The work of rapper and producer
will.i.am helped make
Black Eyed Peas one of the most intriguing acts in hip-hop, and later made them one of the most popular acts on the charts when the albums Elephunk (2003) and Monkey Business (2005) started ascending the charts. During 2005-2007, he also helmed tracks for
Pussycat Dolls,
John Legend, bandmate
Fergie,
the Game,
Ciara,
Nicole Scherzinger, and
Macy Gray. His solo career consisted of a project for the British rap label BBE (
Lost Change), several mix albums, and in 2007, his major-label nod,
Songs About Girls. It wasn't until 2013's guest-heavy
#willpower that the pop star would release a solo outing again, this time enlisting an all-star list of collaborators including everyone from
Britney Spears and
Miley Cyrus to
Juicy J. ~ John Bush