When William was sixteen years old, he started rapping in late 1991 under the name "Will-1X" after being discovered by Compton rapper and former N.W.A. leader Eazy-E and signed a deal to Eazy's Ruthless Records. will.i.am's first rap song was "Merry Muthafuckin' Xmas" from Eazy-E's 1992 EP 5150: Home 4 tha Sick. Shortly after Eazy-E's death in 1995, Will left Ruthless to start a group that would later be called the Black Eyed Peas with fellow rappers Taboo and apl.de.ap.
After the addition of singer-songwriter Fergie, the group shot into mainstream pop consciousness with a set of hit singles in the mid-00s, popularity that continues to this day. The Black Eyed Peas' producer is Sergio Mendes, an internationally successful Brazilian musician and jazz aficionado. In September 2007, will.i.am took a major step into a solo career identity by joining with his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), on a pilot scheme to reward certain file-sharing with cash incentives, including will.i.am tracks from his then upcoming release Songs About Girls.
In total, he has released four solo albums: Lost Change (2001), Must B 21 (2003), Songs About Girls (2007), and #willpower (2013). Although often facing mixed critical reviews, he's experienced significant commercial success, including a set of popular singles. His solo performances, featuring collaborations with a wide group of artists including Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Phife Dawg, Snoop Dogg, and Nicole Scherzinger, are perhaps best summed up in the international top 20 mega-hit "Scream & Shout".
Will.i.am was also recently cast as John Wraith in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a prequel to the X-Men movie series. And if one enjoyed Madagascar 2's chunky hippo, Moto Moto, then one should know that the deep voice belonged will.i.am., who came in after he was ''pimped'' out to the directors by his friend and sometimes collaborator Justin Timberlake.
Before joining the Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began designing his own signature clothing line, i.am, which made its official debut in 2005 at the Magic apparel trade show in Las Vegas. In 2007, Will.i.am teamed up with Blue Holdings to design a premium denim collection, i.am Antik, that had its debut on the Project Show in Las Vegas. He has also designed clothing for the Black Eyed Peas.
In January 2008, will.i.am helped write a song, "Yes We Can", in support of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign of Barack Obama, which in turn became a music video directed by Jesse Dylan. The lyrics of the song are composed almost entirely of excerpts from Obama's speech on January 8, 2008, following the New Hampshire presidential primary election. The video features appearances from numerous celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriguez, Kelly Hu, Hill Harper, Amber Valletta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger, Nick Cannon, Bryan Greenberg, Common and first appeared on the website for Dipdive, and within a week of its appearance racked up three million views, and over four million views on Youtube.
On February 29, 2008, a second video titled "We Are The Ones" was released on Dipdive and YouTube. It included cameo appearances from Jessica Alba, Ryan Phillippe, Kerry Washington, John Leguizamo, Regina King, Tyrese Gibson, Eric Mabius, Tichina Arnold, Adrienne Palicki, comedian George Lopez, and singers Macy Gray, Zoe Kravitz and Black Eyed Peasβ Taboo. The video features everyone chanting "O-BA-MA" as a portrayal as their hopes and wishes for Obama and his presidential campaign.
In 2013, will.i.am released his album "#thatpower".
New York New York
Will.I.Am Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the end of the night
You're still lyin' on the couch
'Cause to get up means sayin' goodbye
You linger at the front door
The last one to leave
I ask where you're headed
Where will you go
If it isn't home?
No cars on the road
You just drive, drive
You wanna live in a loft in New York
And be somebody new
That the city that never can sleep
Would be perfect for you
Probably won't be there
Very much at all
Dancin' at the 1OAK
'Til they say last call
Where will you go
If it isn't home?
You can't be alone (alone)
So you just drive, drive
Mm
Mm
Are you off to New York, your new destination? (mm)
Are you off to New York to feel like you made it? (Mm)
I hope you get there
I hope you get there
I hope you get there (to feel like you made it)
I hope you get there
The lyrics to will.i.am's song New York New York present a bold and boastful representation of city life and hip-hop culture. The lyrics are full of complex metaphors and allusions to popular culture, with will.i.am describing himself as a jack of all trades and boasting about his ability to take on any challenge. He also takes shots at other rappers who he feels are not up to his level, dismissing them as amateurish and lacking in talent. The chorus is a repetitive refrain that emphasizes the fact that will.i.am and his collaborators are the true representatives of the real New York, echoing the idea that there is a distinct culture and style associated with the city that only true insiders can fully appreciate.
