Maps of Music

Elevation (2022)

Where the lyrics of Elevation take you, and where it was really made.

Elevation carries fifteen songs and ten guest artists, yet it never entered the Billboard 200 and peaked on a dance chart instead.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Elevation is the ninth studio album by American group Black Eyed Peas
Released November 11, 2022 via will.i.am Music Group and Epic Records
Fifteen songs in total, running 56:34 according to the Italian track listing
Guest appearances from Anitta, Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, David Guetta, El Alfa, Marshall Jefferson, Nicky Jam, Nicole Scherzinger, Ozuna and Shakira
Track listing opens with Simply the Best, featuring Anitta and El Alfa

Follows the group's previous album, Translation (2020)
After Translation, the band released a number of new singles
In early November 2022 the group announced the album on Instagram
Like Translation, the album contains fifteen songs
Vocals are credited mainly to will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and J. Rey Soul, with J. Rey Soul on selected tracks

Formed in Los Angeles in 1992 by rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo.
Started as an alternative hip hop trio; early albums Behind the Front (1998) and Bridging the Gap (2000) were released through Interscope Records.
Rebranded toward a more marketable pop-rap sound after the early albums.

Current core members: will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo.
Fergie was the lead singer from 2002 until her departure in 2018.
J. Rey Soul joined in 2018 as a touring member and later appeared as a featured artist on recordings.

Breakthrough with Elephunk (2003) and the single "Where Is the Love?", which topped the UK chart for seven weeks.
Monkey Business (2005) debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA.
The E.N.D. (2009) topped the Billboard 200 and produced three Hot 100 number-one singles, including "I Gotta Feeling".
Performed at the Super Bowl XLV halftime show in February 2011.
Went on indefinite hiatus in 2011, briefly reunited in 2015, and released Masters of the Sun Vol. 1 (2018), Translation (2020) and Elevation (2022).
Estimated to have sold around 80 million records.

Specialist press gave mixed reviews, according to the Spanish article
Some critics praised the dance-oriented sound, the focus on the global market and the wide list of international collaborators
Other critics pointed to a lack of sonic and conceptual cohesion compared with the group's earlier work
AllMusic described the album as a continuation of the group's turn toward dance and contemporary electronic music
AllMusic also said the result is uneven in artistic consistency

Peaked at number 13 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart in the United States
Did not enter the Billboard 200
Reached number 44 in Italy
Reached number 89 in France
Overall described as a mid-range release within the group's discography, more successful on specialist rankings than in the general album market

Simply the Best, the opening track, features Anitta and El Alfa
Don't You Worry is a collaboration with Shakira and David Guetta, and was promoted as a single
Simply the Best was also promoted as a single, alongside the Don't You Worry collaboration
The Italian track listing gives the total running time as 56:34
The album's guest list covers Latin, pop and dance artists, including Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam and Ozuna