In the business of hit-making, there’s no monkeying around! With the release of their fourth studio album Monkey Business, The Black Eyed Peas proved they had lasting power. “Turn up the radio, blast your stereo right!” is exactly what will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo said on “Pump It” and had fans doing on this day in 2005 when their infectious jams were in heavy rotation.

Phunking on Top

Setting off the second Fergie-Peas era was the slightly comedic/funky hip pop/dance hit “Don’t Phunk With My Heart,” sometimes censored as “Don’t Mess With My Heart” on radio. Still, even the play on words couldn’t stall the Peas from reaching the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 5 and going on to win them their second Grammy Award.

True to Peas form they brought in heavy hitter collaborators, including Godfather of Soul James Brown (“They Don’t Want Music”). Critically acclaimed Hip Hop and R&B talents Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, CeeLo, and John Legend joined them on “Like That.” Plus they ruined with “Where Is The Love?” crooner Justin Timberlake for the Timbaland produced “My Style.”

The Rise of Fergie

Though if 2005’s Monkey Business LP proved anything for The Black Eyed Peas it was that Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson could truly lead a BEP song and stand as a solo star in her own right. The Fergie led track “My Humps” went on to peak at number 3 on the Hot 100 and win The Black Eyed Peas their third Grammy in as many years. Prematurely ending the chart run of second single “Don’t Lie” when it began getting unsolicited radio airplay, the cheeky was the album’s third single. Originally intended for The Pussycat Dolls, will.i.am clearly recognized the song’s hit potential and kept it; effectively making Fergie a star and giving Nicole’s group (and himself) a top 20 hit with “Beep.”

It’s no surprise that less than a year later Fergie ended up releasing her first solo single “London Bridge.” Her debut solo album The Dutchess went on to be certified 5X Platinum and yield three number one hits, including the aforementioned lead single. Fergie’s status as a solo star only elevated status of the The Black Eyed Peas.

Sonic Showcases

Aside from catapulting Fergie to solo superstar status, The Black Eyed Peas 4th body of work continued to showcase how genreless the Peas could be and how vast their influences were. “Ba Bump” showcases the groups fond love for their core base, Hip-Hop. apl.de.ap shows love to the Philippines and his life growing up during the dance floor ready “Bebot” (Filipino slang for babe). The band’s unifying tone returns for “Union” featuring Sting, which interpolates the jazzy reggae vibe of his 1988 single “Englishman In New York.”

Pumped Up Peas

“The energy never died,” track after track, as the infectious dance hit “Pump It” capped off the album’s singles, ending the era on a high just as “Let’s Get It Started” did for Elephunk. It was the perfect end to make listeners crave more BEP jams!

The hits Monkey Business produced perfectly positioned The Black Eyed Peas to dominate the music world when they returned. Even though fans had to wait until 2009 for new music, the band toured during the years in-between to build anticipation.

Its the steady climb from Elephunk to Monkey Business to what may be peak Peas during The E.N.D. that allowed the most recognized incarnation of the band to perform all over the world, break records, win three more Grammy’s and even headline the 2011 Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show. Not bad for Monkey Business!

Listen to Monkey Business by The Black Eyed Peas

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10 years ago today an album was unleashed on America that would go on to see tremendous success and accolades. The solo debut from a face the world first got to see in the 80’s via Kids Incorporated, and know in the 90’s thanks to R&B/Pop trio Wild Orchid and Fox Family series The Great Pretenders.

Back then she was known simply as Stacy Ferguson. After the Wild Orchid chapter of her life came to a close, and battling with drugs, Ferguson got a second major shot at music fame and success.

By the early 2000’s, Ferguson was re-branded under a nickname of her last name, Fergie, and joined the underground/experimental Hip Hop trio, The Black Eyed Peas. Upon joining the group, the inclusion of Fergie helped their commercial appeal and chart success see new heights the band never saw prior.

As the group’s new line-up helped increase their popularity, the Fergie-led “My Humps” also began garnering attention and was quickly released as the third single from Monkey Business. “Humps” was a clear sign that Fergie could not only be the 4th member of the Peas, but perhaps a successful solo artist in her own right.

