson. Great addition to the group.

Can't wait for the new album and what is it about plaid mini skirts that make me :crazy:?

damn...I thought you were going to say they broke up...

Rhondab said:

I bought their debut album and dug a few songs from it, but ... since then I haven't heard anything by them I really like. That "Let's Get It Started" song became as annoying to me as Outkast's "Hey Ya"...even if not as overplayed.