Monkey Business (2005)

Monkey Business is the fourth studio album by American group the Black Eyed Peas. It was released on May 25, 2005, by A&M Records, Interscope Records and will.i.am Music Group.

Following the global success of their third studio album, Elephunk (2003), the group embarked on the Elephunk Tour. While touring, they began recording Monkey Business in June 2004, continuing for the following six months at various locations worldwide. Executive producers Ron Fair and will.i.am enlisted producers Printz Board, Noize Trip, Timbaland and Danja for the album. Their final product was a hip-hop and pop record incorporating an array of genres, such as crunk, funk, reggae, Raï, calypso, soul, jazz and Latin rock. Similarly to Elephunk, it explores lyrical themes such as relationship complexities, sexual attraction, partying, fame and, to a lesser extent, social issues. Controversy arose over the lyrics of the track "My Humps", which center on a woman using her physical attributes to accomplish her goals.

Monkey Business received mixed reviews from music critics, who complimented its production but criticized its lyrical content and Black Eyed Peas' inclination to commercialization with the album. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 291,000 units, becoming the group's first top-ten album on the chart. The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over four million copies in the United States. Internationally, it reached number one in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, and Switzerland, and has sold over nine million copies worldwide. Despite its critical response, the album won two Grammy Awards for its singles "Don't Phunk with My Heart" and "My Humps", receiving three additional nominations.

Monkey Business produced four singles. "Don't Phunk with My Heart" became the group's highest-peaking single on the US Billboard Hot 100 at the time, peaking at number three, and reached number one in Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, and New Zealand. "Don't Lie" peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, being overshadowed by its successor "My Humps", which began receiving heavy unsolicited airplay. After its official release as a single, "My Humps" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number one in Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. The final single "Pump It" became the album's lowest-peaking single on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 18. The album was further promoted with two global concert tours–The Monkey Business Tour (2005–2006) and the Black Blue & You Tour (2007).

Background and development

In June 2003, Black Eyed Peas released their third studio album Elephunk. During its production, Fergie joined the group as its female vocalist. Led by a global hit single and the group's first top-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 "Where Is the Love?", the album was a sleeper hit and became their breakthrough record. It peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200, was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and garnered six Grammy Award nominations, including the group's first win for "Let's Get It Started". The commercial success of Elephunk made a substantial impact on the group's prominence, and its members will.i.am and Fergie planned on recording solo studio albums in 2004. However, the plans were postponed as they "felt it was important to install the next Black Eyed Peas record this year with the momentum that we've had, which will only allow our solo adventures to be successful and continue to keep our franchise going". Fergie stated: "For us, Black Eyed Peas are feeling really good right now, and for me to come out with a solo record, it just doesn't feel right. This is a family, and we're on a certain kind of wave and I wanna keep riding on that wave together. It's my boys." She would later release her debut solo studio album The Dutchess in September 2006, and will.i.am released his third studio album Songs About Girls in September 2007.

Recording and production

Monkey Business was recorded in "two and three-month spurts" throughout 2004 while Black Eyed Peas were on their Elephunk Tour, in support of their third studio album Elephunk (2003). The executive producer will.i.am co-wrote all the tracks, and produced or co-produced all tracks except "My Style" and "Disco Club". Among other producers were apl.de.ap, Timbaland, Danja, Printz Board, Noize Trip, and the executive producer Ron Fair. apl.de.ap co-wrote nine tracks, Fergie co-wrote eight, and Taboo co-wrote two. The production commenced in June, while the group was touring the United Kingdom. They recorded six tracks at the Metropolis Studios in London. The recording sessions continued in July during the tour's stop in Japan, where "Pump It" was partly recorded in a bullet train. Upon the group's return to the United States, they recorded most of the tracks at the Stewchia in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.