Black Eyed Peas

Solo Artist

Photo: Walmart Corporate · CC BY 2.0
Active 1992-2011, 2015-present
Origin Los Angeles, California
Albums 9
Tracks 128
Most frequent collaborator Johnny Goldstein · 20 tracks
Genres Hip HopPopDance-PopR&BElectropop
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 128 of 128 tracks

Does Black Eyed Peas write their own songs?

Yes, and the credit is unusually concentrated. The group is credited on 100% of its catalogue, but will.i.am writes and produces nearly every track. The other members contribute verses and ideas, and a recurring team of collaborators fills out the credits. Songs like 'Boom Boom Pow' and 'I Gotta Feeling' are built around will.i.am's production.

By the Numbers

9
Studio Albums
128
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
80 million
Records Sold
34
Years Active
289
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 128 / 128 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 128 tracks: how many Black Eyed Peas wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Black Eyed Peas has a writing credit100%
9%
91%
Sole author11tracks9%
Co-written117tracks91%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Black Eyed Peas's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 128 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer91%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 128 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
will.i.am 1992-present
100%
100%
88%
100%
apl.de.ap 1992-present
82%
82%
5%
100%
Taboo 1992-present
59%
59%
0%
100%
J. Rey Soul 2018-present
0%
0%
0%
33%
Fergie Former 2002-2011, 2015-2018
23%
23%
0%
44%
Dante Santiago Former 1992-1995
0%
0%
0%
1%
Mookie Mook Former 1992-1995
0%
0%
0%
0%
DJ Motiv8 Former 1992-1995
1%
1%
1%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Black Eyed Peas's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1998Behind the Front
2000Bridging the Gap
2003Elephunk
2005Monkey Business
2009The E.N.D.
2010The Beginning
2018Masters of the Sun Vol. 1
2020Translation
2022Elevation
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1990s
Behind the Front
100%
2000s
Bridging the Gap, Elephunk +2 more
100%
2010s
The Beginning, Masters of the Sun Vol. 1
100%
2020s
Translation, Elevation

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Black Eyed Peas sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Black Eyed Peas
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Aaliyah0%
EXO8%
Backstreet Boys25%
NSYNC41%
Kelly Rowland53%
Usher74%
Chris Brown91%
100%Black Eyed Peas
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Joints & Jam
Behind the Front
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Paul Poli, Gregory Phillinganes, Barry Gibb, Busta Rhymes, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Trevor George Smith Jr.
Co-wrote
Request + Line
Bridging the Gap
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon Jr., Rhett Lawrence, Natalie Hinds, William Adams, Allan Pineda
Co-wrote
Weekends
Bridging the Gap
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Tony Butler, Sylvester Stewart, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez
Co-wrote
Where Is the Love?
Elephunk
Written by will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, Taboo, apl.de.ap, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon Jr., J. Curtis, William Adams, Jaime Gomez, Allan Pineda
Co-wrote
Hey Mama
Elephunk
Written by will.i.am, Anthony Henry, William Adams
Co-wrote
Don't Phunk with My Heart
Monkey Business
Written by will.i.am, Fergie, Printz Board, George Pajon Jr., Full Force, Kalyanji Anandji, Indeewar, William Adams, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Don't Lie
Monkey Business
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, Chris Peters, Drew Peters, Slick Rick, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson, Ricky Walters
Co-wrote
My Humps
Monkey Business
Written by will.i.am, David Payton, William Adams
Co-wrote
Pump It
Monkey Business
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Fergie, Thomas van Musser, Nicolas Roubanis, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Boom Boom Pow
The E.N.D.
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson
Wrote it
I Gotta Feeling
The E.N.D.
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, David Guetta, Frédéric Riesterer, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Meet Me Halfway
The E.N.D.
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, Keith Harris, Jean Baptiste, Sylvia Gordon, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Imma Be
The E.N.D.
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, Keith Harris, Jared Tankel, Daniel Foder, Thomas Brenneck, Michael Deller, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Rock That Body
The E.N.D.
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, David Guetta, Mark Knight, Adam Walder, Jean Baptiste, Jaime Munson, Robert Ginyard Jr., William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
The Time (Dirty Bit)
The Beginning
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Damien LeRoy, Franke Previte, John DeNicola, Donald Markowitz, William Adams, Allan Pineda
Co-wrote
Just Can't Get Enough
The Beginning
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, Joshua Alvarez, Stephen Shadowen, Rodney Jerkins, Julie Frost, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Don't Stop the Party
The Beginning
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie, Joshua Alvarez, Damien LeRoy, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)
Translation
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Keith Harris, J Balvin, Francesco Bontempi, Michale Gaffey, Peter Glenister, Annerley Gordon, Giorgio Spagner, William Adams, Allan Pineda, José Álvaro Osorio Balvin
Co-wrote
Mamacita
Translation
Written by will.i.am, Johnny Goldstein, Ozuna, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Madonna, Bruce Gaitsch, Susan Leonard, Patrick Leonard, William Adams, Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado, Allan Pineda, Jimmy Luis Gómez, Madonna Ciccone
Co-wrote
Girl Like Me
Translation
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Shakira, Johnny Goldstein, Brendan Buckley, Albert Menendez, Tim Mitchell, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jimmy Luis Gómez, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Co-wrote
Don't You Worry
Elevation
Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Shakira, David Guetta, Yonatan Goldstein, Mikkel Cox, Tobías Frederiksen, William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jimmy Luis Gómez, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Co-wrote

Discography 9 albums

All songwriter credits use stage names: 'William Adams' normalized to 'will.i.am', 'Allan Pineda' to 'apl.de.ap', 'Jaime Gomez' to 'Taboo', 'Stacy Ferguson' to 'Fergie'.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Black Eyed Peas128 tracks
20Johnny Goldstein, 20 tracks GP17George Pajon Jr., 17 tracks JB14Jean Baptiste, 14 tracks KH14Keith Harris, 14 tracks KF11Kevin Feyen, 11 tracks 11Yonatan Goldstein, 11 tracks PB10Printz Board, 10 tracks DA9DJ Ammo, 9 tracks JA9Joshua Alvarez, 9 tracks BL8Brian Lapin, 8 tracks DL8Damien LeRoy, 8 tracks MF7Michael Fratantuno, 7 tracks MF5Mike Fratantuno, 5 tracks JB4James Brown, 4 tracks TV4Thomas van Musser, 4 tracks DG4David Guetta, 4 tracks KH3Kim Hill, 3 tracks JC3J. Curtis, 3 tracks SR3Slick Rick, 3 tracks U3U.N.I., 3 tracks BN3Boys Noize, 3 tracks BR2Busta Rhymes, 2 tracks TY2Terence Yoshiaka, 2 tracks MG2Macy Gray, 2 tracks E2Esthero, 2 tracks KM2Kelvin Mercer, 2 tracks RB2Ray Brady, 2 tracks JL2John Legend, 2 tracks JT2Justin Timberlake, 2 tracks RF2Ron Fair, 2 tracks RW2Ricky Walters, 2 tracks SG2Sylvia Gordon, 2 tracks TO2Tim Orindgreff, 2 tracks FS2Free School, 2 tracks LE2Lauren Evans, 2 tracks NS2Nicole Scherzinger, 2 tracks on The Pussycat Dolls's page BM2Benjamin Mor, 2 tracks M2Mucky, 2 tracks O2Ozuna, 2 tracks S2Shakira, 2 tracks NJ2Nicky Jam, 2 tracks EH2Emmanuel Herrera Batista, 2 tracks EA2El Alfa, 2 tracks JM1Joseph Modeliste, 1 track AN1Arthur Neville, 1 track LN1Leo Nocentelli, 1 track GP1George Porter Jr., 1 track PP1Paul Poli, 1 track GP1Gregory Phillinganes, 1 track BG1Barry Gibb, 1 track CG1Carlos Guaico, 1 track DH1Debbie Harry, 1 track NH1Nigel Harrison, 1 track TP1Tim Peter Stahl, 1 track JG1John Goldberg, 1 track MO1Michael Oliver, 1 track SK1Stefan Kendal Gordy, 1 track TB1Tom Browne, 1 track CM1Christopher Martin, 1 track CM1Curtis Mayfield, 1 track DP1DJ Premier, 1 track TB1Tony Butler, 1 track SS1Sly Stone, 1 track CS1Charles Stewart, 1 track MM1Method Man, 1 track on Wu-Tang Clan's page AB1Aldane Browne, 1 track CS1Clifford Smith, 1 track on Wu-Tang Clan's page C21Chali 2na, 1 track DJ1Dave Jolicoeur, 1 track DA1Daisey Age, 1 track DL1De La Soul, 1 track HF1Helene Faussart, 1 track CF1Celia Faussart, 1 track MD1Mos Def, 1 track DT1Dante Terrell Smith, 1 track LN1Les Nubians, 1 track JC1John Collins, 1 track BW1Bill Withers, 1 track AB1Arthur Baker, 1 track JR1John Robie, 1 track KD1Kevin Donovan, 1 track RA1Robert Allen, 1 track EW1Ellis Williams, 1 track RH1Ralf Hütter, 1 track ES1Emil Schult, 1 track WJ1Wyclef Jean, 1 track JW1Jerry