"Translation" by Black Eyed Peas ventures into Latin music and dance rhythms

Album Cover

Black Eyed Peas: "Translation"

Released: June 19, 2020

Label: Epic Records

Genre: Hip hop/ pop/ dance/ reggaeton/ Latin

Producers:

Ammo, DJ Snake, Johnny Goldstein, Keith Harris, Mosty, Mucky, Rvssian, Shakira and will.i.am

Writers:

Albert Menendez, Alonzo Miller, Annerley Gordon, apl.de.ap, Becky G, Benjamin Mor, B-Fine, Bow Legged Lou, Brendan Buckley, Brian Sherrer, Bruce Gaitsch, Curt "CurT-T-T" Bedeau, Curtis Reynolds, David Escobar Gallego, David "Fergie" Ferguson, DJ Ammo, DJ Snake, El Alfa, French Montana, Gerald R Charles, Giorgio Spagner, James Johnson, J Balvin, Jimmy Gomez, Johnny Goldstein, Juan David Huertas, Keith Harris, Keith Samuels, Lee Marrow, Lorduy, Madonna, Maluma, MC Hammer, Michael Gaffey, Mosty, Mucky, Nicky Jam, Ozuna, Pablo Mejía, Papatinho, Patrick Leonard, Paul Anthony (of Full Force), Peter Glenister, Rvssian, Shakira, Shy Shy, Simon Carter, Susan Leonard, Taboo, Tim Mitchell, Tyga, Walter Carter, will.i.am & William Hull

"Translation" is the eighth studio album by American musical group Black Eyed Peas, released on June 19, 2020, through Epic. The record features guest appearances from Shakira, J Balvin, Ozuna, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Tyga, El Alfa, Piso 21, Becky G, and French Montana. The guest list (almost all Latinos) is killer. The band's reunion with the dancing beats matches the wave of nostalgia this year and is everything we need for the coming months: nothing more, nothing less than good energy.

"Ritmo" opens the album, with the band joining J Balvin. The first single is part of "Bad Boys For Life." The song uses the chorus from "The Rhythm Of The Night," a dance hit by the band Corona of 1993, with the voice of the Brazilian Olga de Souza. It's not the first time the band has used an old chorus that everyone knows by heart. "The Time (Dirty Bit)" burst in 2010 for having verses from "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," the theme of the movie "Dirty Dancing."

Maluma featuring in "Feel the Beat," which contains samples by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's "Can You Feel the Beat," combines the addictive produced beats and the swagger that the Colombian superstar brings to every track.

Another single released before the album, "Mamacita," with Ozuna, has a sampler of "La Isla Bonita" from Madonna. It's another one who won't fail to have you up dancing and singing along.

One of the highlights on the album is "Girl Like Me," which features Shakira, a dancefloor anthem that will get its time in the spotlight over this album campaign.

"Vida Loca" with Nicky Kam and Tyga contains interpolations of "Super Freak" by Rick James and "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer.

We stay with another energetic collaboration with El Alfa, an influential Dominican rapper with a massive following on Latin urban radio across the US and the Caribbean. "No Mañana" has bouncy beats.

With Fergie's exit from the Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo will be leaning even more heavily on J. Rey Soul (Jessica Reynoso) as the singer-songwriter contributes to the group's new album. She becomes engrained with the group when Apl.de.ap selected her to join his team on the Philippines edition of The Voice in 2013. From there, she headed to the States, guested on their 2018 project "Masters of the Sun Vol. 1", and joined the group on their 2019 world tour. The singer appears in several songs in the album, emphasizing the next two, "Tonta Love" and "Celebrate."

Photo: Black Eyed Peas Official Instagram

"Todo Bueno" marks the second collaboration between The BEP and Piso 21, following "Mami" in august 2019.

Becky G features "Duro Hard," adding her brand of hot vocals and "I Woke Up," Get Free Now," and "Action" makes you shake your booty as well.

"Mabuti" with French Montana is mostly in English with a Spanish touch and a few Filipino lines. Some lines include, "The way you break it down make me wanna go pursue it / Sa iyong galaw, hindi 'ko matiis na 'di mapatanaw / I like the way you drop it, writin' on your booty it's my number one topic / Ako'y natulala, para bang nagayuma sa katawan mong maganda / I like the way you shake it."

Closer "News Today" reflects the current state of the world.

With "Translation," Black Eyed Peas have discovered a brand new sense of journey and contagion by way of the fashionable Latin music prism.