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.
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Showdown
Black Eyed Peas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya, ya, ya
This is how we do it, this is how we go
This is how we rock, this is how we roll,
This is how we do it, do it, do(d-do) it, do it, do it.
It's goin' down now and not a tad bit later.
All around the world both sides of the equator
Terrorize the funk, call me poochie-al-cata
I verify that I got lots o' hoochies on data.
Governor of California black eyed peas the terminators
We the exterminators, invade you like the Raiders.
Ignore all the haters, inform all the ladies,
Its goin' down now and not a tad bit later.
And ten, nine, eight, seven-six-five-four, three, two, one, one
One(one), one(one), one(one), one(one), one(one)
You ready? you ready?
(huh)
Get ready for the showdown,
Get ready for the showdown,
Yo it's about to go down
Yo it's about to go, go, down
In the building and I'm here to motivate you
Show you how we do it, do it,
Apl's in the building
And I'm here to motivate you
Show you how we do it, do it
We still demonstrators
The phunk for your trunk
Take you high like elevators
Give you what you want
Courtesy Mr. ?
We breakin' down them barriers
Call us the penetrators
Electrify your area
Zzz-zap hey ya
Go ahead and hate us
It only makes us greater
It's going down now
And not a tab bit later
In ten, nine, eight
Seven, six, five, four
Three, two, one
One (One)
One (One)
One (One)
One (One)
One (One)
You ready, you ready? (Ha)
Get ready for the showdown
Get ready for the showdown
Yo, what's about to go down
Yo, what's about to go, go down
It's going down, it's going down
Aha aha
It's going down, it's going down
Aha aha
It's going down, it's going down
Aha aha
It's comin' yeah, it's comin' yo
Aha aha
We the show stoppas
Show rockas
Show you how we rock
Shit, got ya
All open, no jokin'
When I rockin' like this keep open
Obama, no drama
Keep them ?
Be drummin'
We comin'
We comin'
We comin'
In ten, nine, eight
Seven, six, five, four
Three, two, one
One (One)
One (One)
One (One)
One (One)
One (One)
You ready, you ready? (Ha)
Get ready for the showdown
Get ready for the showdown
Yo, what's about to go down
Yo, what's about to go, go down
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yo, yo, yo
This is how we do it
This is how we go
This is how we rock
This is how we roll
This is how we do it, do it
Do, do it, do it, do it
The lyrics to Black Eyed Peas' "Showdown" describe the energy and excitement of a performance by the group. The lyrics use metaphors and colorful language to convey the intensity of the event. The verses compare the group to exterminators invading and terrorizing the funk while ignoring the haters and informing the ladies. The chorus repeatedly asks listeners to get ready for the showdown, building anticipation and hype for the performance.
The lyrics also contain some references to politics and current events. The line "Governor of California black eyed peas the terminators" is a nod to the fact that at the time the song was released, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the governor of California and also starred in the Terminator movies. The line "Obama, no drama" references how then President Barack Obama remained calm and collected even during times of crisis. These references add a layer of complexity to the song, suggesting that there is more going on than just a simple performance.
Overall, "Showdown" is a high-energy, hype-building song that uses metaphors and references to convey the intensity of a Black Eyed Peas performance.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ya, ya, ya
Repetition of sounds to express excitement and energy.
This is how we do it, this is how we go
This is how we rock, this is how we roll,
This is how we do it, do it, do(d-do) it, do it, do it.
Outlining the band's style of music, declaring their confidence and success.
It's goin' down now and not a tad bit later.
All around the world both sides of the equator
Terrorize the funk, call me poochie-al-cata
I verify that I got lots o' hoochies on data.
Taking control of the rhythm with a strong and fierce attitude, mentioning female attention and their worldwide influence.
Governor of California black eyed peas the terminators
We the exterminators, invade you like the Raiders.
Ignore all the haters, inform all the ladies,
Its goin' down now and not a tad bit later.
Asserting their power through masonry; remaining unfazed by criticism and focusing on their audience, making the song their territory.
And ten, nine, eight, seven-six-five-four, three, two, one, one
One(one), one(one), one(one), one(one), one(one)
You ready? you ready?
(huh)
The countdown reinforces the excitement-built up in the lyrics; asking their fans, 'Are you ready?'
Get ready for the showdown,
Get ready for the showdown,
Yo it's about to go down
Yo it's about to go, go, down
Challenging their fans and hype for the song's peak; the showdown.
In the building and I'm here to motivate you
Show you how we do it, do it,
Confirming their presence (most probably on a stage), regarding their music as an inspiration and guide to their fans.
We still demonstrators
The phunk for your trunk
Take you high like elevators
Give you what you want
Courtesy Mr. ?
Proudly revealing their expressive musical approach, and complete understanding of their audience.
We breakin' down them barriers
Call us the penetrators
Electrify your area
Zzz-zap hey ya
Metaphorically destroying musical limitations with their artistic penetration, creating an electrifying sound.
Go ahead and hate us
It only makes us greater
It's going down now
And not a tab bit later
Ignoring negativity while highlighting that it helps to improve them and preparing their fans for the climax.
It's going down, it's going down
Aha aha
It's going down, it's going down
Aha aha
It's going down, it's going down
Aha aha
It's comin' yeah, it's comin' yo
Aha aha
Repeating the chorus with an added beats (Aha aha), intensifying the song's buildup as it approaches the climax.
We the show stoppas
Show rockas
Show you how we rock
Shit, got ya
All open, no jokin'
When I rockin' like this keep open
Obama, no drama
Keep them ?
Be drummin'
We comin'
We comin'
We comin'
The lyrics of the song's climax: the Black Eyed Peas declaring their showmanship, infecting the audience with their high energy to uplift them with no negativity or distractions.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yo, yo, yo
This is how we do it
This is how we go
This is how we rock
This is how we roll
This is how we do it, do it
Do, do it, do it, do it
Concluding the song by reflecting on their style and delivering positive energy.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALLAN PINEDA, JAIME GOMEZ, WILL ADAMS, STACY FERGUSON, RYAN BUENDIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind