Black Eyed Peas Break Billboard Hot 100 Record

Boom Boom Pow

The Black Eyed Peas hit single  “Boom Boom Pow” has set a new record for most weeks atop the “Hot 100.” The groups latest accomplishment comes as no surprise with their constant radio airplay and seemingly non stop love at clubs across the nation. The new record of 20 weeks atop the charts beat out Ushers “Yeah!” and  “Burn,” which spent 19 weeks at number one in 2004. When asked about the accomplishment will.i.am said, “With this kind of success your ego wants to take all the credit but your heart reminds your soul that it was your heart that had you slaving and creating in the studio making the music; breaking through comfort zones and tradition. In the fight between heart and ego my heart always wins.”

For those that have followed the group from their days as underground artists with hits like “Joints and Jam” and “What it is” (i doubt those people are still part of their core fan base) have seen the group do a complete 180 in terms becoming pop icons and shedding the whole “backpacking” image. Personally I can’t say I blame them. While they achieved mild success as underground/midstream artists, they have become industry gods over night with the addition of group member Fergie. I mean considering how fast you can be here today and gone tomorrow in today’s industry, the group paid its dues with its first two commercial releases “Behind the Front” and “Bridging the Gap,” and decided to go another direction. Hip Hop purists will always be critical of a career move like this, but the BEP did something many artists are afraid to do, evolve.

Check out Black Eyed Peas and others at San Francisco’s Outside Lands August 28th-30th!