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BLACK EYED PEAS Monkey Business A&M ***

When it comes to poppy hip-hop that eats the charts for breakfast, the Peas know all the right buttons to press. 2003's Elephunk album was the one which opened all manner of doors to the group, with such singles as Let's Get it Started and the Justin Timberlake-aided Where is The Love? doing most of the damage. Of course, the trick now is to repeat that kind of success, so you can't blame them for inviting Timberlake back again to have another go. He's one of a few guests here, yet his take on My Style is not quite in the same league as the funky strut that James Brown brings to They Don't Want Music or surfing singer-songwriter Jack Johnson's sweet layers on Gone Going Gone. Guest contributions aside, it's the punchy, vibrant, spirited funk of the Peas that really spells business here. www.blackeyedpeas.com
Jim Carroll