The Black Eyed Peas are officially superstars.
Coming into this year, the hip-pop group had never topped the album or singles charts. Now the Peas have done all that and more. Back in April, their single “Boom Boom Pow” gave ‘em their first Hot 100 chart-topper and it hasn’t relinquished its throne in the 11 weeks since. Fergie, will.i.am and friends had competition this week, however, from none other than themselves. Their new single “I Gotta Feeling” actually debuted at No. 2.
The Peas are the first group to hold the top two spots simultaneously since OutKast did it over five years ago with “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move.” Better still, like OutKast in 2004, they accomplished this feat while likewise topping the album charts.
That’s right, The E.N.D. became their first-ever chart-topping album on Wednesday when it entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. The group that never topped the charts is now topping everything!
Besides the Black Eyed Peas and OutKast, only one other group has ever topped the album charts while simultaneously occupying the two top spots on the Hot 100. And who was that band? A little group from Liverpool called the Beatles.
Actually, the Fab Four hogged up the top five spots while Meet the Beatles! crowned the album charts, a feat never accomplished before or since, but who’s counting?
While it doesn’t get any better than a Beatles comparison, the L.A. group does deserve one criticism. In “Boom Boom Pow,” Fergie raps, “I’m so 2008, you’re so 2000 and late” in a track filled with Auto-Tune effects. Sorry Dutchess, but pitch-control software is even later than 2008 at this point.
Regardless, what’s next for the Black Eyed Peas? Right now their summer is a series of giant music festivals and live television performances, but come fall, watch out. The group will open for U2 on its North American tour.
No matter what the new album is titled, all in all, it doesn’t appear the E.N.D. is coming anytime soon for the Peas.
Photo above courtesy of Dimitri Daniloff, others by Meeno.
