Thug Life Army

What happens when some cheery break dancers turn Ruthless?

That's what buffs wondered in 1992. Atban Klann - an early version of the Black Eyed Peas - had signed with Ruthless Records, a West Coast home for gangster rap.

"Many in the Ruthless camp were puzzled by the enthusiasm of (label chief Eazy-E), who had no problem reconciling his own gangster style with the peace-minded break dancing of Atban," Wade Kergan wrote in allmusic.com.

As it happened, he never did release the album. After Eazy-E died in 1995, Atban Klann was on its own; it reformed as the Black Eyed Peas, ranging afar.

The Peas "span several genres (R&B, jazz, soul), lending them a fresh feel that extends far beyond their ability to write a dope rhyme," says Rollingstone.com.

Back in high school, Will.I.Am and Apl de Ap were in a break-dancing crew called Tribal Nation. They later became more interested in music-making and became Atban Klann.

As the Black Eyed Peas, they added a third dancer/MC (Taboo) and a singer (Kim Hill). Their second album had guest shots by Macy Gray and others; for their third, "Elephunk," a singer named Fergie had replaced Hill.

"They''re really an up-and-coming group," said Breslin director Scott Breckner. "They''ve had one song that's played all the time."

That was called "Let's Get Retarded," until pro basketball used a reworked version, "Let's Get Started," for its commercials. "The commercials have become so ubiquitous and the song so well-received that they (released) the re-recorded version as their next single and video," said VH1.com.

Now - just as a new basketball season gets started - the Black Eyed Peas arrive, ready to put the fun back in funk.

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