The Black Eyed Peas emerged in the mid-‘90s as “positive” underground rappers, who aimed to provide good vibes as an alternative to gangsta fraternity’s macho excesses. More recently, the group have attempted a balancing act between indie-rap’s relaxed outlook, and the pop immediacy of more primal hip hop. This is not as exciting a cross-pollination as it sounds – frequently feeling like a tame, uninspired compromise – though still managing to throw up some undeniably fun pop moments.
The highlights on Monkey Business are crammed into the first half of the album, starting with breakneck party track ‘Pump Hit’, which borrows its hook from Dick Dale’s ‘Misirlou’. Collaborations bring out good things in the Peas – smart guest rhymes from Q-Tip and Talib Kweli are accompanied by stylish orchestral stabs on ‘Like That’. ‘My Style’ is definitely the best thing on here, with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland providing some much-needed star quality. Justin’s vocal sounds phoned-in, but Timbaland is on good form, providing a devastatingly lazy beat.
Sadly, this gem only serves to highlight the Black Eyed Peas’ lack of finesse behind the mixing desk. Too much of the album’s second half is weighed down with slapdash, frantic rhythms and irritatingly overcrowded production. The low-points are simply excruciating – ‘My Humps’ is an attempt to “sex up” the Peas’ sound that is more laughable than alluring (sample lyric: “You love my lady lumps”). ‘Union’ meanwhile, is the nadir: a Sting collaboration that calls for peace and unity, but only succeeds in provoking violent thoughts.