While onThe Monkey Business Tour, which they embarked on in support of their fourth studio albumMonkey Business (2005), the Black Eyed Peas began recording material for their fifth studio album. Tentatively titledFrom Roots to Fruits, it was originally set for a late 2007 release, before being retitled and postponed several times. Executive producerwill.i.am producedThe E.N.D. with fellow memberapl.de.ap and longtime collaboratorsPrintz Board and Poet Name Life, alongsideDavid Guetta, Jean Baptiste, DJ Replay, Funkagenda,Keith Harris,Mark Knight and Frederic Riesterer. Their final product was apop,hip hop andEDM album, with elements ofelectro-funk and significantly differing from their previous albums. However, its lyrical themes were similar to its predecessorsElephunk (2003) andMonkey Business.
Upon its release,The E.N.D. received mixed to positive reviews frommusic critics, who described it as containing more anthemic and inspirational songs in the group's bid to appeal to a new generation of music listeners. It was the Black Eyed Peas' first number-one album on the USBillboard 200, debuting atop the chart with first-week sales of 304,000 copies. Internationally, it reached number one in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, New Zealand and Portugal. At the52nd Annual Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for six awards, includingAlbum of the Year, andRecord of the Year for "I Gotta Feeling", and won the award forBest Pop Vocal Album. By June 2011, the album had sold over 11 million copies worldwide, being one of the best-selling albums of its era.
The E.N.D. produced five singles, all of which peaked within the top ten on the USBillboard Hot 100. "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling" led theBillboard Hot 100 back-to-back, putting the band at the summit for a record-breaking 26 consecutive weeks. The group's first two number-one singles on the chart, the former spent 12 weeks atop the chart and the latter spent 14. "Meet Me Halfway" peaked at number seven on theBillboard Hot 100 and at number one in nine countries. "Imma Be" was the group's thirdBillboard Hot 100 number-one hit, and reached the top ten in Australia, Canada and Hungary. The final single "Rock That Body" peaked at number nine on theBillboard Hot 100 and within the top ten in nine countries. To further promote the album, the group embarked onThe E.N.D. World Tour (2009–2010).
The Black Eyed Peas began recording material for their fifth studio album during theirThe Monkey Business Tour, on which they embarked in support of their fourth studio albumMonkey Business (2005). In December 2006,will.i.am revealed that the group had recorded 12 songs and would "probably do another 30 or 40".[2][3] The album was put on hold in 2007, as group members focused on solo projects–Fergie was promoting her debut solo studio albumThe Dutchess (2006), which peaked at number two on the USBillboard 200 and produced three USBillboard Hot 100 number-one singles, and will.i.am released his third studio albumSongs About Girls. Production resumed the following year; the recording was completed on October 15, 2008, at theMetropolis Studios in London.[4][5] Most of the album was recorded in Los Angeles, either at the Ethernet Studios or the Jeepney Music Studio.[1]David Guetta-produced songs–"Rock That Body" and "I Gotta Feeling"–were recorded at Square Prod in Paris.[1]
Apart from Guetta, the Black Eyed Peas worked with longtime collaboratorsPrintz Board and Poet Name Life forThe E.N.D., as well as first-time collaborators Jean Baptiste, DJ Replay, Funkagenda,Keith Harris,Mark Knight and Frederic Riesterer.apl.de.ap, Fergie,Taboo and will.i.am wrote all the tracks, including the four deluxe edition bonus tracks. Executive producer will.i.am produced 12 out of 15 tracks, while apl.de.ap produced "Showdown" and bonus track "Mare".[1] will.i.am remarked thatThe E.N.D. was inspired by a trip to Australia, specifically a concert fromthe Presets, stating: "The energy on the Presets' small little stage was crazy energy. That song "My People" – that is wild. That's the reason why this record sounds the way it does – my three months in Australia."[6] The album was mastered by Chris Bellman, who was assisted by Brian "BC" Catena, at theBernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles.[1]
Briefly after the production ofThe E.N.D. commenced in 2006,will.i.am revealed its songs would address social and political issues, but that the album would be a "fun record" regardless, adding: "We are not complaining. It's not 'Oh everything message up! Oh my gosh, we're doomed!' It's a thinking record. It brings up what's happening in the world.Monkey Business didn't do that."[2] Musically, the album was described by will.i.am as "a lot ofdance stuff, real melodic,electronic,soulful. We call it, like, electric staticfunk, something like that."[7]Vibe called it "a mélange of soulfulelectro-funk and addictiverave-ready anthems".[8] In addition, other critics labeledThe E.N.D. anEDM,hip hop andpop record.[9][10][11] The album opens with a vocally-manipulated spoken word hidden intro by will.i.am, who states: "Everything around you is changing. Nothing stays the same. This version of myself is not permanent. Tomorrow I will be different. The energy never dies."[12] The intro segues into "Boom Boom Pow", which lyrically sees the group declaring their superiority over rivals and enemies through a futuristic quality; the theme is also present on "Electric City" and "Showdown".[13]
Trance track "Rock That Body" features heavy usage ofAuto-Tune, withFergie's vocals notably high-pitched.[14][15] Lyrically, the song is amongThe E.N.D.'s party-themed tracks, alongside "Imma Be", "I Gotta Feeling", "Party All the Time" and "Rockin to the Beat". In an interview forMarie Claire, will.i.am claimed "I Gotta Feeling" was "dedicated to all the party people out there in the world that want to go out and party", adding that nearly every track on the album "is painting a picture of our party life. It was a conscious decision to make this type of record. Times are really hard for a lot of people and you want to give them escape and you want to make them feel good about life, especially at these low points."[16] The album's mid-tempo tracks deal with relationships–"Meet Me Halfway" features two partners trying to work on their struggling relationship, while "Alive" features a male protagonist trying to "rekindle love's spark".[8] Thelove song theme continues with "Missing You", which features "wildbasslines and vocal snarling".[17] "Ring-A-Ling" speaks aboutcasual sex, mentioning the term "booty call".[8][18] Inspirational lyrical themes prevail on "Now Generation", apower pop guitar and harmonica-driven track, and theworld peace-themed "One Tribe".[18] "Now Generation" additionally referencesiChat,Mac,Myspace,Facebook,Google andWikipedia.[19]
The title for the Black Eyed Peas' fifth studio album had been thought about since 2006, around the timeFergie released her debut solo studio albumThe Dutchess. It was originally titledEvolution, but that was also the title for what would becomeCiara'ssecond studio album.[20] The title was then tentatively changed toFrom Roots to Fruits, before the group decided it might be better suited for a futurecompilation album.[21] The title was changed again toThe Energy Never Dies, before being shortened toThe E.N.D.[20]
In an interview withBillboard, will.i.am stated that the titleThe Energy Never Dies described his model for a project that would be living and frequently updated throughout its designated cycle: "It's a diary [...] of music that at any given time, depending on the inspiration, you can add to it", adding: "I'm trying to break away from the concept of an album. What is an album when you put 12 songs oniTunes and people can pick at it like scabs? That's not an album. There is no album anymore."[7]
Designed byMathew Cullen and Mark Kudsi, the album cover forThe E.N.D. was revealed on April 30, 2009, showing a green face against a black background.[a] will.i.am explained: "This is the face of digital energy. This is what we look like when Fergie, apl, Taboo, and will.i.am combine digitally. We are one in this image. This is the E.N.D.!!!!"[22] The green face had already appeared in the accompanyingmusic video for the album's lead single "Boom Boom Pow" earlier that month, directed by Cullen and Kudsi.[23]
The E.N.D. was originally set to be released within the second half of 2007, before being postponed indefinitely due to the group members' solo efforts.[2] In October 2008, will.i.am expressed his hopes of releasing the album by the end of the year.[4] However, it was pushed back to March 2009,[7] before ultimately being set for June 9 in the United States.[24] Leading up to the release, a campaign titled "The Countdown toThe E.N.D." was organized, producing threepromotional singles–"Imma Be" on May 19, "Alive" on May 23, and "Meet Me Halfway" on June 2.[25] A double-disc deluxe edition was released simultaneously with the standard edition; in the US, it was released exclusively atTarget stores.[26] The album and its deluxe edition were promoted by a Target commercial featuring the group perform "I Gotta Feeling".[26] The Black Eyed Peas performed at various festivals across the US and Europe from May to September, most notablyWango Tango and theGlastonbury Festival 2009.[27][28] In addition, the group performed "Boom Boom Pow" on theeighth season finale ofAmerican Idol on May 20.[29] They promoted the album in Japan by performing "Boom Boom Pow" withKoda Kumi as guests on her tour on May 31, and "I Gotta Feeling" onMusic Station on June 5.[30]
