• Black Eyed Peas Rock 'Good Morning America'

    Group celebrates 'I Gotta Feeling' breaking digital-download record.
    By Chris MacAllister


    Fergie and will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas perform on Good Morning America on Friday
    Photo: Jemal Countess/ Getty Images

    NEW YORK — "Good Morning America" drew its biggest crowd to its Summer Concert Series in Central Park Friday morning (July 30) for a performance by the Black Eyed Peas.

    The audience was brimming with excitement as the group's musicians — all clad in robotic outfits and carrying futuristic-looking instruments — took the stage. Robin Roberts and Sam Champion arrived onstage to a small intro from the band. Dancers, dressed in black-and-white full-body spandex costumes, then marched on stage, followed by the four main Peas. The "Boom Boom Pow" beat kicked in and the crowd yelled with excitement, saluting them with a wave of handheld digital cameras as the dancers moved in robotic, choreographed movements. The group's tight performance -- featuring some stellar vocalistics from Fergie -- concluded with a "Good Morning, New York City!" from Will.I.Am.

    After a short intermission, the group was interviewed, although mic problems rendered some of their answers unintelligible. Will.I.Am said the group was "up late last night recording," which was met with a roar from the audience, and news was shared that the group's "I Gotta Feeling" was the first song to hit the 6-million mark in digital downloads.

    Roberts then asked, "You wanna rock that body?" and the group broke into the song by that name. Fergie flirtatiously teased the cameras as dancers came onstage, dressed like silver robots. After the song had finished Will.I.Am continued singing to himself: "It's a nice day in the park, I want to be outside with my friends" to a soft, reggae rhythm as the audience joined in. When asked about it, Will said, "It was the first thing that came to my mind and I just went with it. Inspiration comes to my mind, I just open up to the melody."

    After Juju Chang — clad in one of the dancers' costumes as a joke — came on stage, "I Gotta Feeling" kicked in, and the group performed it amid smoke effects and more seductive dancing from Fergie.

    After the Peas left the stage, the crowd chanted for One more song! and Will replied, "I guess we could do one more song." The group launched into an apparently improvised song as Will rapped about the park and the audience; Apl.De.Ap and Taboo followed with raps of their own, then Fergie, who didn't rap but freestyle-sang over the beat. Will.I.Am weighed in again — "I don't wanna leave, leave, leave" — rapping faster and faster as his bandmates yelled "Speed it up!" And with that, the group's performance concluded.

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  • Black Eyed Peas To Work With James Cameron On 3-D Tour Movie

    'We have the biggest director, because we are the biggest group on the planet,' Will.I.Am tells Vibe.
    By James Dinh


    Black Eyed Peas
    Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images

    From "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" to "Michael Jackson's This Is It," the junction of music and cinema has grown very popular in recent years, and the Black Eyed Peas want in. In a recent interview with Vibe, BEP frontman Will.I.Am dished on the group's plan for the ultimate concert experience with the help of mastermind director James Cameron.

    "Right now, we are planning our 3-D tour movie, and James Cameron is directing it," Will revealed. "We have the biggest director, because we are the biggest group on the planet. The Peas are filming it in South America. People will be able to see us in the theater with the 3-D glasses and everything."

    With Cameron onboard, Will is convinced that the yet-untitled musical film will stand out among the rest with a "dope" story line. "It's a full-length film, and it's based around our tour activities," he said about the film, tentatively scheduled to hit theaters early next year. "We've toured from America and Europe, to the Middle East, South America, Asia and Africa. It's not like we go, 'Yo, we are international, you know what I'm saying? London and Paris!' Nah, that's just two cities. We want to go across the planet."

    Despite Fergie telling MTV News that she wasn't "even thinking about another solo album" last fall, it seems like she might have had a change of mind. Will.I.Am revealed to the magazine that the songstress does want to do another album on her own to follow up her smash debut, The Dutchess.

    "Fergie wants to do another solo record, so of course we are going to do that," he said. "We have material ready for that. But right now, we are focused on the Peas — our world tour and the movie."

