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Unfortunately this album does not live up to my expectations, which were low to begin with. Don’t get me wrong – I’m as big a fan of Fergie’s navel as the next guy – I’ve simply lost affinity for the original group of musicians that could have chosen an entirely different path to achieve success. I used to be a BEP fan, in the pre-Fergie days. Their best albums, Behind the Front and Bridging the Gap, were a refreshing change of pace and a nice foray into a genre of hip hop with an undertone of R&B percussion. Monkey Business has a whopping 15 tracks, and includes some outsiders such as Justin Timberlake, the masterful James Brown, Dante Santiago and even Sting. The album starts out with Pump It, a rendition of Miserlou from Dick Dale that made it’s resurgence in Pulp Fiction. Track 2 is Don’t Phunk With My Heart, which requires no explanation since it is probably one of the most played-out songs in recent radio history. Don’t Lie, the next track, is actually a smooth track by MC Will.i.am that’s worth a listen – I’d suggest an iTunes download for this one. A little later comes My Humps, and it probably doesn’t take too much imagination to figure out what Fergie is referring to in this number. Monkey Business is made for the masses (specifically, your 16 year old daughter’s birthday party), and it’s a classic example of an album designed to reach new audiences and capitalize on financial opportunity. There’s not much that sounds or feels original about the album and the money in your music fund is better spent elsewhere.Read full review
I'm a pretty easy-going person, which is great because the BEP are an easy-going bunch. I don't think it's too unfair to compare MONKEY BUSINESS with its predecessor, ELEPHUNK. I think ELEPHUNK more or less hits all the right notes of what the BEP are all about: dancing, having fun, and minor preaching. The induction of Fergie with ELEPHUNK allowed the BEP to attain success they'd not enjoyed before. They had managed to carve a few tracks that were fit for radio and still appealed to the Hip Hop Head, primarily the house party dancer -- and ELEPHUNK was an elevation. A sophistication of sound. Somewhere along the line they changed. Maybe it was becoming shills of Verizon and Best Buy. Maybe it was selling "Let's Get It Started," which used to be the less-friendly entitled "Let's Get Retarded." Maybe it was the fire that burned down the studio during the making of MONKEY BUSINESS, which brings you where you want to go with this long and meandering review. This album -- you've heard it before. It cobbles together pieces and loops of other songs and film, mashes them together, and what comes out is awfully over-produced, ultra-saccharine, and very generic. Because it takes from all things it becomes nothing itself. Every song of merit on the album has a better version, by other people, somewhere out there. The insulting thing about it is that you immediately know you've heard that better song somewhere else, which begs the question, "Why should you be listening to MONKEY BUSINESS?" It's a sort of filler soundtrack. Nothing really stands out, and it's not really offensive or terrible. It's just uninspired, and fails to capture the lightning that ELEPHUNK did. Of course, it's easier to hit the scene on, what, the third album? They were relatively unknown on a national level until 'PHUNK, and you gotta think that it's all downhill from there. How do you improve upon success? Especially given the fact that success wasn't so much fostered by the prowess of the BEP, but rather by their audience's surprise they could created such a upbeat, unified album. MONEKY BUSINESS is all over the place. ELEPHUNK is better because MONKEY BUSINESS illustrates the BEP have not only not-grown but have become hollow caricatures of themselves.Read full review
1. Pump It (7.5/10) - Listening to this song reminded me of old Beach Boy tracks I used to listen to as I was growing up and the Pulp Fiction theme, only this time with a funky groove. A great summer track. It's interesting how each member of the group pronounces the word "say" - with a non-North American accent; makes it marketable to European/Australian listeners. 2. Don't Phunk With My Heart (7.5/10) - A very "progressive" beat; could have used more bass, it wasn't a song I immediately liked after the single dropped; caters to the industry trend, which have embraced the likes of Outkast's "Hey Ya!" 3. My Style (7.0/10) - Former lead singer of *Nsync + Timbaland + BEP makes a very respectable track on the MB. Timbaland's creativity, like will.i.am's, ranks among the best in the business. Missy Elliott ("Get Ur Freak On") and the late Aaliyah ("Are you that somebody?"), who have relied on Timbaland's production for hit singles, would agree. 