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".
Alex On The Spot
will.i.am Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the pouring rain
Feeling out of place, I'm feeling strange
Take me to a place where they know my name
Where everyone knows my name
Check it, check it out
I'm out to do my thing
Play a little beat, I'll be a dancing machine
Play a little jam, I'll come alive, alive
Alive
They've got jungle fever, show 'em some love
This is my home, this is my home
King of the throne, this is my home
This is my home, this is my home
This is my home
See I've been travelin' and travelin' forever
But now that I found a home
Feels like I'm in heaven
See I've been travelin' and travelin' forever
But now that I'm home feels
Like I'm in heaven
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'ma work it
Work it out
Check it, check it, check it out
I'm okay now hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'ma work it
Work it out
Check it, check it, check it out
I'm okay now hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of Alex On The Spot by Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas) and Hans Zimmer speak to the longing for a place to belong, where one is recognized and embraced for who they are. The opening lines convey a sense of displacement, as the singer mentions traveling around the world in the pouring rain and feeling out of place. They yearn for a place where they can be known, where their name is familiar to everyone. It's a desire to be seen and acknowledged, to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.
The following verse and chorus reveal the singer's excitement and confidence in their ability to shine in their newfound home. They describe themselves as the "king of the floor, king of the swing," expressing their proficiency in dancing and captivating the crowd. The mention of playing a beat or a jam and coming alive emphasizes the passion and joy they find in their talents. They invite others to embrace their uniqueness, using the term "jungle fever" as a metaphor for showing love and acceptance.
The lyrics also evoke a sense of gratitude and contentment for finding this home. The repetition of the phrase "this is my home" emphasizes the feeling of finally belonging and the comfort it brings. The singer reflects on their extensive travels, which makes this newfound home feel even more like heaven. They have searched and wandered for a long time, but now they have found a place where they can be themselves and feel truly at peace.
Overall, Alex On The Spot captures the universal longing for a sense of home and belonging while celebrating the joy of self-expression and finding acceptance in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been around the world
I have traveled extensively
In the pouring rain
Even in difficult circumstances
Feeling out of place, I'm feeling strange
Feeling disconnected and unfamiliar
Take me to a place where they know my name
Bring me to a place where I belong
Where everyone knows my name
Where I am recognized and accepted by everyone
Check it, check it out
Pay attention, listen up
I'm out to do my thing
I am determined to pursue my passion
King of the floor, king of the swing
Dominating and excelling in my performance
Play a little beat, I'll be a dancing machine
If you play some music, I will dance energetically
Play a little jam, I'll come alive, alive
If you play some lively music, I will become fully alive and energized
They've got jungle fever, show 'em some love
They are enthusiastic about my music, so I should appreciate their support
This is my home, this is my home
I have finally found my sense of belonging
King of the throne, this is my home
I am in a position of power and authority in this place
See I've been travelin' and travelin' forever
I have been journeying continuously for a long time
But now that I found a home
After finding a place where I belong
Feels like I'm in heaven
It feels incredibly blissful and satisfying
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'ma work it
Hey, I am going to put in the effort and make it happen
Work it out
Put in the necessary work and effort
I'm okay now hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
I am doing well and content with my current state
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'ma work it
Hey, I am going to put in the effort and make it happen
Work it out
Put in the necessary work and effort
Check it, check it, check it out
Pay attention, listen up
I'm okay now hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
I am doing well and content with my current state
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, Will Adams, Ryeland Allison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind