RapReviews.com Feature for July 1, 2003 - Black Eyed Peas' "Elephunk"
What's your definition of home cooking? The flavors that you savor vary based on where you grew up and what your family's background is. For some, home cooking is meatloaf and mashed potatoes. To others, it might be beef and broccoli with fried rice on the side. Maybe you prefer a big heaping plate of spaghetti and meatballs. But there's one kind of home cooking all hip-hop fans seem to recognize, even if it wasn't the cuisine they grew up with - SOUL FOOD. You can't help but recognize attributes, whether or not you heard Goodie Mob's album and song of the same title: collard greens, cornbread, fried chicken, and as Aceyalone once quipped "black eyed peas with a lot of tobasco."
The Black Eyed Peas name is not at all subtle. When you hear or see their name, you're supposed to automatically think of SOUL. The literal implication of their music is that while soul food will fill your stomach, the jams of the Black Eyed Peas will fill up your mind and spirit too. It's a high standard to live up to, and the Peas have sometimes fallen short. The musical style on "Behind the Front" and 2000's follow-up "Bridging the Gap" was well-received, but the lyrics to go with the grooves were often simplistic. Ultimately this resulted in the Black Eyed Peas being more of a mental snack - a pleasant diversion with a good taste but no long-lasting nourishment value.
"What's wrong with the world, momma?
in the U.S.A, the big C.I.A.
Let your soul gravitate, to the love y'all"
Act up from North West East South!"
Wanna see ya, you can get boned if ya want ta"
Build a hut to live and to eat and chill in?
That's how we be survivin back in my homeland"
It's these glimpses of deeper roots that really enhance the overall presentation of "Elephunk" and makes the nearly hour long package complete. While this release will sound good throughout the summer of 2003, the nice thing about it is that it will still be relevant years down the road. The Black Eyed Peas seem finally to have lived up to their own funky and soulful name and released a CD to nourish your soul at the same time it shakes your hips. Even in simplicity it's complex, and in complexity it's surprisingly sharp. It's not hard to recommend "Elephunk" to anybody who is a fan of good music, because with or without the tobasco the Black Eyed Peas are hot.