It’s been six years since the Black Eyed Peas were together, which last saw the album The Beginning in 2010. Now, the Peas (Will.I.Am, Fergie, Taboo and apl.de.ap) have teamed up with some of the biggest names in music to bring out a new version of the classic 2003 song Where is the Love?
Now titled #WhereIsTheLove, the re-release has been recorded to raise awareness of violence and gun crime worldwide. The band originally released the hit as a response to 9/11 but following the tragedies of 2016 they’ve decided to re-release it.
This follows a series of incidents over the past year, especially in America, including mass shooting in Orlando, the attacks in Paris, the shooting in Turkey, and the deaths of multiple black people at the hands of white police officers.
In a video for ATTN, Will.I.Am explains
“I remember when the attack in Paris happened. People would say ‘We need ‘Where Is the Love?’ again.’ And then Belgium happened, and then Turkey, and then Orlando, and then Philando, and Alton before him, and then Dallas. Everyone was calling on us, like, ‘We need that song.’”
The video and song features a huge variety of stars in the music industry, including Mary J. Blige, A$AP Rocky, Nicole Scherzinger, Wiz Khalifa, Kendall Jenner, Jamie Foxx, Jessie J, Usher, Jaden Smith, Diddy Ty Dolla $ign, Vanessa Hudgens, and more. Justin Timberlake also features to help Fergie with the vocals, as he did so back in 2003.
The black and white video features images from the war in Syria, the migrant crisis, including the image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi’s lifeless body, and the Black Lives Matter protests across the U.S.
The most moving of all the appearances in the video, are those from Sandra Sterling, the aunt of Alton Sterling who was killed by the police this year, Valerie Castile, the mother of Philando Castile who was also killed controversially, and David O. Brown, Dallas Police Chief.
Proceeds from the updated version of “Where Is The Love?” will go to will.i.am’s charity i.am.angel, which funds educational programs and college scholarships.
Fans can also donate at whereisthelove.com which gives to charities of the events mentioned in the song.
The song is currently only available to download on Apple music.
