Last week saw the Black Eyed Peas unleash their eighth studio album ‘Translation,’ yet the set notably did not feature former front-woman Fergie.
Her absence comes on the heels of her omission from the group’s 2018 album ‘Masters Of The Sun.’
It’s left some B.E.P loyalists not only wondering if she’ll be back but also why she left in the first place.
Leader will.i.am provided an answer in a brand new interview.
His words below…
Speaking to Billboard, will explained:
“We love her, and she’s focusing on being a mom. That’s a hard job, and that’s what she really wants to do and we’re here for her… It’s really the way Fergie designed it, so we’re respecting her design. We love Fergie, and we don’t want anything but awesomeness for her.”
Bandmate Apl.de.ap added:
“But unfortunately our schedule is displaced by [her] wanting to be a great mom, and she wants to focus on that.”
Their comments come after Fergie’s sophomore project ‘Double Dutchess,’ which arrived as a visual album in 2017.
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Whatever their present predicament, we’d love to see Fergie return to the fold when the time is right. Because, there’s undeniably something magical when the group operates at full force.
London Bridge, Fergalicious, Clumsy, Glamorous and Big Girls Don’t Cry were my jam back then.
#Duchess
Fergie and Nelly Furtadonwere 2000s rare gems
Chiiiile when Promiscuous & London Bridge came out…..!!! Best believe the clurb was LIT 🔥 I agree 💯%
Yessss gurl! I’m having nostalgia😍🥰😝👍🏾
They did have some bangers and she had some on her own as well!
My Humps, Don’t Lie, Don’t Phunk with My Heart, Where is The love
Those were their classics
Boom boom pow and I gotta feeling and Imma Be were good too
She wants to sit down for a little while after the star spangled banner, and the double disc. The hype for her needs to be revamped.
Before they went Pop they always had some hip hop gems…I hate how new fans forget how iconic Bridging The Gap album was and it social conscious content that they use to push on the public using Fergie
So… here’s the behind the scenes business:
Ron Fair
It was his idea to include Fergie into the group as she was connected to Ron two ways:
Wild Orchid was signed to RCA Records (Ron was a big A&R guy for the label/Wild Orchid projects) and Ron later married Stephanie Ridel (the founding member of Wild Orchid)
As BEP was renewing their contract with Interscope (where Ron at this time is Executive Producer), it was suggested to add Fergie as appeal to mainstream audiences… BEP crossover lane
It was never supposed to be permanent. Long enough to launch Will as the mega-songwriter/producer and Fergie’s delayed solo projects finally see the light of day
Fast forward current day: BEP has moved to Epic Records and Ron Fair no involvement. Contractual obligations fulfilled for all parties 🎈
I wish my mom stuck around for her 67 children.
@Broke HOEE, ya mama serving TROUT on the HOEE stroll 😂
I really wish I was black, but i’m not even.
@Clarkson, of course you do 😂 In your words, you’d love to see it? 😂 Ain’t gonna happen tho! 🤳🏽
I used to listen to them on cassette tape before Fergie was in the group. They already had a couple albums out when she came. She was definitely the sauce they needed at the time.
With that being said, their new album is a whole BOP. It brings together all of their early sounds and the hottest beats from the 1990s and mixes it with modern production. So good.