Elephunk [Bonus Track]

• Artist: Black Eyed Peas
• Rating:
• Release Date: May 26, 2004
• Genre: Rap

Review

Nominally a rap group, in truth Black Eyed Peas call on so many forms of songwriting and production that slotting them into hip-hop is like slotting Prince into R&B -- technically true, but very limiting. Elephunk, the group's third straight winning LP, doesn't have top-notch rapping, but as driven by frontman Will.I.Am, it does possess some of the most boundary-pushing productions in contemporary, (mostly) uncommercial hip-hop -- right up at the level occupied by Common and OutKast. The smart, brassy opening club thump "Hands Up" hits another level with a sly bridge flaunting some heavy metallic slide guitar, while the highly pressurized love jam "Shut Up" features great interplay between Taboo and new member Fergie. Space doesn't allow for description of each track, but suffice to say any Will.I.Am track is going to feature loads of ideas and fresh sounds, not to mention plenty of stylistic change-ups -- from the digital-step ragga of "Hey Mama" (featuring Tippa Irie) to the Latinized, loved-up "Latin Girls." Like a latter-day Digital Underground, Black Eyed Peas know how to get a party track moving, and add a crazy stupid rhyme or two ("bop your head like epilepsy" from the suitably titled "Let's Get Retarded"). [The album was also released with a bonus track, "Let's Get It Started."] ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Hands Up	Billy May, Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Jean Baptiste, Allen Pineda, Jaime A. Dávila "Tame" Gómez	Black Eyed Peas	(3:35)
Labor Day (It's a Holiday)	Phelps "Catfish" Collins, Johnny Griggs, Clayton Gunnels, Will Adams, Allen Pineda	Black Eyed Peas	(3:58)
Let's Get Retarded	George Pajon, Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Terence Yoshiaki, Allen Pineda, Jaime A. Dávila "Tame" Gómez	Black Eyed Peas	(3:35)
Hey Mama	Anthony Henry, Will Adams	Black Eyed Peas	(3:34)
Shut Up	J. Curtis, Will Adams, Jaime A. Dávila "Tame" Gómez	Black Eyed Peas	(4:56)
Smells Like Funk	Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Allen Pineda	Black Eyed Peas	(5:04)
Latin Girls	J. Curtis, Will Adams, Debbie Nova, Allen Pineda, Jaime A. Dávila "Tame" Gómez	Black Eyed Peas	(6:17)
Sexy	Vinícius de Moraes, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Will Adams	Black Eyed Peas	(4:43)
Fly Away	Will Adams, Ray Brady	Black Eyed Peas	(3:35)
The Boogie That Be	will.i.am, John Stephens	Black Eyed Peas	(5:12)
The Apl Song	Will Adams, Allen Pineda	Black Eyed Peas	(2:54)
Anxiety	Will Adams, Papa Roach, Allen Pineda	Black Eyed Peas, Papa Roach	(3:38)
Where Is the Love?	J. Curtis, George Pajon, Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Allen Pineda, Jaime A. Dávila "Tame" Gómez	Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake	(4:34)
Let's Get It Started [*]	Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Terence Yoshiaki, Allen Pineda, Jaime A. Dávila "Tame" Gómez	Black Eyed Peas	(7:32)

Credits

Tippa Irie (Vocals), Chris Lord-Alge (Mixing), Ron Fair (Piano), Ron Fair (Conductor), Ron Fair (Producer), Ron Fair (Executive Producer), Ron Fair (String Arrangements), Ron Fair (Vocal Producer), Keith Harris (Drums), Tony Maserati (Mixing), David Sonenberg (Management), Mark "Spike" Stent (Mixing), Frank Wolf (Engineer), Taboo (Vocals), J. Curtis (Guitar), Fred Davis (Legal Advisor), Sergio Mendez (Piano), Black Eyed Peas (Main Performer), George Pajon (Guitar), Mike Fratantuno (Guitar (Acoustic)), Mike Fratantuno (Bass), Mike Fratantuno (Guitarron), Mike Fratantuno (Bass (Upright)), Terry Dexter (Vocals (Background)), Justin Timberlake (Vocals), Christine Sirois (Assistant Engineer), Markus Klinko (Photography), Tobin (Bass), Tobin (Guitar), Printz Board (Trumpet), Printz Board (Horn), Printz Board (Clavinet), Printz Board (Moog Synthesizer), Printz Board (Group Member), Dylan Dresdow (Engineer), Tal Herzberg (Engineer), Tal Herzberg (Digital Editing), apl.de.ap (Vocals), apl.de.ap (Producer), apl.de.ap (Drum Programming), Dave Buckner (Drums), Seth Friedman (A&R), Seth Friedman (Management), Dave Chegwidden (Conga), Dave Chegwidden (Shaker), David Treahearn (Assistant), Andrew Van Meter (Production Coordination), Jacoby Shaddix (Vocals), Terence Yoshiaki (Drums), Jun Ishizeki (Engineer), Tim Izo Orindgreff (Flute), Tim Izo Orindgreff (Horn), Tim Izo Orindgreff (Saxophone), Tim Izo Orindgreff (Group Member), Elisa Yastic (Artist Coordination), Debbie Nova (Vocals), Michelle Ozbourn (A&R), Lor e Phillips (Stylist), Chuck Prada (Percussion), Dante Santiago (Vocals (Background)), Noelle Scaggs (Vocals (Background)), Jason Villaroman (Engineer), Ray Brady (Guitar), Indrani (Photography), Chris Clancy (Marketing), Nicole Frantz (Art Coordinator), Horndogs (?), Elizabeth Lea (Trombone), Lee Groves (Programming), BLK (Art Direction)