Wonda, 1 track CB1Charles Bobbit, 1 track BB1Bob Byrd, 1 track RL1Rhett Lawrence, 1 track NH1Natalie Hinds, 1 track BM1Billy May, 1 track PC1Phelps Collins, 1 track WE1Williams Earl Collins, 1 track JG1John Griggs, 1 track CG1Clayton Gunnells, 1 track DJ1Darrel Jamison, 1 track RM1Robert McCullough, 1 track CS1Clyde Stubblefield, 1 track FW1Frank Waddy, 1 track TY1Terence Yoshiaki, 1 track AH1Anthony Henry, 1 track DN1Debi Nova, 1 track AC1Antonio Carlos Jobim, 1 track VD1Vinícius de Moraes, 1 track CB1Cesar Bañares Jr., 1 track PR1Papa Roach, 1 track NR1Nicolas Roubanis, 1 track FF1Full Force, 1 track KA1Kalyanji Anandji, 1 track I1Indeewar, 1 track TM1Timothy Mosley, 1 track NH1Nate Hills, 1 track T1Timbaland, 1 track D1Danja, 1 track CP1Chris Peters, 1 track DP1Drew Peters, 1 track DP1David Payton, 1 track Q1Q-Tip, 1 track TK1Talib Kweli, 1 track AN1Anthony Newley, 1 track LB1Leslie Bricusse, 1 track KF1Kamaal Fareed, 1 track TK1Talib Kweli Greene, 1 track CG1CeeLo Green, 1 track JM1Jackie Mittoo, 1 track LF1Lloyd Ferguson, 1 track FS1Fitzroy Simpson, 1 track RL1Robbie Lyn, 1 track LS1Leroy Sibbles, 1 track HB1Huford Brown, 1 track FH1Felix Headley Bennett, 1 track JJ1Jack Johnson, 1 track TO1Timothy Orindgreff, 1 track GM1Greg Mays, 1 track DB1Darryl Barnes, 1 track AT1Anthony Tidd, 1 track MM1Michael Matthews, 1 track ML1Melvin Lewis, 1 track NT1Noize Trip, 1 track LB1Larry Blackmon, 1 track TJ1Thomas Jenkins, 1 track RJ1Rick James, 1 track JA1James Ambrose Johnson Jr., 1 track S1Sting, 1 track on The Police's page GM1Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, 1 track on The Police's page PN1Poet Name Life, 1 track MK1Mark Knight, 1 track AW1Adam Walder, 1 track JM1Jaime Munson, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 280. GP George Pajon Jr. · JB Jean Baptiste · KH Keith Harris · KF Kevin Feyen

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

will.i.am is the engine of Black Eyed Peas, he is credited as writer and producer on virtually every track across all nine albums, giving the group one of the most lopsided authorship distributions in pop history. apl.de.ap and Taboo accumulate co-writing credits steadily but rarely take production roles. Fergie's credits spike significantly during her era (Elephunk through The Beginning), particularly on tracks where she co-wrote the topline. The two earlier albums without Fergie show a leaner writing team and a more traditional hip-hop production style, while the post-Fergie era features J. Rey Soul primarily as a performer with minimal writing credit.