    Just last week, Will denied rumors that he and Fergie were dueling in a band battle. "Don't believe gossip about Fergie leaving the group (we are never breaking up) it's all lies!!!" he tweeted.

    Would you like to see the Black Eyed Peas hit the big screen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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  • Will.I.Am Says Black Eyed Peas 'Are Never Breaking Up'

    Leader adamantly denies rumors that Fergie is leaving the group.
    By Gil Kaufman


    Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am and Fergie
    Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images

    It's hard to remember it now, but there was a time BF (Before Fergie) for the Black Eyed Peas. If leader Will.I.Am has his way, though, there will never be an AF (After Fergie), despite her international success as a solo star.

    Will was forced to clarify this point over the weekend, when rumors surfaced that the Peas were breaking up and that Fergie was headed for permanent solo status. "Don't believe gossip about Fergie leaving the group (we are never breaking up) it's all lies!!!" Will tweeted on Saturday. The comment was in response to claims to Radar Online by an unnamed source that there were tensions between Fergie and Will and that the band's female singer was eager to settle down and start a family with her husband, actor Josh Duhamel.

    Speaking to Sirius XM radio on Saturday at Los Angeles' Electric Daisy Carnival, Will told the Area station, "She called me today. I talked to her today, I was like, 'So, Fergie is it true that you're leaving?' She was like, 'You're a f---ing idiot!' I was like, 'You know I'm just jokin' with you, pulling your leg.' We ain't going anywhere. It's a family. People are reading into our vacation [schedules]."

    After two hip-hop-based records, BEP added Fergie to their lineup in 2001, in time for their breakthrough album, Elephunk, which featured the hit "Where Is the Love?" Though they had marginal success before, since hooking up with Fergie, the group has had a nonstop parade of international successes, including "Don't Phunk With My Heart," "My Humps," "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling."

    While Fergie tasted huge solo success on her own with The Dutchess in 2006, Will has become an in-demand producer, working, recording with and remixing everyone from Rihanna and Usher to U2, John Legend, Mariah Carey and the late Michael Jackson.

    Do you think the Black Eyed Peas would be able to survive without Fergie? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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  • Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Alicia Keys, More Light Up World Cup Concert

    Stars from across the globe gather in South Africa to kick off the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a massive concert.
    By Mawuse Ziegbe


    Fergie performs with the Black Eyed Peas at the World Cup Concert Thursday
    Photo: Getty Images

    On Thursday (June 10), many of the world's biggest entertainers helped kick off what is arguably the world's biggest sporting event, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with a massive concert at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. As the soccer/football competition pits nations against each other in the game, the concert highlighted Africa's singular talent while setting the stage for some international collaborations.

    A legion of dancers and drummers heralded South African trumpet legend Hugh Masekela, who opened the event with singer Lira. Following an address by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and South African president Jacob Zuma, the Black Eyed Peas rocked the stage. The Peas got the party started with their feel-good hit "Where Is the Love?" Fergie and Will.I.Am (who was decked out in a snappy sequined jacket with rope detail reminiscent of Michael Jackson) then led the thousands of concertgoers through "Pump It."

    Dancers in graphic print black-and-white bodysuits bounded onstage for the Peas speaker-rattling banger "Boom Boom Pow." Will.I.Am donned a metal mask and Fergie rocked some wild long nails as the group charged though their international smash. Then the crew was flanked by dozens of dancers sporting colorful T-shirts and belts busting high-energy moves for "I Gotta Feeling," bringing an African vibe to the Peas set.

    Later in the show, John Legend joined Benin's Angelique Kidjo for their cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," with Kidjo adding African lyrics to the duo's revamp. Then Legend, looking prep-school suave in a pale blue jacket and slacks, took to the piano for his version of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' call-to-action song, "Wake Up Everybody," backed by the Soweto Gospel Choir. Legend then implored to the crowd, "Are you ready to go?" before finishing up with his up-tempo hit "Green Light."

    A spry Archbishop Desmond Tutu drew cheers from the crowd for his animated introduction of a video featuring activist and South African icon Nelson Mandela. The thousands of fans got into it when he shouted, "We are all African!"

