Maps of Music

Translation (2020)

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

Translation debuted at number 52 on the Billboard 200, yet it gave Black Eyed Peas their first top-five appearance on the Top Latin Albums chart.

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Translation: eighth studio album by American group Black Eyed Peas
Released June 19, 2020 on Epic Records
Guest appearances from Shakira, J Balvin, Ozuna, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Tyga, El Alfa, Piso 21, Becky G and French Montana
Track listing revealed June 11, 2020, together with the album announcement

Promoted with two Hot Latin Songs chart toppers: "Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)" and "Mamacita"
"Ritmo" was part of the soundtrack of the film Bad Boys for Life, with J Balvin as a collaborator
J. Rey Soul made her debut with "Mamacita" alongside Ozuna on April 10, 2020
"No Mañana", featuring El Alfa, was released as a promotional single

Vocals credited to will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and J. Rey Soul, with each member absent from certain tracks
Several tracks sample or interpolate older songs

The album cover art was released together with the promotional single "No Mañana" on June 12, 2020

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.

Metacritic weighted average of 63 from four professional reviews, which the site describes as generally favorable
Rolling Stone: Gary Suarez said the album was "often clunky" yet showed the group exploiting the contemporary Latin pop trend, with occasional charm
Variety: A. D. Amorosi said the group found new adventure and inventiveness through the modern Latin music prism
Hot Press: Ingrid Angulo praised the reggaeton foray and said the collaborations were seamless
Tom Hull, writing in his blog, was relatively positive and singled out the atypical song "News Today"

Billboard 200 debut at number 52
Top Latin Albums at number three, the group's first top-five appearance on that chart
First Billboard 200 entry since The Beginning (2010)
Sold 15,000 album-equivalent units, measured largely from streaming, with 4,000 traditional album sales
France: platinum certification (100,000 units) according to the Spanish-language edition

"Ritmo" samples "The Rhythm of the Night" by Corona.
"Mamacita" samples "La Isla Bonita" by Madonna.
"Vida Loca" interpolates "Super Freak" by Rick James and "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer.
"Celebrate" samples "Conga" by the Miami Sound Machine.
Five songs from the album were released as singles, including "Feel the Beat" and "Girl Like Me".
The album is described as the group's first bilingual album.