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".
Photographs
will.i.am Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Bout this boy I know so well
Back in the day was cool and all
Fell in love, I fell in love
Thought he was the one for me
Other boys I could not see
And look what happened to our love
I'm like how could it be?
It should have been me and you
It could have been you and me
But boy you broke my heart and now I'm standing there
It should have been me and you
It could have been you and me
Now all I got are these photographs
All I've got, all I've got
All I've got are these photographs
All I've got, all I've got
Is nothing without you, you, you
Got nothing without you, you, you
Got nothing without you
Now baby it's killing me
I'm saying it's killing me
The fact that you ain't around
Baby I'm falling down
I need me a remedy, been looking for remedies
I need you to be around, baby I'm hurting now
I know you're a better man
When I was your girl
This land is a better land
When you're in my world
Today will be better babe
If it were like yesterday
So happy and lovely hey, hey, hey
All I've got, all I've got
All I've got are these photographs
All I've got, all I've got
Is nothing without you, you, you
Got nothing without you, you, you
Got nothing without you
All I've got are these photographs
I remember when I used to make you laugh
I don't wanna be stuck in the past
But you're all that I have that I had
And I don't wanna lose what we built this far
This is me and you, you're my superstar
I'd give anything, baby here's my heart
My heart, my heart
My heart don't stop, my heart be beating over
My loving never stop, even though that it's over
Girl I've been reminiscing when I play that Casanova
Way back when we was kissing on your grand-mama's sofa
Girl I got us lovey dovey on my photo album
I got them pictures back when I was rocking Calvin Klein
You had your GUESS jeans on looking sexy, oh huh girl
Why could it not be the one?
Why? Why? Why?
Why couldn't I be the one? (Why? Why? Why?)
Why couldn't you be the one? (Why? Why? Why?)
Why couldn't you be the one? (Why? Why? Why?)
All I've got, all I've got
Is nothing without you
All I've got, all I've got
Is nothing without you, you, you
Is nothing without you, you, you
Is nothing without you
All I've got, is nothing without
All I've got, is nothing without
All I've got
All I've got are these photographs
In "Photographs" by will.i.am, the lyrics tell the story of a past relationship that ended in heartbreak. The singer reminisces about a boy they once knew so well and describes how they fell in love. The singer believed that this person was their ideal partner, unable to see any other boys besides him. However, something went wrong, and their love fell apart. The singer expresses their disbelief and pain over the breakup, questioning how it could have happened.
The chorus reflects the regret and longing for what could have been. The singer laments that it should have been them together, but now all they have left are photographs. The photographs serve as a visual reminder of what once was, a memento of happier times. Without the presence of their former partner, they feel empty and incomplete.
As the song progresses, the singer further reveals their deep emotional struggle. They express how they are deeply affected by the absence of their former partner, stating that it is killing them and causing them to fall apart. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation, as they search for a remedy to heal their pain and yearn for their former partner's return.
Overall, "Photographs" explores themes of lost love, regret, and nostalgia. It portrays the emotional impact of a failed relationship and the longing to recapture what was lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a little story I've gotta tell
I have a story to share
'Bout this boy I know so well
About a familiar boy
Back in the day was cool and all
In the past, everything was good
Fell in love, I fell in love
I experienced love
Thought he was the one for me
Believed he was my soulmate
Other boys I could not see
I couldn't see other boys as potential partners
And look what happened to our love
See the outcome of our relationship
I'm like how could it be?
I'm wondering how this could happen
It should have been me and you
It should have been us together
It could have been you and me
We could have been a couple
But boy you broke my heart and now I'm standing there
You shattered my heart and now I'm left devastated
It should have been me and you
We were meant to be
It could have been you and me
We had the potential to be together
Now all I got are these photographs
All I have are memories captured in photos
All I've got, all I've got
Everything I possess
Is nothing without you, you, you
Holds no value without your presence
Got nothing without you, you, you
I lack everything without you
Now baby it's killing me
It's causing me intense pain
I'm saying it's killing me
I'm expressing how much it hurts
The fact that you ain't around
The reality of your absence
Baby I'm falling down
I'm emotionally collapsing
I need me a remedy, been looking for remedies
I require a solution, I've been searching for answers
I need you to be around, baby I'm hurting now
I need your presence, I'm in pain
I know you're a better man
I acknowledge your growth as a person
When I was your girl
During the time I was your partner
This land is a better land
The world is better with you in it
When you're in my world
When you're a part of my life
Today will be better babe
This day will improve, my love
If it were like yesterday
If it resembled the past
So happy and lovely hey, hey, hey
Full of joy and delight
All I've got are these photographs
My only possessions are these pictures
I remember when I used to make you laugh
I recall the times I brought joy to you
I don't wanna be stuck in the past
I don't want to remain trapped in history
But you're all that I have that I had
But you're the only thing I had and possess
And I don't wanna lose what we built this far
I don't want to lose the progress we made
This is me and you, you're my superstar
It's just me and you, you're my shining star
I'd give anything, baby here's my heart
I'd give up anything for you, here's my heart
My heart, my heart
The core of my emotions
My heart don't stop, my heart be beating over
My heart continues to beat relentlessly
My loving never stop, even though that it's over
My affection never ceases, despite the end
Girl I've been reminiscing when I play that Casanova
I've been nostalgically remembering moments when I play that Casanova
Way back when we was kissing on your grand-mama's sofa
In the distant past, we used to kiss on your grandmother's couch
Girl I got us lovey dovey on my photo album
Girl, I have romantic pictures of us in my photo album
I got them pictures back when I was rocking Calvin Klein
I have those pictures from when I wore Calvin Klein
You had your GUESS jeans on looking sexy, oh huh girl
You were wearing your sexy GUESS jeans, oh girl
Why could it not be the one?
Why couldn't we be the perfect match?
Why? Why? Why?
Questions of frustration
Why couldn't I be the one? (Why? Why? Why?)
Why couldn't I be your chosen one?
Why couldn't you be the one? (Why? Why? Why?)
Why couldn't you be the one for me?
Why couldn't you be the one? (Why? Why? Why?)
Why weren't you the one I needed?
All I've got, is nothing without you
Without you, I have nothing
All I've got, is nothing without
I have nothing without
All I've got
Everything I have
All I've got are these photographs
All I possess are these images
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael Mchenry, Alain Gordon Whyte, Jean Baptiste Kouame, Allan Pineda, Will Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spicawind11
this song is too underrated!!
@MEGIDIOT
Best song of Rihanna's entire career.
@akuaafriyie6734
2020 who’s listening??? ❤️🧡💛💚💙
@aiayumi
6 years later, she's still great.
@daisyharper2086
Now it's been seven and still great
@sassinudon7840
Now its been 8
@karatekidfahim3
another 6 years its still great
@miskoasin9436
2018 and still bumping this
@TyroneIssel
how could rihanna have not release this as a single? it's a fucking great song!!!
@hockeensrene2453
It's 2020 August 9th... I'm still in love with the song ❤❤❤💯