    Alicia Keys didn't let her recently announced pregnancy stop her from rocking the stage in sky-high heels, as the singer came out to an amped-up version of "You Don't Know My Name." She then transitioned into "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart" before retreating to her grand piano for an upbeat, syncopated rendition of "Fallin'." The singer put her hometown on the world stage with her spare version of the mammoth New York City anthem "Empire State of Mind." However, Keys switched it up for the occasion at the end of the song, belting, "When you're in Africa ...," and swapping out "New York" for "World Cup." Then, backed by South African folk-punk group Blk Jks, Keys launched into a heartfelt cover of "Too Late for Mama" by the late South African pop star Brenda Fassie.

    Somali hip-hop artist K'Naan energized the crowd with his World Cup anthem "Wavin' Flag" as the mass of concertgoers thrust their respective national flags in the air. Will.I.Am returned to the stage to join K'Naan, apparently siding with a legendary soccer team in lieu of being patriotic, and waved a Brazilian flag in the air.

    Kicking off her set with "She Wolf," Shakira brought her singular undulating skills to the stage, gyrating in a cut-out bodysuit and shaking her hips in a shredded skirt. She then went into her waist-swiveling smash "Hips Don't Lie" flanked by several belly dancers and shouted out her native Colombia after an extended dance break. The star finished up with her buoyant official World Cup track "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" as confetti sprayed into the air.

    Several international artists such as Amadou & Mariam, Vusi Mahlasela, and Vieux Farka Toure also performed.

    The concert closed with an image of worldwide musical solidarity as Will.I.Am, Fergie, K'Naan, Shakira and others joined African artists like Angelique Kidjo and Tinariwen onstage to sing Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People." Fireworks streaked the sky as the stars signed off from Joburg.

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  • Black Eyed Peas' 'I Gotta Feeling' Breaks Digital Sales Record

    BEP song surpasses Flo Rida's 'Low' as best-selling digital song of all time, according to Billboard.
    By Gil Kaufman


    The Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am, Fergie and Taboo
    Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images

    You might be able to slow the Black Eyed Peas down, but you can't stop them. The future-funk foursome notched another major career milestone this week when their hit "I Gotta Feeling" surpassed Flo Rida's "Low" as the best-selling digital song of all time.

    According to Billboard, Nielsen SoundScan reports that the celebratory tune has sold 5,561,000 downloads, which puts it ahead of the 5,536,00 sold by "Low." SoundScan started tracking digital song sales in July 2003.

    The feat is not surprising, considering that "Feeling" spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts last year. Flo Rida had held the title since March 2008, when it beat another inescapable tune, Soulja Boy Tell'em's 2007 hit, "Crank That."

    "Feeling" takes its place in the top 5 best-selling digital downloads of all time, along with another Peas tune, the equally ubiquitous 2009 track "Boom Boom Pow," which is in the #4 slot at 5,298,000. Moving back to #3 on the tally is Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" (5,364,000), followed by another Gaga smash, "Poker Face" at #5 (5,131,000).

    In keeping with their world-reigning status, the Peas have signed up alongside Shakira, Alicia Keys and John Legend to help kick off the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. They will perform at the launch on June 10 at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg, South Africa. Also on the bill are Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo and South African rockers BLK JKS. The opening celebration will take place on the eve of the first match in what is one of the most widely viewed sporting events on the planet.

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  • Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna Highlight 'Good Morning America' Summer Concerts

    Lady Antebellum, Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Diddy and Go-Go's are also on the list.
    By Kyle Anderson


    The Jonas Brothers
    Photo: Rob Hoffman/ JBE/ Getty Images

    The weather is slowly getting warmer, the days are extending, and baseball season is in full swing, which could only mean one thing: Summer concert season is here. And with the new season comes multi-day festivals like Bamboozle (this weekend in East Rutherford, New Jersey) as well as weekly freebies, care of early-morning news shows like "Good Morning America," which just released its lineup.

    The season kicks off on May 21 with a tag-team performance from the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, all of whom star in the upcoming Disney Channel movie "Camp Rock 2" and will be touring together from July through October. In fact, that combo is booked for a second gig on August 13, meaning viewers will get twice as many opportunities to see their favorite Disney stars.