The album cover forThe E.N.D. Summer 2010 Canadian Invasion Tour: Remix Collection is a still from the accompanying music video for "Imma Be", and was the group's first cover in five years to feature the members.[43]
In order to globally promoteThe E.N.D. further, the Black Eyed Peas embarked onThe E.N.D. World Tour inHamamatsu, Japan on September 15, 2009.[44] It was the group's biggest tour production-wise, withFergie stating that they were "trying to up [their] game" and the shows would "utilize a lot of the technology that's out there".[45] The tour was backed by presenting sponsorBlackBerry, whileBacardi served as its "official spirit".[46] In Canada, aremix album titledThe E.N.D. Summer 2010 Canadian Invasion Tour: Remix Collection was released on July 27, 2010, viaiTunes Store, during the second North American leg of the tour.[47] After a total of 115 shows across Asia, Oceania, North America, Europe and South America, the tour ended on November 13, 2010, inLima, Peru.[48] In December, the tour placed at number five onBillboard's list "Top 25 Tours of 2010", grossing $81,579,114 for 82 shows,[49] and at number nine onPollstar's list of top ten North American tours for grossing $50.5 million.[50]
The E.N.D. Summer 2010 Canadian Invasion Tour: Remix Collection
"Boom Boom Pow" was released as thelead single fromThe E.N.D. on February 22, 2009. It peaked atop the USBillboard Hot 100, becoming the group's first number-one single on the chart. The song features a vocal sample from the 1990 song "Reach Out" by British house duo Sweet Mercy featuring singerRowetta. It stayed atop the chart for 12 consecutive weeks, making it the second longest-running single to stay atop the chart in 2009, after the Black Eyed Peas' own "I Gotta Feeling".[51] The song was named "Song of the Year" on theBillboard Hot 100 year-end chart for 2009.[52] On May 18, 2010, the digital single was certifiedquintuple platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling five million units in the United States.[53] Internationally, it peaked atop the charts in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Israel, Portugal and the United Kingdom.[54][55][56][57][58] At the52nd Annual Grammy Awards (2010), the song was nominated forBest Dance Recording, but lost toLady Gaga's "Poker Face".[59] An accompanyingmusic video for the song was directed byMathew Cullen and Mark Kudsi, and is set in the year 3008; it wonBest Short Form Music Video at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.[60]
"I Gotta Feeling" was released as the second single fromThe E.N.D. on June 15, 2009.[61] Debuting at number two, it replaced "Boom Boom Pow" at the summit of the USBillboard Hot 100, making them only the fourth group to replace themselves at number one in the chart's history.[62] The song remained at the top spot for 14 consecutive weeks, being the longest-reigning number-one single on the chart of 2009.[51] On June 6, 2018, the digital single was certified diamond by the RIAA for selling ten million units in the US.[53] Internationally, it peaked atop the charts in 21 countries. Critically acclaimed, the song wonBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.[63] Its accompanying music video was directed by Mikey Mee and features guest appearances fromDavid Guetta,Kid Cudi, members of theindie rock bandGossip, the designer duoDean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2 andRuPaul's Drag Race alumniOngina.[64]
Originally released as the thirdpromotional single fromThe E.N.D. on June 2, 2009,[25] "Meet Me Halfway" was released as its third single on September 22 to critical acclaim.[61] It became the album's third USBillboard Hot 100 top-ten single, peaking at number seven.[65] The digital single was certified double platinum by the RIAA on May 18, 2010, for selling two million units in the US.[53] Internationally, it peaked atop the charts in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Israel, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania and the United Kingdom.[66][67][68] Directed by Ben Mor, the song's accompanying music video features the members in different parts of theSolar System–Fergie lies in the middle of a lush green jungle,apl.de.ap levitates on a desert planet in nomadic clothing,will.i.am rides an elephant on a moon ofJupiter andTaboo glides around theSun in a spacesuit.[69]
