Elephunk Review

ELEPHUNK

The Black Eyed Peas

2003

A&M Records

Produced by will.i.am., Apl.de.ap, Ron Fair

The Black Eyed Peas' Elephunk is a fine little album with a couple of awesome tracks that, ultimately, supersede the value of the rest of the album. While it opens strong with "Hands Up" and "Labor Day", they're ultimately not nearly the album's highlights, though they quickly express the style the album is going to maintain. Here, BEP is mostly influenced by jazz, with little of the bass & techno freakouts that currently define the group. The most obvious jazz connection is probably on the track "Smells Like Funk," where the hook quotes "Puttin' On The Ritz" without ever stepping out of line. The productions are generally very easy to listen to, but don't ever really go anywhere, often feeling like they need just one more step of elevation to become something great.

However, BEP's rapping abilities have seriously deteriorated over time. While few of the raps outside of hit singles "Let's Get Retarded/It Started" and "Where Is The Love?" are especially notable, the energy with which will.i.am. and Apl.de.ap deliver their verses is unmatched by their later work. Fergie's delivery here is easily comparable to that on My Humps and Fergalicious, but (luckily) she is used to minimal effect, ultimately earning less verses than Taboo. Taboo here also sounds completely unlike his modern work, with a low shout that ultimately brings an unnecessary anger to most of his tracks. It's not really distracting, but you'll find yourself wishing that the other two guys had more of the verses instead.

Personally, I found myself wishing for more out of Apl.de.ap. In my head, he somehow became the vanguard for the BEP I actually liked rather than the techno ravers they eventually became under will.i.am.'s complete control. For that reason, "The Apl Song" is probably the album's largest disappointment as the only track with Apl credited for production and is easily the largest non-event of the album. "Anxiety" follows it and is far more annoying thanks to a heavy inclusion of Papa Roach, and "The Boogie That Be" which precedes it is far more interesting, but "The Apl Song" never really goes anywhere and has Apl's least interesting verses on the album.

While most of the songs are entirely skippable easy-listening jams ("Sexy," "Latin Girls," and "Shut Up" are all pretty much disinteresting, lazy tracks) the best songs are absolute bangers, dumb lyrics with energetic production to back them up. While Elephunk certainly won't be a great way to blow out your new subwoofer, it's worth cranking loud to jam to the brass and guitar boogies they craft on this album. "The Boogie That Be" is an absolute hidden gem, but only it and the singles stand out as must-grabs. It's also worth noting that "Let's Get Retarded" has a far lower production value than "Let's Get It Started," and is a way, way better track!

3/5

-Highlights: "Let's Get Retarded", "The Boogie That Be", "Where Is The Love?"

-Missed Opportunities: "Latin Girls", "Sexy", "The Apl Song"

-CATALOG CHOICE?: I would suggest ignoring the rest of their work.

-NEXT STOP: The Beastie Boys, "Paul's Boutique"

-AFTER THAT: Earth Wind & Fire's "September"