    From there, the ABC morning show hits just about all the genre bases, from country (Sugarland, Lady Antebellum) to R&B (Rihanna, Alicia Keys) to pop (Miley Cyrus) to hip-hop (Diddy, Black Eyed Peas). Other highlights include Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan, sharing the stage on June 11 in honor of the return of Lilith Fair, and what is being touted as the final television performance by the retiring Go-Go's on July 16.

    All of these shows take place on Friday mornings at the Rumsey Playfield in New York's Central Park. Last year's lineup included killer performances from the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Green Day, Whitney Houston and the Jonas Brothers.

    This year's "GMA" Summer Concert Series:

    » May 21 - Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato
    » May 28 - Sugarland
    » June 4 - Diddy-Dirty Money
    » June 11 - Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan
    » June 18 - Miley Cyrus
    » June 25 - Alicia Keys
    » July 2 - Mary J. Blige
    » July 9 - To Be Announced
    » July 16 - The Go-Go's
    » July 23 - Sheryl Crow
    » July 30 - Black Eyed Peas
    » August 6 - To be Announced
    » August 13 - Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato
    » August 20 - Rihanna
    » August 27 - Lady Antebellum

    Which "Good Morning America" performance are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!

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  • 'Idol Gives Back' Gets A Hand From Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Elton John

    Black Eyed Peas and Carrie Underwood also perform during 'American Idol' fundraising effort.
    By Gil Kaufman


    Alicia Keys performs on "Idol Gives Back" Wednesday
    Photo: Fox

    Most of Wednesday night's (April 21) "American Idol" was given over to the all-star fundraising effort "Idol Gives Back," featuring performances from Alicia Keys, Elton John, Mary J. Blige and others uniting to raise funds for children's charities in the U.S. and abroad. There was, of course, also work to be done, as another contestant faced elimination at the end of the nearly two-and-a-half-hour special.

    But the majority of the show was focused on performances at the "Idol" studios in Los Angeles, as well as a second location at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where Queen Latifah hosted in front of a rowdy crowd hyped for Carrie Underwood, the Black Eyed Peas and other special guests.

    The evening opened with President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, delivering a pre-taped message from the White House. " 'American Idol' has always been about changing lives, on the stage and around the world," the president said. "That's why Michelle and I want to take a moment to thank everyone watching tonight for your continued generosity as part of 'Idol Gives Back.' "

    The top 12, all wearing crisp white outfits, were reunited for one last group number, the 1986 Freiheit song "Keeping the Dream Alive," followed by the Black Eyed Peas, who beamed in for their tune "Rock That Body" on a stage shrouded in fog and crisscrossing lasers. As a half-dozen futuristic robot-girl warriors flashed their ray guns at the crowd, Fergie worked the stage in a metallic snakeskin bodysuit and knee-high matching boots for the uptempo dance tune.

    This week's mentor, Alicia Keys, sang her sultry new ballad "Un-Thinkable" while wearing a silky black pantsuit, and then sat down at the piano for a forceful run through the sequel to her hit duet with Jay-Z, "Empire State of Mind (Pt. II) Broken Down." Former "Idol" winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood dropped by to sing her inspirational ballad about trying to make a difference in the world, "Change."

    Though former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox was scheduled to perform, she was grounded by the Icelandic volcano, but still made an appearance in a touching segment about how the right drugs helped save the life of a desperately ill 7-year-old girl with pneumonia and AIDS. She later appeared in a satellite segment singing her hopeful tribute to children in need, "Universal Child," a new song that was available for download on iTunes after the show.

    English guitar icon Jeff Beck was joined by Joss Stone and the Jubilation choir for a slinky ramble through "I Put a Spell on You," which featured plenty of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's legendary whammy-bar pyrotechnics. Mary J. Blige also lent a hand, hooking up with Orianthi, Travis Barker, Steve Vai and "Idol" judge Randy Jackson to perform Led Zeppelin's rock classic "Stairway to Heaven." Wearing dark shades, black leather pants and a black leotard with mirrored shoulder pads, Blige brought some soul power to the rock anthem, with Barker bashing out the rumbling rhythm and Vai and Orianthi trading off riffs as the tune built to a titanic peak.

