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.
Nicole Scherzinger toured with the Black Eyed Peas earlier sparking rumors that she had joined the group.
THE BLACK EYED PEAS addressed widespread speculation that Fergie has been replaced by Filipino American singer Nicole Scherzinger.
“Black Eyed Peas is me, Will and apl.de.ap. That is who Black Eyed Peas is," stated Taboo, one of the group's original members. "We are the sole members.”
"We have a lot of singers that are a part of the family."
However when he was asked if Nicole Scherzinger has replaced Fergie, he said: “Nicole is part of The Black Eyed Peas family just like Fergie is part of The Black Eyed Peas family. Jess Reynoso (singer), is a part of the family."
The hip-hop group, who were on an 8-year musical hiatus, have reunited for their new ‘Master Of The Sun’ album without Fergie. Former Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger is featured on a few of the new tracks, he said.
Fergie, who joined BEP in 2003, features on a number of the band’s biggest hit songs including ‘Where Is The Love’, ‘I Got A Feeling’ and ‘Pump It’.
However Will.I.Am, Taboo and apl.de.ap, have chosen to recruit former Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger to sing vocals on the project, as well as K-pop star CL of the K-Pop girl group 2NE1. ‘We love her as a family as a person and as an individual,’ the rapper said. ‘We got to meet the rest of the girls but we really built a friendship with CL.’
Addressing the speculation that Fergie had been replaced, Taboo clarified to Metro: “Nicole has been a family member of Black Eyed Peas for many years now and she was actually the first person that we asked to join the band prior to Stacey Ferguson (Fergie).
"Next in line was Fergie," he added, explaining that Nicole was busy with other projects during the early-noughties when the band rose to prominence.
Fergie confirmed that relations with BEP are amicable and she is available for more collaborations. “'I've always just been the little sis and part of groups and like that and I got to have a moment with 'The Dutchess' and such and amazing four albums with The Peas and hopefully more,” Fergie told SiriusXM.
BEP has always been able to combine their social consciousness with their music. apl.de.ap, (aka Allan Pineda) a Filipino American, sang "Bebot," as a tribute to the Filipino farm workers of the early part of last century. After a successful release with a slick contemporary video, years later, the group redid the video to reveal the real intent of their hit sung in Tagalog.
Just for the hell of it, and because it is Filipino American History Month, here is the original vision that was filmed partially in Stockton's Little Manila.
For the English translation, click here. You'll see it is the Filipino equivalent to James Browns' "I'm Black and I'm Proud."
You’re Filipino, shout it out c’mmon! If you’re beautiful, shout it out, c’mmon! If your life is valuable, c’mmon!
Filipino! Filipino! Filipino!
Black Eyed Peas is set to release their anxiously awaited "Master Of The Sun" album on Oct. 26 through Interscope Records.
"Master Of The Sun" is their first album in eight years, the songs on this political album are
inspired by the social climate of the United States. Following is a powerful video for their single "Big Big Love" which takes on some pretty big issues, the Parkland High School shootings, the opioid epidemic and the separation of kids from their families at the border.
There's a warning before the start of video, "It's hard to watch. No kid should have to live through this."Just in time for the Nov. 6 elections.
By the way, the new single features another Filipina singer, Jesica Reynoso, rormer The Voice of the Philippines finalist, who has apparently joined the Black Eyed Peas family.
