As The Black Eyed Peas prepare to drop a new album, one of the most popular members is noticeably absent from their promotional appearances.
Fergie, who provided lead vocals for hits including "Boom Boom Pow" and "Where is the Love?" is no longer with the group, band founder Will.i.am told Billboard magazine earlier this week. The band will release its new album, after several years without new music, on Friday. The band still includes the originating members, William "Will.i.am" Adams, Jaime Luis "Taboo" Gomez and Allan "Apl.de.ap" Pineda, who all met at a Los Angeles high school.
The new album, titled “Translation,” will feature singing vocals from a new artist named J.Rey Soul, band members told the magazine. Apl.de.ap recruited J.Rey Soul, whose real name is Jessica Reynoso, after she joined his team on the first season of the reality singing competition “The Voice of the Philippines.”
Credit: Ethan Miller
Credit: Ethan Miller
“I want to say how proud I am of J.Rey Soul as well, because I know people are probably wondering who this artist is. The question always is ‘How’s Fergie doing?’ and I get that,” Black Eyed Peas member Taboo said. “... We’ve come a long way since that time period, and we’ve worked really hard to get to where we’re at. We’ve reflected, we’ve done everything possible to keep motivated, keep ourselves never looking back but always looking forward and staying positive and optimistic, and I feel we’re giving birth to a new artist, J.Rey Soul.”
Fergie, who embarked on her own solo career since joining the band, has recently appeared as a host on the Fox singing show “The Four.” Though the 45-year-old is like a “sister” to the band members, Will.i.am said she is “focusing on being a mom” rather than rejoining the group.
“That’s a hard job, and that’s what she really wants to do and we’re here for her, and she knows how to contact us for a retreat or a breakaway,” he said. “It’s really the way Fergie designed it, so we’re respecting her design. We love Fergie, and we don’t want anything but awesomeness for her.”
Fergie, whose real name is Stacy Ferguson, had her son Axl in 2013. In 2019, she divorced from actor Josh Duhamel.
Band member Apl.de.ap said he supports Ferguson’s decision to leave the group.
“... Unfortunately our schedule is displaced by (her) wanting to be a great mom, and she wants to focus on that. And like Will said, we support her 100%,” he said.
“Translation” is the band’s first album in nearly 10 years, and it features the chart-topping “Mamacita,” which is now No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.
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