- 2025-07-20
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MUSIC
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will.i.am & Taboo Team Up for New Song “East LA”
American hip-hop trio Black Eyed Peas members will.i.am and Taboo released a new song “East LA” on July 18, 2025.
The song pays homage to will.i.am's Boyle Heights hometown, East Los Angeles, and is a show of solidarity with communities hit hard by ICE raids this summer.
Also, the song was inspired by his longstanding personal involvement in helping the neighborhood of his youth.
The track is based on a remix of Santana's 1999 hit “Maria Maria”. It was written by Jamie Gomez, Keith Harris, and William Adams. Produced by will.i.am and Keith Harris.
The accompanying music video was directed by will.i.am and Sterling Hampton IV.
will.i.am said of the song, “We are Los Angeles. We are Angelenos. We are Americans. Some of us born here, some of us migrated here. We are a great country and our borders should be protected. You would think that the idea of border control would make residents feel safe - but it's pumped fear into our communities.”- He continued, “They're going after people that make our city beautiful. People who put food in our supermarkets, take care of other people's kids, work two to three jobs so they can take care of their families. It breaks my heart.”
He added, “I wanted to make this video to change the vibe and celebrate the folks that make our cities great. The very same people who are being disregarded, dehumanized, and demoralized.” -
will.i.am told Billboard about the song, “This is the first installment of the things that I got coming. I'm from Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, predominantly Mexican neighborhood. So I was born and raised where my mom is raised. I just wanted to flip that particular part of the song that says “East LA” and I wanted to put it on repeat and then build around East LA and show some love to the community that I come from, that I was born and raised in, especially now with all that's happening with immigration issues and people that I grew up with, their parents, their kids, threatened, worried, anxiety.” - source : Apple Music