Less than a year after “My Humps” exploded, the world got their first taste of solo Fergie music. Summer 2006 saw the rise of the eclectic and funky “London Bridge” where Fergie proved she could rap and sing all on her own. The Polow Da Don track went on to become a summer anthem that began her string of chart toppers, hitting the Billboard Hot 100 pinnacle for three weeks.

Things were only getting started. Fellow Peas member will.i.am assisted Fergie on the followup single “Fergalicious.” And as you guessed the song was all about what made Fergie so…delicious. The J. J. Fad “Supersonic” samples banger’s music video which showed Fergie working on her fitness and hitting some choreography as well managed to become her second Top 5 single, peaking at number two.

In 2007 the era was still churning out hits, including the album’s second Polow Da Don produced single, “Glamorous.” The flossy tune that featured Fergie rapping alongside guest rapper Ludacris managed to become her second number 1 single (staying atop for two weeks). Oh and lets never forget the epic call out, “If you ain’t got no money, take your broke ass home” that everybody knew or sung well into the year.

In a surprising move during summer, Fergie decided to slow things down a bit. Sans rapping, only singing this go round, “Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal)” was the first straight forward Pop release from the album to date. A risky move after so much success flirting with the Rhythmic jams that saw much success, but in the end “Big Girls” didn’t cry for success, but earned it, as it became the third chart topper for the force known as Fergie (becoming the first female to notch three on one album since 2000), plus landed her a solo Grammy Award nomination.

Certainly not tripping and stumbling in terms of chart success, the Fergie train kept pushing forward. Fifth single, “Clumsy” was a R&B Soul throwback infused jam that featured a radio friendly Pop beat courtesy of will.i.am. Once again, allowing Fergie to “fall in love,” with the Hot 100’s Top 5 for a fifth consecutive time!

It was finally the time to showcase the core of Fergie and what got her to where she was, her vocals and range of talent! John Legend produced “Finally” was tapped as the albums sixth single sent to radio. The stripped back tune was more reminiscent of Fergie’s Wild Orchid days than Peas era, paired with a timeless accompaniment. Without the release of a music video and nearly two years after “London Bridge” took the world by storm, didn’t allow for “Finally” to continue the success all prior singles had achieved.

With the album being the massive success it was, it was inevitable a re-release was coming. Four new tracks were released as a standalone EP and deluxe edition album; including Fergie’s ‘Sex And The City’ theme sampled “Labels Or Love,” for the show’s first motion picture. Keeping her flow fresh Fergie also joined Nelly for his single “Party People,” which was another Top 40 hit for Fergie and included as well.

You would think by this point any other tracks that were not released by Fergie from The Dutchess were album filler cuts. Think twice! The CW and Dr. Pepper utilized “Here I Come” would have easily served well as a future single that embodied the same aura as the album’s other hit Top 5 singles. The mid-tempo R&B tune “All That I Got (The Makeup Song)” was even lyrically so deep that Tyra Banks used a remix version as her talk show’s new theme song.

In the Entertainment Business, second chances are rare. Third, fourth, and so on…even more so! But in 2006 Fergie defied the odds. Not only was she an 80’s child star and member in two different music groups, Fergie managed to launch a super successful solo career anybody would envy, including her competition then and now.

July 20th of this year, saw The Dutchess certified 5x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA, just in time for its 10th birthday today. Until 2012 Fergie’s first five singles held a digital era record for being the album with the most multi-platinum certified singles from a sole album.

To celebrate this epic album that was the soundtrack to many peoples lives, radios, and playlists back from 2006 to 2008, The Dutchess will be reissued on vinyl for a December 2 release.

Fergie also promised fans “new heat [music] coming sooner,” before the LP’s release on her Facebook page. Looks like sophomore album, Double Dutchess may get a release in 2016, 10 years after the release of her heavily celebrated debut album The Dutchess. At minimum a new single to follow “M.I.l.F. $.” As these sayings go, ‘it’s better late than never’ and ’slow and steady, wins the race’! We’re eager and patiently waiting, Dutchess!

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