Description
The Black Eyed Peas – Elephunk – Double Vinyl Record
The Black Eyed Peas’ Elephunk, released on June 24, 2003, is the album that catapulted the group from underground hip-hop favorites to global pop superstars. Marking a dramatic stylistic shift and the introduction of Fergie as the group’s female vocalist, Elephunk fused hip-hop, pop, funk, R&B, and dance music, creating a genre-bending, high-energy sound that dominated airwaves in the early 2000s. It was an album built for mass appeal—but it didn’t sacrifice musicality or clever production in the process.
Before Elephunk, The Black Eyed Peas—originally composed of will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo—had been known for their alternative, conscious hip-hop sound, showcased on earlier albums like Behind the Front (1998) and Bridging the Gap (2000). With Elephunk, they fully embraced the mainstream, without completely abandoning their roots. The addition of Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson was pivotal: her powerful vocals added a new dynamic to the group, and her charisma helped anchor the band’s visual and performance identity.
The album opens with the explosive anthem “Hands Up,” setting the tone for the record’s party-forward, genre-fluid sound. But the real breakthrough came with “Where Is the Love?”, featuring Justin Timberlake—a poignant, socially conscious track that addressed war, racism, and media manipulation in the wake of 9/11. It was both a massive chart hit and a message-driven anomaly in early 2000s pop, reaching #1 in multiple countries, including the UK.
Other hit singles helped define the Peas’ new sound:
“Let’s Get It Started” (originally released as “Let’s Get Retarded”) — A Grammy-winning club anthem built on heavy synths and chant-style vocals, designed for peak energy moments.
“Shut Up” — A funk-tinged, call-and-response breakup song driven by Fergie’s biting delivery.
“Hey Mama” — A dancehall-infused summer hit full of Caribbean rhythms and feel-good vibes.
The production, largely helmed by will.i.am, is one of the album’s strongest assets. It blends programmed beats with live instrumentation, and each track feels layered and kinetic. There’s an infectiousness to the album—even the deeper cuts like “Smells Like Funk” and “Latin Girls” radiate with playfulness and groove.
While Elephunk was a commercial juggernaut—selling over 9 million copies worldwide—it also signaled a broader shift in the music industry. It helped usher in an era of hip-hop/pop hybridization, where rap hooks and electronic beats became mainstream staples. The album also foreshadowed the even bigger success The Black Eyed Peas would have with Monkey Business (2005) and The E.N.D. (2009).
The album received a mixed but generally positive reception. Some longtime fans of their earlier, more conscious material were skeptical of the pop direction, but many recognized Elephunk as an effective, well-crafted pivot that set a new bar for crossover hip-hop success.
In hindsight, Elephunk stands as one of the defining pop albums of the 2000s—a record that turned a niche hip-hop trio into a global phenomenon, introduced one of pop’s most charismatic frontwomen, and reshaped the sonic landscape of the decade.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Hands Up
Labor Day (It’s A Holiday)
Let’s Get Retarded
Hey Mama
Shut Up
Smells Like Funk
Latin Girls
Sexy
Fly Away
The Boogie That Be
The Apl Song
Anxiety
Where Is The Love
Third Eye
