On Monday (Dec. 17), the Black Eyed Peas released their music video for the ’90s- throwback- influenced record “BACK 2 HIPHOP” featuring Nas, off their latest album Masters of the Sun Vol. 1.
The cinematic-like, five-minute visual features each member of the ‘Peas with their own scene, where they spit bar after bar. The colorful video is part-animated and part live-action, and incorporates inspiration from of the golden age of hip-hop as Ancient Egypt meets the Sci-Fi genre.
All three members wear red and black through the first part of the video, while Nas appears as the Great Sphinx of Giza, reminiscent of the look fans may recall from the cover of his album I Am. A young woman lip-syncs the song’s hook, which samples Soul II Soul’s 1989 classic hit “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me).”
While Pasha Shapiro directed the video, will.i.am reportedly came up with the concept. The hip-hop group was ecstatic to be able to work with the legendary Queens rapper, revealing, “It was ‘iLLMatic,’ such an honor to rock with NAS. He is such a huge inspiration to our crew!”
On Wednesday (Dec. 19), the group will be performing the song on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Their seventh album, Masters of the Sun Vol. 1, was released in October and saw the group going back to their old-school roots with political themes.
What are your thoughts on their new music video? Sound off in the comments.