Will.I.Am
The work of singer, actor and songwriter Will.i.am (William James Adams, Jr.) is connected for the most part with music. It’s not just worldwide known band «Black Eyed Peas» which rose to fame at the turn of Millenium, but also cooperation with many famous singers and performers: Michael Jackson, carlos Santana, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, U2, Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj, et al.
Will.i.am’s career could – and was to– have started in the early 90-ies, when rapper
Eazy-E tried to produce him and his friends, but tragic death of the former made musician look for a record label again. It was Interscope Records that gave young performers, who had changed their name to «Black Eyed Peas», a real chance to show what they were capable of. The rest is history now.
The first solo album of Will.i.am was released in 2001. It was called «Lost Change» and became a part of official soundtrack to the movie of the same name. Although the album didn’t cause a stir at the music stage, it still got favourable reviews. Two years later second solo album «Must Be 21» came out, which also stayed in the background. After producing solo album of Stacy Ferguson (his Black Eyed Peasbandmate) and cooperation with Michael Jackson, the singer released his third album «Songs About Girls» (2007), reflecting William’s thoughts on relationships. «This album is about finding love, losing love, trying to fall in love, destroying love and starting everything once again», this was the way the rapper described the material. Unlike its predecessors, the album yielded three singles – «I Got It From My Mama», «Heartbreaker» and «One More Chance» – and got to the charts. Will.i.am didn’t follow up the success, though, but turned to more urgent matters – politics and support of Barack Obama. It was he who created talked-of video «Yes We Can» made from the speeches of the incoming US President performed by guest stars, which later won an Emmy Award. This kind of political album was supplemented with tracks «We Are The Ones», «It's a New Day», «America’s Song» and «The Jackass Song», reflecting the elections.
When Black Eyed Peas got together to record their sixth studio album, it was revealed that Will.i.am was actively working on his forth solo album. In November the performer lifted the veil a little and released first album single «T.H.E (The Hardest Ever)», a collaboration with Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger. The album is to be called #willpower and is scheduled for 2012.