Originally released as the first promotional single fromThe E.N.D. on May 19, 2009,[25] "Imma Be" was released as the fourth US and fifth and final international single on January 12, 2010, simultaneously with "Rock That Body", to critical acclaim.[61] Following its performance at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, the song became the Black Eyed Peas' third USBillboard Hot 100 number-one single.[65] The digital single was certified double platinum by the RIAA on May 18.[53] Internationally, the song failed to replicate the commercial success of its predecessors, but peaked within the top ten in Australia, Canada and Hungary.[70][55][71] Directed byRich Lee, the song's accompanying music video was filmed back-to-back with the music video for "Rock That Body". The videos were put together in a ten-minute medley titled "Imma Be Rocking That Body".[72]
"Rock That Body" was released simultaneously with "Imma Be" as the fourth international and fifth and final US single fromThe E.N.D. on January 29, 2010.[73] It became the Black Eyed Peas' fifth consecutive USBillboard Hot 100 top-ten single, peaking at number nine.[65] Internationally, it peaked within the top ten in Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy and Portugal.[74][75][76] Directed by Rich Lee, the song's accompanying music video was filmed back-to-back with the music video for "Imma Be". The videos were put together in a ten-minute medley titled "Imma Be Rocking That Body".[72]
"Alive" was released the second promotional single fromThe E.N.D. on May 23, 2009, as part of "The Countdown toThe E.N.D."[25] "Missing You" was released as the fourth and final promotional single exclusively in France on April 23, 2010.[77] It peaked at number ten on the French airplay chart,[78] and at number 19 on the French digital chart.[79] The March 30 performance of "Missing You" in Los Angeles duringThe E.N.D. World Tour was filmed and released as the official music video in France.[80] "Showdown" was used in theatre rounds ofSo You Think You Can Dance Australia, which propelled it to number 66 on theAustralian Singles Chart on February 15, 2010.[81] "One Tribe" was used forPepsi commercials in 2010,[82] and was also included on the albumSongs for Japan (2011), released in support of the victims of the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
The E.N.D. received mixed to positive reviews frommusic critics upon its release. On review aggregatorMetacritic, it received an average of 60 out of 100 indicating "mixed or average reviews", based on 15 reviews,[84] which was higher thanMonkey Business (2005) but lower thanElephunk (2003), with critics agreeing that the album showcased more of adance-oriented sound than its predecessors.Entertainment Weekly described the album as "pureTop 40nirvana",[85] whilePopMatters concluded that after listening to the album and "dancing all night [...] you just may not be able to respect yourself in the morning".[89]
Other critical reactions toThe E.N.D. were comparatively mixed, with John Bush ofAllMusic commenting on the Black Eyed Peas' move fromhip hop topop music by writing: "The Black Eyed Peas make effective pop/crossover music, but with all the limitations of the form – vapid lyrics, clumsy delivery, vocals smoothed over byAuto-Tune, and songwriting that strains for (and reaches) the lowest common denominator."[9] Eric Henderson fromSlant Magazine also commented on the Black Eyed Peas' change in musical direction, saying: "On the one hand, you have the pre-Fergie band, which delighted the collegerock intelligentsia with its bite-sized, pre-chewed imitation of legitimatealternative hip-hop a laA Tribe Called Quest andthe Roots... On the other hand, you have the post-Fergie clown troupe, which has traded any and all available credibility in pursuit of becoming (successfully) the most flagrantly commercial pop supergroup sinceDestiny's Child."[92]
In the United States,The E.N.D. debuted atop theBillboard 200 andTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 304,000 copies in its first week.[110][111] In its second week, its sales decreased by 51 percent to 148,000 copies, and the album descended to number two on theBillboard 200, while remaining atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[112][113] The following week, it returned to the summit of theBillboard 200, despite its sales declining to 88,000 copies.[114] The album has spent 38 weeks within the top ten on theBillboard 200 and a total of 114 weeks on the chart.[115] It was the seventh best-selling album of 2009 in the country, selling 1.79 million copies throughout the year.[116] On March 30, 2010, it was certifieddouble platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[53] By March 2011, the album had sold over three million copies in the US.[117] In Canada, the album debuted atop theCanadian Albums Chart, on which it has spent a total of 66 weeks.[118] It was certified quintuple platinum by theCanadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA).[119] In Mexico, it debuted at number ten on theTop 100 Mexico, peaking at number seven and charting for 91 weeks.[120] On December 17, 2010, it was certified platinum by theAsociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON).[121]