4. Don't Lie (6.5/10) - one of the most-radio friendly songs on the album. Contrary to the message the song is conveying (anger about deceit), reminded me of fun-pop vibes by OMC and Sugar Ray; the chorus stands out with a City High-ish lyrics "Whatcha gonna do...." Should do okay, if/when released on Adult Contemporary radio (35-44 age group)... and it did! 5. My Humps (8.5/10) - Catchy, sexy, and Fergie. Disc Jockeys from clubs everywhere will be rushing to pre-order the vinyl's for this one. 6. Like That (8.0/10) - It's great to see the BEP go back to their hiphop roots and invite a couple of respected MC's; Intelligent lyrics: "You'd be running like a herd of caribou on...avenue...my lyrics are... splitting like atoms like hiroshima and nagasaki" 7. Dum Diddly (7.0/10) - I can play this song back to back with "Hey, Mama." 8. Feel It (6.5/10) - As with Will's lyrics, "Can you feel that bass in your ass... huh?" Fortunately, I did. I hope the ladies in clubs everywhere will, too. 9. Gone Going (8.0/10) - It addresses the volatility of material possessions and life, itself. Great message for kids of all ages. 10. They Don't Want Music (9.0/10) - Collaborating with the father of soul automatically gives this song high marks. 11. Disco Club (8.5/10) - A party anthem for those who are not planning to practice abstinence. Wear a condom. 12. Bebot (8.5/10) - There's an old Filipino saying which roughly translates, "One who doesn't look back and remember her roots, she'll never get to where she wants to be." Life in the Philippines, just like in any third-world country, is never easy. "Bebot' is an informal term used to refer to a Filipino lady, or in this song - all Filipinos. Apl.de.Ap proudly ryhmes in his native language, over hard hiphop beats, about the resilience and unity of his people everywhere. 13. Ba bump (7.5/10) - Sound, practical advice by the BEP, "If the girl is ugly then get drunk..." Does it work the other way around, too? 14. Audio Delite (8.0/10) - This is BEP at its finest, as the group, just like in "Like That," digs back deep and dishes out what has put them in the music industry in the first place, as fun-loving, socially-conscious MCs. 15. Union (8.0/10) - Sting has remained visible in the music industry by lending his music to contemporary urban artists such as Puff Daddy, Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony, and now the BEP. The track itself may not make it big the way "Where is the love?" did on Top 40 radio, but the message is just as powerful, if not more. Overall 9.5/10Read full review
Where do I start on this really bad excuse for talent! Oh, I got it! How about I start by throwing the CD in the trash where it belongs. They picked up where the village people left off. The only current artist that sucks worse then the black eyed peas is.........PAUL WALL! Ok, let me quote some of the wonderfully talented lyrics that came from this band. 1.) "I met a girl down at the disco, she said hey hey hey hey let's go." 2.) "Let get retarded in here" (they did a fine job of that). 3.) "Oh no no no don't phunk with my heart" (where is the rhyme). Let’s talk about the lead singer for a little. This man is by far the worst singer I have ever heard. I would get more pleasure listening to Stephen Hawking's computer voice than this idiot. Let me see if this keyboard can do my explanation justice for how bad this man sings. He says, and I quote "I wanna take your picccccccctureeeeeeeeee be cause I wanna get wiiiiitttttt'cha yaaaaaaaa, so I can sit and staaaaarrrrreeee at chaaaaaaa, anit nothin wrong wit staaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrren at chaaa." It sounds like a two-year-old sang this song if it could even be called a song. I can't believe that America calls this trash talent. I could literally record myself using the bathroom and it would contain more talent (with more rhyming success) than the Black eyed peas CD! If you like the Black eyed peas I am so sorry I had to inform you how bad they are this way! The only thing this CD is useful for is a drink coaster, but the sheer presence of the CD on a wooden table might cause the table to warp and stink forever.Read full review
I like Black Eyed Peas. I was rebuilding my CD Collection from awhile back and this was apart of it so I got it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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