The multi-ethnic southern Californian group in many ways defies the stereotypes of left coast rap, which throughout most of the nineties was most identified with NWA, Tupac, and Shug Knight's cadre of gangsta rappers on Death Row records. The Black Eyed Peas follow more closely in the legacy of east coast politically-aimed and positively messaged groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. Their smooth, radio-friendly tracks take cues from pop, hip-hop, R&B and dancehall, and stand as a So-Cal alternative to the prevalence of violence-laden gangster rap.

Although now famous for their MC stylings, the Black Eyed Peas' Will I Am (William Adams) and Apl de Ap (Allen Pineda) first began performing together during eighth grade in an LA breakdancing crew called Tribal Nation. Although the crew met with some success, Ap and Will I Am broke away from the group in the early 1990's to expand their focus to all the traditional elements of hip-hop culture (B-boys, MC-ing, DJ-ing) as opposed to solely breakdancing.