The Black Eyed Peas is “back on the scene, crispy and clean,” reviving their post-2003 hip hop roots in a new track “Yesterday,” celebrating their 20th anniversary.
Before they abandoned their hip hop roots during the mid-00’s, the trio were the critically acclaimed classic West Coast hip hop crew sprung from LA during the 90’s that dropped “Request Line” reaching number two on Billboard’s rap chart. “Yesterday” is BEP’s first release since 2010 and another to premier on Apple Music, taking the originally hip hop focused outfit “back to where it all started.”
The alternative hip hop group achieved record high sales for Elephunk in 2003 after adding Fergie’s vocals and EDM and R&B influences, selling 76 million records since. Now, the band is sans Fergie and all about their old school roots.
Hip hop has experienced bit of a renaissance this year, and their new music video features the trio reminiscing about the old times whilst rifling through a record store, honouring the likes of N.W.A., Beastie Boys, E. Fresh, Large Professor, Onyx and more. The track samples some classic production, including N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton,” Beastie Boys’ “Paul Revere,” Wu-Tang Clan’s “Killa Bees,” and Onyx’s “Slam.”
There have been suggestions that the group may drop a 20th Anniversary album, as retweeted by K-pop superstar CL who was asked to collaborate on the new release in January this year.
Could the track be a preview of a full revival of old school Black Eyed Peas? As long as we don’t have to hear about anyones ‘humps’ ever again *shudders.*
Watch the full video clip below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_wqBgd5bs
Then listen to BEP’s 1998 chart topper “Request Line” ft. Macy Gray.