Filipina stepping in for Fergie in the Black Eyed Peas

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

J. Rey Soul, also knwn as Jessica Reynoso.

America got it's first look at the woman who's joined the Black Eyed Peas. Her name is J. Rey Soul, AKA Jessica Reynoso from the Philippines.

Reynoso, of African American and Filipino descent, was discovered in 2013 on reality singing competition, The Voice - Philippines. Wth Apl.de.ap as her coach, she reached the semi-finals.

She's not replacing Fergie. Who could ever replace Fergie.

When Fergie stopped performing with the group in 2017, they called on freind Nicole Scherzinger to step for their concert tour. In 2018, with the group taking a break from live performances as they regrouped, Apl.de.ap who is also from the Philippines, introduced Jessica to the other members of the trio, Wil.I.Am and Taboo and she's been performing with them ever since.

She was officially introduced in April of 2020 in the video of their new single, "Mamacita." The coronavirus pandemic ended further live appearances until the MTV Music Video Awards last Sunday when the Black-Eyed Peas closed the show with a show-stopping performance, a mashup of "Vida Loca" and "I Got A Feeling" at a New York City venue, complete with glowing crotches (on the trio).

In a 2020 Billboard interview, Taboo said the addition of J. Rey Soul felt as though they were "giving birth to a new artist," and that he wanted everyone to "give her ultimate praise and respect." 

The group wanted to make sure that Fergie left on good terms. “We love her, and she’s focusing on being a mom,” Will.i.am told Billboard. “That’s a hard job, and that’s what she really wants to do and we’re here for her.

Reynoso has moved to Los Angeles from Laguna, Philippines where she's learning to live on her own and enjoying the touring, meeting new people and seeing new places.

 The group is getting ready for a revival and spending more time at the studio. “Will and Apl, they always tell me that I remind them of themselves of when they were younger -- how much they work, how much they love music, their enthusiasm,” she says.