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Will.i.am

 
Will.i.am

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Will.i.am



 
 
William Adams (born March 15, 1975), better known by his stage name
Stage name

A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, comedians, musician, and professional wrestling....
 will.i.am (formerly Will 1X) is a Jamaican American
Jamaican American

Jamaican Americans are Americans of Jamaican heritage or Jamaican-born people who live in the United States. American citizenship is not a prerequisite of being a Jamaican American as permanent residents are also given this title....
 who has won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award

The Emmy Award, also known as the 'Emmy', is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards....
 and a Grammy Award
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
. Will.I.Am is a hip hop music
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
ian, rapper, dancer, songwriter, animation voice and founding member and frontman of Black Eyed Peas. He also has his own label called will.i.am music group
Will.i.am music group

will.i.am music group is a vanity label founded by Hip-Hop artist will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Other than will.i.am, there are popular artists such as Fergie , Macy Gray and Sergio Mendes signed to the label....
.

eptember 2007, will.i.am's record label Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the largest business group and family of record labels in the Record industry. With a 25.5% market share, it is one of the Music industry....
 decided on a pilot scheme to reward certain file sharing with cash incentives, including will.i.am tracks from his latest solo album Songs About Girls
Songs about Girls

Songs About Girls is the third studio album by will.i.am, known from his work with the Black Eyed Peas. The original title of the album was "Keep the Beeper"....
.

will.i.am is also featured in Flo Rida
Flo Rida

Tramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida, is an American rapper. As a teenager, he toured with local rap group 2 Live Crew....
's debut album Mail on Sunday
Mail on Sunday (album)

Mail on Sunday is the debut album by the United States hip hop artist Flo Rida and was released on March 18 2008 via Atlantic Records and Poe Boy Entertainment....
 on the song In The Ayer
In the Ayer

"In the Ayer" is the third official single from Flo Rida's debut album Mail on Sunday . It was produced by and features will.i.am. Tiffany Villarreal performs the background vocals, but she is uncredited....
, and in Usher
Usher

Usher may refer to:* Usher **Church usher**Court usher**White House Chief Usher* Usher 1C, human gene* Usher syndrome, genetic disroder* Gentleman Usher of an order of knights in the United Kingdom...
's latest album Here I Stand
Here I Stand

'Here I Stand' may refer to:* Here I Stand , a manifesto-autobiography by Paul Robeson** ...
, on track 6, titled What's Your Name
What's Your Name

What's Your Name may refer to:*"What's Your Name", a 1962 top-ten single by Don and Juan*"What's Your Name", a 1969 single by The Music Explosion...
.

will.i.am has recently been cast as John Wraith in the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a prequel to the X-Men film series. In 2008 will.i.am contributed the song "One People" to the Survival International
Survival International

Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the collective rights of indigenous peoples tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples and helps them to determine their own future....
 charity album, Songs for Survival
Songs for Survival

Bruce Parry Presents Amazon - Tribe - Songs for Survival is a double album released by Kensaltown Records in support of Survival International, the human rights organisation for tribal peoples....
.

re joining the Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising or FIDM is a co-educational, specialized private college located in California dedicated to educating students for the Fashion, Entertainment, Interior Design, and Graphic Design industries....
 in Los Angeles.






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Encyclopedia


William Adams (born March 15, 1975), better known by his stage name
Stage name

A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, comedians, musician, and professional wrestling....
 will.i.am (formerly Will 1X) is a Jamaican American
Jamaican American

Jamaican Americans are Americans of Jamaican heritage or Jamaican-born people who live in the United States. American citizenship is not a prerequisite of being a Jamaican American as permanent residents are also given this title....
 who has won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award

The Emmy Award, also known as the 'Emmy', is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards....
 and a Grammy Award
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
. Will.I.Am is a hip hop music
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
ian, rapper, dancer, songwriter, animation voice and founding member and frontman of Black Eyed Peas. He also has his own label called will.i.am music group
Will.i.am music group

will.i.am music group is a vanity label founded by Hip-Hop artist will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Other than will.i.am, there are popular artists such as Fergie , Macy Gray and Sergio Mendes signed to the label....
.

Biography


Professional life

In September 2007, will.i.am's record label Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the largest business group and family of record labels in the Record industry. With a 25.5% market share, it is one of the Music industry....
 decided on a pilot scheme to reward certain file sharing with cash incentives, including will.i.am tracks from his latest solo album Songs About Girls
Songs about Girls

Songs About Girls is the third studio album by will.i.am, known from his work with the Black Eyed Peas. The original title of the album was "Keep the Beeper"....
.

will.i.am is also featured in Flo Rida
Flo Rida

Tramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida, is an American rapper. As a teenager, he toured with local rap group 2 Live Crew....
's debut album Mail on Sunday
Mail on Sunday (album)

Mail on Sunday is the debut album by the United States hip hop artist Flo Rida and was released on March 18 2008 via Atlantic Records and Poe Boy Entertainment....
 on the song In The Ayer
In the Ayer

"In the Ayer" is the third official single from Flo Rida's debut album Mail on Sunday . It was produced by and features will.i.am. Tiffany Villarreal performs the background vocals, but she is uncredited....
, and in Usher
Usher

Usher may refer to:* Usher **Church usher**Court usher**White House Chief Usher* Usher 1C, human gene* Usher syndrome, genetic disroder* Gentleman Usher of an order of knights in the United Kingdom...
's latest album Here I Stand
Here I Stand

'Here I Stand' may refer to:* Here I Stand , a manifesto-autobiography by Paul Robeson** ...
, on track 6, titled What's Your Name
What's Your Name

What's Your Name may refer to:*"What's Your Name", a 1962 top-ten single by Don and Juan*"What's Your Name", a 1969 single by The Music Explosion...
.

will.i.am has recently been cast as John Wraith in the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a prequel to the X-Men film series. In 2008 will.i.am contributed the song "One People" to the Survival International
Survival International

Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the collective rights of indigenous peoples tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples and helps them to determine their own future....
 charity album, Songs for Survival
Songs for Survival

Bruce Parry Presents Amazon - Tribe - Songs for Survival is a double album released by Kensaltown Records in support of Survival International, the human rights organisation for tribal peoples....
.

Fashion

Before joining the Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising or FIDM is a co-educational, specialized private college located in California dedicated to educating students for the Fashion, Entertainment, Interior Design, and Graphic Design industries....
 in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began designing his own signature clothing line, i.am, which made its official debut in 2005 at the Magic apparel trade show in Las Vegas . In 2007, Will.i.am teamed up with Blue Holdings to design a premium denim collection, i.am Antik, that was scheduled to debut in August 2007 at the Project Show in Las Vegas . He has also designed clothing for the Black Eyed Peas.

Political Advocacy

In January 2008, will.i.am wrote a song, "Yes We Can
Yes We Can

"Yes We Can" is a collage-style music video inspired by US President Barack Obama's popularization of the slogan "Yes we can." During the 2008 US presidential campaign following the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, then-United States Senate Barack Obama, used the English translation of the United Farm Workers slogan "S?, se puede" in his...
", in support of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign
Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008

Barack Obama, then United States Senate#Seniority United States United States Senate from Illinois, announced his candidacy for President of the United States in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007....
 of Barack Obama
Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the List of Presidents of the United States and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office....
, which in turn became a music video directed by Jesse Dylan
Jesse Dylan

Jesse Dylan, born January 6, 1966 in New York City, is an American film, television, and music video director....
. The lyrics of the song are composed almost entirely of excerpts from Obama's speech on January 8, 2008, following the New Hampshire presidential primary election
New Hampshire primary

The New Hampshire primary is the first in a series of nationwide political party primary elections held in the United States every four years, as part of the process of choosing the United States Democratic Party and United States Republican Party nominees for the United States presidential election to be held the subsequent November....
. The video features appearances from numerous celebrities like Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett I. Johansson is an American actor and singer. Johansson rose to fame with her role in 1998's The Horse Whisperer and subsequently gained critical acclaim for her roles in Ghost World , Lost in Translation , and Girl with a Pearl Earring , the latter two earning her Golden Globe Award nominations in 2003....
, Tatyana Ali
Tatyana Ali

Tatyana Marisol Ali is an American actress and R&B singer, best known for her role as List of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air characters#Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air....
, John Legend
John Legend

John Stephens better known by his stage name John Legend, is an United States Neo soul singer, songwriter, and pianist.His debut studio album, the multimusic recording sales certification-selling Get Lifted, was released in late 2004, and features collaborations with rapper and record producer Kanye West as well as Snoop Dogg....
, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock

Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is a jazz pianist and composer. He embraces elements of rock and roll and soul music while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz....
, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr., then known as Lew Alcindor, is an American athlete and retired professional basketball player, widely considered one of the greatest National Basketball Association players of all time....
, Adam Rodríguez
Adam Rodriguez

Adam Michael Rodr?guez is an American actor of Cuban and Puerto Rican American descent. He is best known for his role as Eric Delko on CSI: Miami....
, Kelly Hu
Kelly Hu

Kelly Ann Hu is an American Actor and former model who held the Miss Teen USA 1985 and Miss Hawaii USA 1993 titles....
, Hill Harper
Hill Harper

Hill Harper is an United States film, television and Stage actor....
, Amber Valletta
Amber Valletta

Amber Evangeline Valletta is an United States model and actor....
, Eric Balfour
Eric Balfour

Eric Salter Balfour is an American singer and actor of film and television. He is the lead singer of the band Born As Ghosts, formerly known as Fredalba....
, Aisha Tyler
Aisha Tyler

Aisha N. Tyler is an United States actor, stand-up comedy and writer....
, Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer, model, and occasional actress, best known as the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls....
, Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon

Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon is an American actor, rapper and current host of America's Got Talent....
, Bryan Greenberg
Bryan Greenberg

Bryan E. Greenberg is an United States actor and musician, known for his role as Jake Jagielski in the The CW Television Network TV show One Tree Hill and as Nick Garrett on the ABC drama October Road ....
, Common
Common (rapper)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an United States rapper and actor.Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar? and maintained a significant underground following into the late 90s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians....
 and first appeared on the website for Dipdive, and within a week of its appearance racked up three million views, and over four million views on YouTube
YouTube

YouTube is a Video hosting service website where users can upload, view and share video clips. Three former PayPal employees created YouTube in February 2005....
. On June 13 2008 the "Yes We Can
Yes We Can

"Yes We Can" is a collage-style music video inspired by US President Barack Obama's popularization of the slogan "Yes we can." During the 2008 US presidential campaign following the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, then-United States Senate Barack Obama, used the English translation of the United Farm Workers slogan "S?, se puede" in his...
 Song" won an award at the 35th Annual Creative Arts and Entertainment Daytime Emmy Awards for "New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment".

On February 29, 2008, a second video, "We Are the Ones
Yes We Can

"Yes We Can" is a collage-style music video inspired by US President Barack Obama's popularization of the slogan "Yes we can." During the 2008 US presidential campaign following the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, then-United States Senate Barack Obama, used the English translation of the United Farm Workers slogan "S?, se puede" in his...
" was released on Dipdive and YouTube. Including cameo appearances from Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba

Jessica Marie Alba is an United States television and film actor. She began her television and movie appearances at age 13 in Camp Nowhere and The Secret World of Alex Mack ....
, Ryan Phillippe
Ryan Phillippe

Matthew Ryan Phillippe , better known as Ryan Phillippe, is an United States actor. After appearing on the soap opera One Life to Live, he came to fame in the late 1990s, starring in a string of teen-oriented films, including I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cruel Intentions, and 54 ....
, Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is an United States actor. She is known for her roles as Ray Charles' wife, Della Bea Robinson, in the film Ray , as Kay Amin in The Last King of Scotland , and Alicia Masters in the 2005 live action Fantastic Four film and its 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer....
, pop punk band Yellowcard
Yellowcard

Yellowcard is a pop punk band originally hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, but now based in Los Angeles, California. Their music features a rare contribution to the genre, incorporating the use of a violin....
's front man, Ryan Key
Ryan Key

Ryan Key is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the band Yellowcard....
, John Leguizamo
John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo is a Colombian American and Puerto Rican American comedian, actor, voice actor and Film producer....
, Regina King
Regina King

Regina King is an American film and television actress....
, Tyrese Gibson
Tyrese Gibson

Tyrese Darnell Gibson , also known simply as Tyrese, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, rapping, actor, former fashion model and list of MTV VJs....
, Eric Mabius
Eric Mabius

Eric Harry Timothy Mabius is a Screen Actor's Guild Award nominated American actor, currently appearing as Daniel Meade on the ABC television series Ugly Betty....
, Tichina Arnold
Tichina Arnold

Tichina Rolanda Arnold is an NAACP Image Award winning American actress best known for her role as Pamela James on Martin , as well as her current role as the matriarch, Rochelle , in Everybody Hates Chris....
, Adrianne Palicki
Adrianne Palicki

Adrianne Palicki is an United States actress who currently stars as Tyra Collette on the NBC television series Friday Night Lights ....
, comedian George Lopez
George Lopez

George Lopez is a Mexican American comedian and actor. He is one of the most prominent Mexican-Americans from within the Latino community to be recognized in mainstream North American popular culture....
, and singers Macy Gray
Macy Gray

Macy Gray is an American contemporary R&B and soul music singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor, famed for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis as well as Keith Harris as Orville the Duck....
, Zoe Kravitz
Zoe Kravitz

Zo? Isabella Kravitz is an United States actress known for her roles in The Brave One with Jodie Foster and No Reservations with Catherine Zeta-Jones....
 and Black Eyed Peas' Taboo
Taboo (rapper)

Jaime Luis G?mez , better known as Taboo Nawasha, is an United States musical performer who is best known as a member of the Black Eyed Peas....
, the video features everyone chanting "O-BA-MA" as a portrayal as their hopes and wishes for Barack Obama
Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the List of Presidents of the United States and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office....
 and his presidential campaign.