Quick Facts

  • SalesHave sold an estimated 80 million records, one of the best-selling acts of all time
  • GrammysWon six Grammy Awards, including three at the 2010 ceremony
  • will.i.amWrites and produces nearly every song, the creative engine of the group
  • Chart record'Boom Boom Pow' and 'I Gotta Feeling' held the top two Hot 100 spots for weeks in 2009
  • Fergie eraStacy Ferguson joined as lead singer for Elephunk in 2003, driving their pop breakthrough

Creative Fingerprint

One writer-producer at the wheel: Black Eyed Peas are credited on 100% of their catalogue, but will.i.am writes and produces nearly every track, so the group's authorship is heavily concentrated in one member plus a recurring team.

The Story

Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group from Los Angeles, formed in 1992 by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo. After a decade of underground hip-hop on albums like Behind the Front (1998) and Bridging the Gap (2000), the group added Fergie as a full member in 2002 and pivoted to a more pop-oriented sound with Elephunk (2003). That transformation proved enormously successful: Monkey Business (2005) and The E.N.D. (2009) generated a string of global chart-toppers including 'Where Is the Love?', 'I Gotta Feeling', and 'Boom Boom Pow'. The group has sold an estimated 80 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling acts of the 2000s. After a 2011 hiatus, they reconvened without Fergie and with new vocalist J. Rey Soul for Masters of the Sun Vol. 1 (2018), Translation (2020), and Elevation (2022).

Awards & Recognition

Won six Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album for The E.N.D.
'Boom Boom Pow' and 'I Gotta Feeling' held the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009
'I Gotta Feeling' became one of the best-selling digital singles of all time
Have sold an estimated 80 million records worldwide

Frequently Asked Questions Black Eyed Peas

Does Black Eyed Peas write their own songs?
Yes, and the credit is unusually concentrated. The group is credited on 100% of its catalogue, but will.i.am writes and produces nearly every track. The other members contribute verses and ideas, and a recurring team of collaborators fills out the credits. Songs like 'Boom Boom Pow' and 'I Gotta Feeling' are built around will.i.am's production.
Who is the main songwriter in Black Eyed Peas?
will.i.am is the creative engine, writing and producing nearly every Black Eyed Peas song. apl.de.ap and Taboo add verses, and Fergie sang lead during their biggest era, but will.i.am shapes the sound and the songwriting.
Who wrote 'I Gotta Feeling'?
'I Gotta Feeling,' from The E.N.D. (2009), was written by the group with producer David Guetta and Frédéric Riesterer. will.i.am led the writing, and it became one of the best-selling digital singles ever.
Who wrote 'Where Is the Love?'?
'Where Is the Love?,' from Elephunk (2003), was written by the group along with Justin Timberlake, who sang on the original. It marked their shift toward socially conscious pop and was their commercial breakthrough.
When did Fergie join Black Eyed Peas?
Stacy Ferguson, known as Fergie, joined as lead singer in 2002 and debuted on Elephunk in 2003. Her arrival helped turn the group from an underground hip-hop act into a global pop force.
How many albums has Black Eyed Peas released?
This catalogue covers nine studio albums, from Behind the Front (1998) through Elevation (2022), including the blockbusters Elephunk, Monkey Business, and The E.N.D.
How many Grammys has Black Eyed Peas won?
The group has won six Grammy Awards, including three at the 2010 ceremony and earlier wins for 'Let's Get It Started' and 'Don't Phunk with My Heart.'
What genre is Black Eyed Peas?
Black Eyed Peas make hip-hop, pop, and dance-pop, moving from conscious rap on 'Where Is the Love?' to electro-dance anthems like 'Boom Boom Pow' and 'I Gotta Feeling.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Black Eyed Peas Black Eyed Peas - Walmart Corporate on Flickr