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 Peas’ 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".
Sumthin
Will.I.Am Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're sumthin' special baby (you're sumthin' special)
You're my special lady (you're very special)
You're so incredible baby (you're so incredible)
You're sumthin' special
[Dante Santiago]
Your eyes, your vibe, they hypnotize me
How you talk, your walk, your style is gracious
Havin dreams of takin you off to some tropical places
Exotic, erotic, just filled with passion
In bed is the only time that we would be clashin
You're honest, loyal, a heaven-sent blessing
Not tryna run you drag, I just had to confess it
Your scent, your lips, I love when you smile
I want to be chillin witchu for more than a while
For days, months, years, and lifetime
You're so incredible, it's so special you're mine
Your mind, body, and soul is addictive
I can't complain cause you're the type I'd LOVE to have kids with
How you move and dance, when you're feelin the groove
And when we dim the lights you do that thing that you do
[Pre-Chorus: Niu]
You're the type of girl that I just wanna be down
And baby girl I'm lettin you know I'm feelin' yo' style
And if you feel the same way, then tell me now
And girl don't waste no time so we can do it, do it
[Chorus: will.i.am]
You're sumthin' special baby
You're my special lady
You're so incredible baby
You're sumthin' special
You're sumthin' special baby
You're my special lady
You're so incredible baby
You're sumthin' special
[Dante Santiago]
You're one in a million, you and I should be building
Our sand castles of love to the stars above
And fill it up with our children, spend eternity chillin
On deserted island, slow tunes and violins
I wanna show you just how anxious I've been
To tell the whole world, to HELL with my friends
It's me and you girl, until the whole world ends
I'ma stand by you as you stand by your man
Cause when we together, I'm feelin nothin' but pleasure
Most of these couples now don't have what we treasure
You're my earth, my moon, the wind, and the sky
The apple of my eye, you're my natural high
Your hair, your hips, your creamy-ass thighs
I pray to God that you don't end up passin me by
Are you down, with me even through the hard times?
Let's make this happen girl, you're a one of a kind
[Pre-Chorus + Chorus]
[Taboo]
Looka here, baby girl, you are my world
When I see you walk by, my head'll surely swirl
Over to the right side, who made that eye connection?
Satisfying thought when nastiness upon my section
Checkin out my eyes just to see if I'm a (real man)
No need for you to worry, I'ma give you sexual (healing)
You need some understanding, I need some understanding
Together as a team if we are locos puffin {?}
Style and finesse 'em, boots match your dressing
You are made for me, there's no doubt, no question
Damn it feels good to see baby up on it
It's a special love and I gave you what you wanted like..
[Pre-Chorus + Chorus
Will.I.Am's song "Sumthin" is a reflection of his life and experiences. The song is about his birth in the 1970s and how he came into his own as an artist. In the first verse, he reminisces about being born and how his mother's water broke, leaving her to make her way to the hospital alone. He also talks about his tough upbringing and how he had to escape his surroundings to follow his dreams.
In the second verse, Will.I.Am reflects on his teenage years and how he got involved in the drug scene. He talks about wanting to make money and become successful, even though rap was just a secondary career choice for him. He also discusses his time in jail and how he had to come to terms with his mistakes.
The chorus of the song takes the listener back in time to the 1970s, before all the homies died and before all the dollars and nines. Will.I.Am reflects on how he knew he was going somewhere in life, even before he had achieved any success. The song ends with a repeating chant of "1970 somethin'" that reinforces the significance of that decade in Will.I.Am's life.
Line by Line Meaning
1970 somethin', 1970 somethin'
The artist is transported back to the 1970s and reflects on that decade.
Nigga I don't sweat the date, my moms is late
The artist's mother was delayed in giving birth to him, causing him to prepare for escape.
Ten months in this gut, what the fuck
The artist is displeased and impatient with the long wait to be born.
While, Juvenile rippin' mics and shit
The artist imagines the hip-hop scene in New York City during the time he was in utero.
No spouse in the house, so she rolls herself
The artist's mother had to go to the hospital alone to give birth.
Umbilical cord's wrapped around my neck
The artist's birth was complicated by a dangerous situation with the umbilical cord.
I remember back in time
The artist reflects on his past and the changes that have occurred since then.
Before I even got the rhyme, before I had nickels and dimes
The artist reflects on his dreams and aspirations before he became successful in the music industry.
Would 'Pac be alive, if you let 'Pac drive?
The artist wonders if things could have been different if Tupac had taken a different path.
With Sue's rendezvous, it's like Moulin Rouge
The artist references a popular nightclub in New York City and imagines the scene there in the 1970s.
Puerto Ricans with fat asses
The artist references a physical trait that he finds attractive in some women.
Now I'm thirteen, smokin' blunts makin' cream
The artist reflects on his involvement in drug dealing at a young age.
Hearin' the coach scream ain't my lifetime dream
The artist acknowledges that he does not have a passion for sports and would rather pursue something else.
Put the drugs on the shelf, nah, couldn't see it
The artist prioritized money over his own health and well-being by continuing to sell drugs.
Time to contemplate, damn, where did I fail?
After getting arrested, the artist takes time to reflect on his choices and how they have led him to this point.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAUREEN BAKER, CHRIS KOOREMAN, VIETAMA LE, EDO PLASSCHAERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind