Black Eyed Peas went to centenary state high school and got their start in 1988 when will.i.am (born 1975 William James Adams Jr.) and apl.de.ap (born 1974 Allan Pineda) began rapping and performing together around Los Angeles. The pair signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E) after catching the attention of the nephew of Jerry Heller (Eazy-E's manager). Along with Mookie Mook (Burning Star), Dante Santiago & DJ Motiv8, they called their group A.T.B.A.N. Klann. Their debut album, 'Grass Roots', was not released originally because Ruthless did not consider the social themes reflected in the group's music to be marketable to their audience. A single "Puddles of H2O" was released in 1994 but no album was released (until it leaked onto the Internet in the mid 2000s).
After Eazy-E died of an AIDS related illness in 1995, they changed their name to Black Eyed Peas; will.i.am explained on the front cover of the Monkey Business album that "Black Eyed Peas are food for the soul", hence the name. will.i.am has cited the Red Hot Chili Peppers as an influence and said he named his band after a food, like them. They replaced their original third member Mookie, with Dante Santiago the Peas original singer. Then Taboo (born Jaime Gomez) joined the group. Dante Santiago took on a role as a guest vocalist in the band and featured frequently on various tracks for their first four albums.
In 1996, they produced and appeared on a song entitled "That's Right" for Brian Austin Green's hip-hop album One Stop Carnival. Later, they began using Kim Hill as a steady background singer. Unlike many hip-hop acts, they chose to perform with a live band and adopted a musical and clothing style that differed wildly from the "gangsta rap" sounds of other Los Angeles-based hip-hop acts at the time. Through the mid-'90s, they performed in the local club circuit alongside fellow acts such as Ozomatli and Jurassic 5.
The group were signed to Interscope Records and released their debut, "Behind the Front", in 1998. The album won the group (and their accompanying live band, the Bucky Jonsons) critical acclaim. The album featured the single "Joints & Jams", which was included on the Bulworth soundtrack. Their second album, "Bridging the Gap", was released in 2000; it featured the single "Request + Line" featuring Macy Gray.
After replacing their female background singer with Fergie, the group released their breakout album, "Elephunk", and their 2005 album, "Monkey Business", which featured the hit singles "Pump It", "Don't Phunk With My Heart", "Don't Lie" and "My Humps".
"The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)", their fifth album, was released worldwide in June 2009 and has managed to sell 5 million copies in 8 months (Elephunk: 7 million, Monkey Business: 10 million). It already spawned 2 of the most downloaded singles of all time: "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling", both were downloaded 5 million times only in the USA. The 3rd single "Meet Me Halfway" was downloaded 2 million times and the 4th "Imma Be", which was just released, already sold 1 million. "Rock That Body" is the 5th single.
http://www.blackeyedpeas.com
Bridging The Gaps
Black Eyed Peas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kimmy, Kim, Kimmy, Kim, Kimmy, Kim, Kimmy
Kim why don't ya take it to the
Place where we're fillin' the skylight?
Ah ah ah ah
Where we'll be fillin' in the skylight
Uh huh check it out
Everything from calypso to
Hip-hop down to the bee-bop
Now come rock slip slide to mine
B-boy niggas are gonna push butt
Rock 'n' roll brothers are bound
To serve it up
Got the leak so put the Peas on turf
So get your waterproof Walkman and go surf
John Mcenroe get the kids all wacky
Jamal Anderson knew the Peas from back in
The day now he runnin' over
Niggas for the Falcons
Instead of lookin' over all y'all
Brothas from the balcony
But we constructin' the bridge
So y'all could come and visit
This goes out to every Pea that exists
How we doin' it? Yo, it's like this
We bridging the gaps
We brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps
We brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps
We brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps and it goes like
Ah ah ah ah
Man, know what I'm sayin'? There's no
We're takin' it to the maximum
There's no limit we're taking it higher
We direct, revolutionizing new concepts
Emerging binaries to prove success
Stereotypical, they won't get it
We breakin' the barriers, some sonic shit
LA to Kingston to London Bridge
New York to Germany to Brooklyn Bridge
Also my people in the Golden Gate Bridge
Innovators creatin' new rich
Got them skate kids sayin' (Let's rock)
Got them brothas sayin' (Yo, let's get fly)
Got the whole south sayin' (Ya feel me?)
Got them chulos sayin' (Ya feel me?)
Every type of people be feelin' my section
'Cause we be expandin' to a wider selection
Now this goes out to everything that exists
Yo how we doin' it?
