Today, The Black Eyed Peas and Vevo premiered a new episode of Footnotes celebrating the global smash “Pump It,” the final single from their Grammy-nominated album Monkey Business, which was released 20 years ago on June 7, 2005. The platinum-selling anthem remains one of the group’s most recognizable hits, charting in the Top 10 in more than a dozen countries.
In the episode, will.i.am, Taboo and Apl.de.Ap look back on the explosive 2006 music video and the cultural influences behind it. will.i.am talks about the group’s roots in LA’s Filipino community and how it ties into the city’s car culture, specifically the Honda Civic featured in the video. They also explain how the song’s unforgettable sample, Dick Dale’s “Misirlou,” was discovered by wil.i.am during a bullet train ride in Japan, sparking the now famous “Pump it louder” hook.
The crew gets into the video’s high-energy shoot, packed with stunts, fight scenes, and cinematic references including a scene in Fight Club and John Woo-style martial arts. Ap.de.Ap shares that they did their own stunts, except for Taboo, who had to sit out the action due to a broken tailbone. They wrap by saying “Pump It” captures the hype of their live shows and the track that always cranks up the crowd and takes things to the next level.