The overall theme of the song is one of empowerment and confidence, with will.i.am using his lyrics to establish himself as a powerful force in the world of rap music. He paints a vision of life in New York that is both gritty and glamorous, full of danger and excitement but also underpinned by a sense of artistic creativity and individuality. The song celebrates the diversity of the city and its culture, with references to everything from barbecues in the park to citi bikes to denim overalls. At the same time, however, it also presents a vision of New York that is difficult and competitive, where only the strongest and most talented survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Sosa I promise
I solemnly swear or guarantee
Sosa Sosa Sosa
Repetition to emphasize the previous line
Hey yo I'm all better
I am fully recovered or healed
Far as trades go, jack of all
I am skilled in many different areas or professions
Back and forth
Engaging in a continuous exchange or debate
Preponderance of y'all
The majority or overwhelming number of individuals
Jabberjaws jacking off
Talking excessively and idly without purpose or accomplishment
Don't make me take my jacket off
A warning to stop provoking or tempting a confrontation
Knock it off
Stop or cease the action or behavior
Check out them broads I be knocking off
Take notice of the women I am romantically involved with
Dropping off
Leaving a place or person
Top it off
Conclude or finish something
Anytime I take a loss, shake it off (word)
I do not dwell on failures or setbacks but rather move on
You don't want no beef stroganoff
You do not want to start a fight or argument
You don't get no beats, you just be strokin' off
You do not receive any music or attention, but rather engage in self-gratification
You don't get broken off
You do not receive any rewards, recognition or payment
You are not hot enough for taking they clothing off
You are not attractive or desirable enough to persuade someone to undress
You are not cold enough
You lack the necessary skills or qualities to succeed
I am not going hard I'm holding off
I am not fully using my abilities or resources at the moment but waiting for the right opportunity
Go and take Tylenol
Take pain relief medication
You do not got the balls
You do not have the courage or audacity
You don't know how to ball, not at all
You are not skilled at playing basketball or succeeding in life
You might need Ritalin or Adderall
You may require medication to help with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
You might be better off sitting at your pad playing paddleball
You may have a more fulfilling life by engaging in a simple or solitary activity
You don't wanna battle with a cat with my catalogue
You do not want to compete with my music or achievements
Digital or analogue
Refers to different types of recording or playback technology
Even with a cannonball or cattle prod
Even if using extreme force or pain to motivate or threaten
Better flee to Myanmar or Zanzibar
You would be wise to escape or flee to a different location
Peeling through Babylon
Traversing or moving quickly through a chaotic or troubled environment
Hands not on handlebars
Not in full control or responsibility
You ain't got the acumen to handle bars
You lack the skill or intelligence to manage difficult situations
You should just pack it in
You should quit or give up
You are just saccharin mallomars
You are insincere or sweet in a superficial or unappealing way
Know that y'all fans of ours
Understand that you are admirers of us
You talk shit like senators
You engage in dishonest or meaningless conversation like politicians
Go half ass like minotaurs
Halfhearted or incomplete effort like mythical creatures with human and bull parts
Homey we the Julliard
We are highly skilled and respected like a prestigious art school
Rest of y'all are kindergarten
The rest of you are of low skill or knowledge level
Me and I Am Many like oil and vinegar
We are complementary but distinct individuals
Bar hopping, car robbing, purse snatching
Engaging in illicit or criminal activity
Rapping a perverse verse in reverse, he first
Delivering obscene or objectionable lyrics backwards, cleverly or sarcastically
It's me verse the earth, (breath) nickel bag of dirt
It is a battle or competition between myself and the world or reality, which is insignificant
Triple fat goose & boom box booming
Wearing a popular brand of jacket and playing loud and trendy music
Ba ba ba ba ba ba booming
Repetition of the sound of music or other loud noises
I'm at the park doing the barbecue
Having a relaxed and social gathering with grilled food
Sharp du, due to what the barber do
Clean and well-groomed appearance due to the work of a skilled barber
Barbra cute, little mean
Admiring someone's attractive appearance despite their negative qualities
I don't mean to bother you
I do not intend to cause discomfort or annoyance
I do mean to borrow you
I want to spend time with or accompany you
There's a part of me that goes with a part of you
We have a significant connection or bond
Seeing citi bikes go unharmed is horrible
Observing expensive bicycles being left unattended or unsecured and vulnerable is distressing
Don't these yuppie fuck heads bother you?
A rhetorical question expressing annoyance or disgust towards affluent and entitled individuals
Now you're wearing helmets, some pair of balls
Wearing safety gear does not make you brave or courageous
Hope you make the wrong turn somewhere and fall
Wishing someone failure or harm due to their arrogance or ignorance
The white wife beater reign supreme over all with the exception of the denim overalls
A simple white undershirt is the most popular and iconic clothing, except for denim overalls
Fuck it it's IAMMANY, shit try to impress him
Disregarding or rejecting any attempts to impress or flatter the artist
I step in the session rep'n the reckoning
I enter the music recording session representing a great punishment or vengeance
Beckoning veterans
Requesting or attracting experienced and respected individuals
Stepping to better men
Confronting or challenging individuals who are superior or more accomplished
But I'm OK Solo, the incredible letterman
I am capable of doing things on my own, like a skilled composer or writer
They don't want to let him in, cause they don't want to let him win
Others are reluctant to include or acknowledge the singer because they are afraid of their talent or success
A gentleman slash Rebel, level x general, the greatest bravest fakers get the testicles Out
The singer is a polite but rebellious and powerful leader, who exposes the frauds and phonies
Tell 'em!
An exclamation to prompt or urge others to listen or understand
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: William Behlendorf, Samantha Creighton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind