will.i.am is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer from Los Angeles, California, and is one of the founders of the rap-pop group, Black Eyed Peas. Aside from a thriving music career, he has also served as a judge in several editions of The Voice where he has been known to speak different languages but does the singer speak Spanish?
Aside from being fluent in English, will.i.am can speak conversational Spanish and Filipino. He learned how to speak Spanish during his youth, growing up in Estrada Courts where there was a large Mexican community.
Let’s learn how the Black Eyed Peas star’s life has been influenced by the Latin community.
Being ‘Blaxican’
In an interview with Telemundo Entretenimiento, the rapper revealed that he referred to himself as ‘Blaxican’ since they were the only black family in an all-Mexican neighborhood. He was also raised by Mexicans, telling ABC that he had a ‘thick’ Mexican accent growing up.
The Black Eyed Peas said their 2020 album Translation is dedicated to the Latin movement, featuring top artists like Shakira, Ozuna, French Montana, and Maluma.Although will.i.am can speak Spanish, he rarely speaks it and is not fluent. It can be assumed, however, that his bandmates Taboo (Jaime Luis Gomez), who is also Mexican, and apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) from the Philippines, were there to help him understand the language better since many Filipino words also stem from Spanish.
About Translation
The songwriter shared with Billboard that he couldn’t believe that the world was still in the middle of a race issue and that their eighth studio album, Translation aimed to build bridges. Not just the album itself but to translate—you have to be patient, understanding, empathetic, and collaborative.
“I personally was inspired by this Latin movement,” said will.i.am, “It’s the most streamed genre on Spotify. And to that, it is the definition of international pop.”, shared by the singer on NBC.
The song “Girl Like Me” was recorded in 2008 by “The Hips Don’t Lie” singer and was shot in her native Colombia, while the scenes of the three-man band were done in California.
The band’s footage along with Shakira was combined with matching lighting to form one cohesive production.