We do it like this (Thisthisthis) c'mon
We bridging the gaps
We brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps
We brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps
Yo, we brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps and it goes like
Ah ah ah ah
Man, know what I'm sayin'
There ain't no stoppin' this
We're gonna take this as far as we can
Ya know what I'm sayin' on this other mother
Do do do do do do do (Ayo)
Do do do do do do do
(I'm telling you, there ain't no stoppin' me
There ain't no stoppin' the Peas)
Do do do do do do do
(We just gon' rock this music
Ya know what I'm sayin'
Positivity will stand, and it
Just won't go away, man)
Do do do do do do do
Legacy legacy must live on
Legacy must live on legacy must live on
Make sure that the bridge is strong
Make sure that the gap is wide
Supply the future that we provide
Won't commit and just go inside
Give me room so I can dip and dive
Show you how we hypnotize
Angry Foot is gonna tell you why
We built this bridge for the
People in the park
We built this bridge for the
Dummies in the dark
And we built this bridge for
The children in the light
We built this bridge for
The sisters with sight
And we built this bridge for
My brothas that are blind
We built this bridge for the
Ones that use their mind
And we built this bridge for everybody
For everybody
We bridging the gaps
We brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps
Yo, we brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps
Yo, we brought a lil' somethin' to
Start bridging the gaps and it goes like
Ah ah ah ah
I'm tellin' you, man
Hey, they ain't gonna stop this
This is a connection of all music
All creations
The whole nation gettin' together
Feelin' this hip-hop, ya know
Taking it to the higher like that
We gonna do it like this
You know what I'm sayin' y'all
So, no matter what you doin' keep doin' it
Know what I mean just keep elevatin'
Start bridging the gaps
Start bridging the gaps do do do do do do do
Start bridging the gaps do do do do do do do
Start bridging the gaps
Start bridging the gaps do do do do do do do
Start bridging the gaps do do do
Start bridging the gaps do do do
Start bridging the gaps
In Black Eyed Peas' song "Bridging The Gaps," the group talks about their role as a connection between different genres of music and cultures. They mention how they incorporate elements of calypso, hip-hop, and rock-n-roll into their music, and how they are uniting people of different backgrounds. The lyrics encourage listeners to embrace diversity and open up their minds to new experiences. They also pay tribute to various bridges around the world that physically connect people, while also emphasizing the importance of building bridges metaphorically between different communities.
The chorus repeats the phrase "we're bridging the gaps" as a reminder of the song's central theme. The verses are peppered with references to iconic figures such as tennis player John McEnroe and football player Jamal Anderson, as well as landmarks like London Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. These references serve to underscore the idea that music, like sports and architecture, has the power to bring people together.
Black Eyed Peas have always been known for their ability to mix different styles of music, and "Bridging The Gaps" is no exception. The song features a diverse range of sounds, from a funky bassline to samples of traditional African percussion. Its upbeat tempo and catchy chorus make it a crowd-pleaser, but its message of unity gives it real staying power.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea
Expression of agreement or excitement
Kimmy Kim Kimmy Kim Kimmy Kim Kimmy Kim
Repetition of a name for emphasis or rhythm
Why don't ya take it to the place where we're fillin' the skylight?
Suggestion to go to a location where there is excitement or progress happening
Ahhhh ah ah ahhhh
Vocalization emphasizing excitement or anticipation
We be the connection to everything from calypso to hip hop down to bee bop
Claim to be knowledgeable or involved in various music genres
Now come rock slip slide to mine
Invitation to dance or enjoy the music
B-boy niggaz are gonna push butt rock-n-roll brothas are bound to serve it up
Acknowledgement of different types of music enthusiasts and their energy or expertise
Got the leak so put the Peas on turf
Having the advantage or control in a situation
So get your waterproof Walkman and go surf
Encouragement to enjoy the music in any setting or circumstance
John McEnroe get the kids all wacky Jamal Anderson look now he's from back in the day now he runnin' over niggaz for the fightin'
Name dropping celebrities or athletes, and referencing their past or present actions or successes
Instead of lookin' over all y'all brothas from the balcony but we constructin' the bridge so y'all could come and visit
Tired of being seen as separate or lower and working to bring people together
This goes out to every Pea that exists how we doin' it? Yo, it's like this
Dedication or appreciation for every fan, with an explanation of how they are creating unity
We bridging the gaps we brought a lil' somethin' to start bridging the gaps
Act of connecting music genres or people, and starting the process of unity
We direct, revolutionizing new concepts emerging binaries to prove success
Leading in a new direction, breaking stereotypes and showing progress or achievements
Stereotypical they won't get it we breakin' the barriers, some sonic shit
Not conforming to stereotypes and overcoming obstacles in a creative, musical way
La to Kingston to London Bridge New York to Germany to Brooklyn Bridge also my people in the Golden Gate Bridge
Referencing different locations to show the wide reach of their music and the diverse people who enjoy it
Innovators creatin' new rich
Generating new and innovative ideas that benefit society
Got them skate kids sayin' (let's rock) got them brothas sayin' (yo let's get fly) got the whole south sayin' (ya feel me?) got them chulos sayin' (ya feel me?) every type of people be feelin' my section
Different groups of people expressing excitement or agreement, and acknowledging the wide appeal of their music
'Cuz we be expandin' to a wider selection now this goes out to everything that exists
Growing and evolving to connect with more people and music genres
Yo how we doin' it? We do it like this
Explanation of how they are achieving success
Legacy must live on make sure that the bridge is strong
Importance of continuing the work of unity and ensuring its longevity
Make sure that the gap is wide supply the future that we provide
Ensuring that there is room for growth and change, and creating a better future for all
Won't commit and just go inside give me room so I can dip and di show you how we hypnotize angry foot is gonna tell you why
Refusing to conform or limit oneself, and demonstrating their ability to captivate and influence people
We built this bridge for the people in the park we built this bridge for the dummies in the dark and we built this bridge for the children in the light we built this bridge for the skeezers with sight and we built this bridge for my brothas that are blind we built this bridge for the ones that use their mind and we built this bridge for everybody for everybody
Purpose of creating unity for everyone, including those in different circumstances or with different abilities
Lyrics © GOLDEN WITHERS MUSIC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
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