Elephunk, the third studio album by The Black Eyed Peas released in June 2003, marks a key moment of transition and expansion for the group. It is their first album featuring Fergie as a full member, and shows the band deliberately moving toward a more mainstream pop and hip-hop hybrid sound while still retaining their roots in rap, funk, Latin, and socially conscious themes. The record blends energetic party tracks, ballads, and outreach songs anchored by tight production, lush instrumentation, and memorable hooks. From the massive crossover success of “Where Is the Love?” to harder-hitting tracks like “Anxiety,” the album balances commercial appeal with experimental ambition.

Commercially, Elephunk was a sleeper hit that went on to sell millions worldwide, earning double platinum status in the U.S. and topping charts in several countries. Its success established The Black Eyed Peas as more than an underground or niche act, opening up broader appeal and paving the way for their later mainstream dominance. The diversity of styles—from dancehall and funk to rock-inflected hip-hop—gives the album replay value and breadth, helping it remain a touchstone in early-2000s pop-rap and a milestone in the group’s evolution.

Reviews:

“In which the unbelievably dull El Lay alt-rappers fabricate the brightest actual pop album of 2003. They remain unbelievable, but in pop that’s just one more aesthetic nuance.” – Robert Christgau

“This record is full of first rate rapping, first rate tunes, first rate instrumentation. Look on the surface, and you’ve got an album full of memorable songs, hooks that lodge in your mind… but look in depth, and it’s quality from the top down.” – Drowned in Sound

“The Black Eyed Peas drop non-stop hook and hump, an album with almost no missteps and more than its share of undeniable, thumping joy.” – PopMatters

“Elephunk possesses some of the most boundary-pushing productions in contemporary, (mostly) uncommercial hip-hop.” – AllMusic