On June 11, the Black Eyed Peas and Vevo premiered a new episode of “Footnotes,” celebrating the global hit, “Pump-It,” the final single from their Grammy-nominated album Monkey Business, which was released 20 years ago on June 7, 2005. Today, “Pump-It” remains as one of the group’s most recognizable hits, charting in the Top 10 in more than a dozen countries.
In this episode of “Footnotes,” will.i.am, Taboo, and Apl.de.Ap take a look back at the iconic “Pump-It” music video whilst discussing the cultural influences behind it. will.i.am talks about the group’s roots in Los Angeles’ Filipino community and how it ties into the city’s car culture. He specifically comments on the Honda Civic that’s featured within the music video.
will.i.am explains, “If you know about Los Angeles culture, Filipinos, and the car scene, you know about Honda Civics. So in the “Pump It” video, you see us driving in that Honda Civic, kicking it off. In our minds it was like ‘yo, Honda Civics are the s***.’ Still to this day, Honda Civics are the s***.”
The group also comments on the discovery of the quintessential sample of “Misirlou” by Dick Dale, which led to the “pump-it louder” hook of the song.
The “Pump-It’ music video is truly unforgettable, showcasing various stunts, fight scenes, and cinematic references to the movie “Fight Club” and John Woo-style martial arts.
Taboo comments, “This video really captures the theme of our energy, especially in our live shows. “Pump It” always sends the people into a frenzy. That’s the moment in our show that really elevates and takes us to the next level in live performances.”
The hit “Pump-It” will forever remain as one of the various hits produced by the Black Eyed Peas. The music video has 930 million views to date, while on Spotify earning over almost 900 million streams from various users. If you ever need a song to pick up the vibe, make sure you tune in and “Pump-it louder!”
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