On 4 November 2008 will.i.am spoke to CNN's Anderson Cooper about his support for Sen. Obama, using CNNs 'hologram' technology.

After the 2008 election, will.i.am released "It's a New Day
It's a New Day (song)

"It's a New Day" is a single by rapper-Hip hop producer will.i.am. It was released on November 7, 2008. He performed the song for the first time on the The Oprah Winfrey Show....
." The video reflects on the historical events that led to the election of the first African-American President of the United States, and on people's reaction to his election. The video features celebrities such as Fergie, Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde is an United States actor. She began acting in the early 2000s, and has since appeared in a number of film and television parts, including her roles on the series The O.C., The Black Donnellys, and House ....
, Kanye West
Kanye West

Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, record producer and singer. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, and his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008....
, Harold Perrineau, Kevin Bacon
Kevin Bacon

Kevin Norwood Bacon is an United States film and theater actor whose notable roles include Animal House, A Few Good Men , Stir of Echoes, Queens Logic, Wild Things, JFK , Murder in the First, Apollo 13 , Mystic River, The Woodsman, Footloose, Friday the 13th , Diner , and Balto ....
 and his wife Kyra Sedgwick
Kyra Sedgwick

Kyra Minturn Sedgwick is an United States actor. In 2007, Sedgwick won Best Actress for lead role in a dramatic TV series at the Golden Globes for her role in The Closer....
. The video first debuted on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show

The Oprah Winfrey Show is a United States Television syndication talk show, hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey, and is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
.

In honor of the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States, will.i.am collaborated with producer David Foster
David Foster

David Walter Foster, Order of Canada, Order of British Columbia, Doctor of Laws is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer-songwriter and arrangement.....
 on the patriotic song "America's Song
America's Song

"America's Song" is a patriotism song written by Will.I.Am, David Foster and George Pajon, Jr. It is performed by Will.I.Am, Seal , Bono, Mary J....
", with contributing vocals from Seal
Seal (musician)

Seal Henry Olusegun Kwassi Olumide Adelo Samuel is a British Soul music singer and songwriter. His name Olusegun means "God is victorious"....
, Bono
Bono

Paul David Hewson , also known by his stage name Bono, is the main vocalist of the Ireland rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his future wife, Ali Hewson, and the future members of U2....
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige

Mary Jane Blige is a nine-time Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated American R&B music singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor who has sold more than forty eight million albums worldwide....
, and Faith Hill
Faith Hill

Faith Hill is an United States country music singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw....
.

Motion Picture Music


In 2008, will.i.am contributed a number of tracks to the Madagascar 2
Madagascar 2

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a 2008 in film sequel to the 2005 in film film, Madagascar about the continuing adventures of Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, Marty the Zebra, and Melman the Giraffe....
 Motion Picture Soundtrack, notably with industry heavyweight Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer

Hans Florian Zimmer is a Germany composer and Record producer. He is best known for his Academy Award, Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning film scores....
. He also starred in the movie as the character Moto Moto.

Awards and nominations


  • Daytime Emmy Awards
    • 2008, New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment: "Yes We Can
      Yes We Can

      "Yes We Can" is a collage-style music video inspired by US President Barack Obama's popularization of the slogan "Yes we can." During the 2008 US presidential campaign following the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, then-United States Senate Barack Obama, used the English translation of the United Farm Workers slogan "S?, se puede" in his...
       Song" (Won)


  • Grammy Awards
    • 2009, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Be OK" (Won)

Discography


Studio Albums

  • 2001: Lost Change
    Lost Change

    Lost Change is the first album by will.i.am, released in 2001 in music. will.i.am is the first member of The Black Eyed Peas to create a solo album....
  • 2003: Must B 21
    Must B 21

    Must B 21 is the second compilation by will.i.am, released on September 23, 2003. Track seventeen on the album, "Go!" was featured in the 2004 basketball game NBA Live 2005 and Madden NFL 2005....
  • 2006: Timeless - Sergio Mendes
  • 2007: Songs About Girls
    Songs about Girls

    Songs About Girls is the third studio album by will.i.am, known from his work with the Black Eyed Peas. The original title of the album was "Keep the Beeper"....


External links