will.i.am On ‘People’s Party With Talib Kweli’

In this episode of “People’s Party With Talib Kweli”, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer:

WILL.I.AM

Here’s what they got into:

• Will and Talib first meeting in 1998 while on tour together with Biz Markie
• Groups like Juice Crew and BDP having a profound influence on Will as a youth
• Bringing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to the hood
• KRS One inspiring Will’s path of giving back to his community
• The story of how he met fellow BEP member and one of his best friends, apl.de.ap
• Leaning on BEP’s Taboo to be the center of energy when they’re performing
• The love for former member Kim Hill despite their past differences
• How Native Tongues provided the blueprint for the Black Eyed Peas
• Will’s ‘Lost Change’ album originally intended as a movie score
• The “My Humps” concept coming from his cousin’s dislike of clubs
• Will originally wanting Nicole from the The Pussycat Dolls to join BEP
• Pushback over Fergie joining the group and Will’s confidence in the decision
• Will’s experiences working with Strong Arm Steady
• Kanye being very different as a personal friend versus his public persona
• How much Kanye’s ‘I used them’ comment hurt Will’s feelings
• BEP’s hit “Let’s Get It Started” and the OG version “Let’s Get Retarded”
• Working for Intel, eventually being named their director of creative innovation
• How products are marketed can have a lasting effect on communities
• Successfully pitching the term ‘EKOCYCLE’ to Coca-Cola
• His confidence during pitches stemming from his history as a battle rapper
• Supernatural being the ultimate example of a true freestyle emcee
• Talib’s theory of Will being a time traveler from the year 2031
• Will’s thinking of currency being rooted in yes’ and no’s
• His formula of writing for people far different than himself
• How J. Rey Soul ended up joining the Black Eyed Peas crew
• Interscope dropping BEP after 2018’s ‘Masters Of The Sun, Vol. 1’
• Feeling vindicated from the success of their 2020 effort ‘Translation’
• Why Will wishes he went to college knowing what he knows now
• The predictive algorithms of smart phones being troublesome
• Moving his family out of the projects still being his biggest win
• Working on creating a digital asset tool made specifically for creators
• Starring in the show “Alter Ego” and the future of the virtual world

“People’s Party With Talib Kweli” is also available to give a listen via Spotify | SoundCloud | Google Play | Apple | Luminary