In the United Kingdom,The E.N.D. debuted and peaked at number three theUK Album Charts, spending eight non-consecutive weeks at the position.[122] Additionally, it debuted atop theUK R&B Albums Chart and peaked at number two on theScottish Albums Chart.[123][124] The album was certified quintuple platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI) on July 22, 2013.[125] In France, it debuted at number two and peaked atop the chart in its second week, spending 11 non-consecutive weeks at the summit and 58 weeks within the top ten.[126] The album has been certified diamond by theSyndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP).[127] Across Europe, it peaked atop the charts in Portugal, Wallonia and theEuropean Top 100 Albums, while reaching the top ten in Austria, Denmark, Flanders, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.[126][128]International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) certified it triple platinum in 2010, for sales of three million copies across Europe.[129]
The E.N.D. fared similarly across Oceania and Asia. In Australia, it debuted atop theARIA Top 100 Albums, spending three non-consecutive weeks at the summit and a total of 55 weeks on the chart.[130] On December 24, 2009, it was certified quadruple platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[131] In New Zealand, the album debuted at number two, reaching the summit in its ninth week and staying there for four non-consecutive weeks.[132] It was certified double platinum by theRecording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) in 2010.[133] In Japan, the album peaked at number two on theOricon Albums Chart, on which it has spent a total of 58 weeks.[134] It was certified platinum by theRecording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in 2010.[135]The E.N.D. was the second best-selling album worldwide of 2009,[136] and went on to sell over 11 million copies by November 2010.[137]
Much like its predecessorsElephunk (2003) andMonkey Business (2005),The E.N.D. and its tracks were subjects of controversy. Since the release ofElephunk, the Black Eyed Peas had been targeted by music critics and media outlets forselling out.[138][139] The accusations intensified following the partnership the group formed with theTarget Corporation, whose stores would exclusively sell the deluxe edition of the album, while the Black Eyed Peas would appear in Target's television advertisement performing their then-new single "I Gotta Feeling".[140] Writing forSlate, advertising critic Seth Stevenson was extremely deprecatory of the partnership, branding the commercial "an abomination" and the group "a bunch of sellouts".[26] In addition, theGovernment of Malaysia initially banned Malaysia's Muslim citizens from attending the Black Eyed Peas' September 25, 2009 concert nearKuala Lumpur, which was organized both to promoteThe E.N.D. and as part of a global promotion byGuinness, celebrating the 250th anniversary of its flagshipDublin brewery; however, the ban was soon reversed.[141]
Multiple songs fromThe E.N.D. were subjects ofplagiarism disputes andcopyright infringement lawsuits. In July 2009, English record producerAdam Freeland accused the Black Eyed Peas of plagiarizing the beat from his song "Mancry" on the track "Party All the Time".[142] However, a settlement was later reached out of court.[143] In January 2010, American recording artist Phoenix Phenom and producer Manfred Mohr filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the group, claiming "Boom Boom Pow" was "virtually identical" to their song "Boom Dynamite", which Phenom had previously submitted toInterscope Records executives.[144] In October, the Black Eyed Peas were sued for copyright infringement again, by American songwriter Bryan Pringle. Both cases were eventually won by the Black Eyed Peas as the judges ruled that the songs were not similar enough.[145][146]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^In the United States, the deluxe edition ofThe E.N.D. was released exclusively forTarget and theiTunes Store. It was later made available onstreaming platforms.
^"Classifiche".Musica e Dischi (in Italian). RetrievedJanuary 14, 2023.Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Black Eyed Peas".
^オリコン年間 アルバムランキング 2009年度 [Oricon Annual CD Album Ranking 2009] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived fromthe original on May 27, 2019. RetrievedAugust 31, 2021.
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