    The night's final performance came from Elton John, who encouraged viewers to get educated about HIV/AIDS and to get tested for the disease before singing his ageless piano ballad "Your Song."

    Among the stars lending a hand through video segments chronicling childhood poverty and hunger were Jennifer Garner, former guest judge Victoria Beckham, Captain "Sully" Sullenberger, Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, George Lopez, David Duchovny, Chris Rock, Josh Groban, Morgan Freeman, Slash, Jim Carrey, Wanda Sykes and Ben Affleck.

    Garner visited an Appalachian town near hear hometown in Charleston, West Virginia, where 45 percent of children are growing up in poverty. She met a family of six that lives in a cramped two-room trailer with no heat and is getting some educational help from Save the Children, one of the night's beneficiaries. Freeman and Randy Jackson traveled to Mississippi and watched as Save the Children helped spread literacy to help rural children get out of poverty. DeGeneres was in Monrovia, California, with David Arquette to see the efforts of Feeding America, which provides food to families in need, while former "Idol" winner David Cook went to Ethiopia on behalf of the U.N. Foundation to see their work trying to help save young girls from servitude.

    After taking a year off in 2009 due to the financial crisis, Wednesday night's show was the third edition of "Idol Gives Back," and near the end of the show, Simon Cowell announced that million had already been raised.

    To donate to "Idol Gives Back," call (877) 436-5243 or visit AmericanIdol.com.

    Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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  • Justin Bieber Surprises Fans At Ludacris Show In L.A.

    Pop singer jumped onstage as Luda opened for the Black Eyed Peas.
    By Jocelyn Vena


    Justin Bieber (file)
    Photo: Getty Images

    Justin Bieber surprised fans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday night when he jumped onstage with Ludacris, who was opening for the Black Eyed Peas. The teen singer, who has a duet "Baby" with Luda on his sophomore album, My World 2.0, tweeted about the appearance later.

    "Crazy night...got to surprise the crowd at the STAPLES CENTER with @Ludajuice 2nite!! Black Eye Peas killed it too," he tweeted. Hours before the show, he teased his appearance, writing, "Who is at the staples center tonight for Luda and the peas?? Heard it's gonna be crazy!"

    GossipCenter.com posted a report from the show, as well as some photos of Bieber leaving the concert with an unidentified lady. Although he recently shared that he's single, Bieber and the young woman reportedly held hands.

    On Tuesday, Bieber also released his new music video for his track, "Never Let You Go." Writing about the video on Twitter, he said, "NLYG was shot in the BAHAMAS ATLANTIS Resort where I will take u on Vacation if u find the GOLDEN TICKETS in the MY WORLD 2.0 album."

    Are you planning on seeing Justin in concert this year? What songs are you excited to see him sing live? Share your thoughts here!

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  • Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas To Kick Off Soccer World Cup

    Shakira, John Legend, Amadou & Mariam will also help open tournament in South Africa.
    By Nick Neofitidis


    Alicia Keys
    Photo: Matt Harper/ MTV News

    Kicking off one of the world's biggest sporting events should be the job of some equally big superstars. The 2010 FIFA World Cup did its best to recruit A-list artists, and on Wednesday, the soccer organization confirmed that Alicia Keys, Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas and John Legend would be among the performers hitting the stage on June 10 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg, South Africa.

    "[It's] going to be insane," Keys told MTV News, shortly after the announcement. "I'm very excited about going to Africa, and the fact that the World Cup is in Africa is unbelievable for me! To be a part of that is incredible."

    Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo and South African rock group BLK JKS will be among the musicians celebrating the first World Cup on their continent. The opening celebration, which is held on the eve of the first match, will also likely include appearances by soccer legends past and present, plenty of celebrity power and more performances to be announced soon.

    Keys is excited to go back to Africa and work with her Keep a Child Alive foundation, which provides support for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

    FIFA is doing its part to help too: All net proceeds from the concert will be donated to 20 Centres for 2010, a campaign to build soccer-training centers in Africa that will also offer education and health-care services to disadvantaged communities.

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