Black Eyed Peas, Pump It | Wacky Wednesday

In the 19^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique song, “Pump It,” performed by Grammy-winning pop/rap collective Black Eyed Peas.

Do you know what day it is? It is Wednesday, folks! Do you know what that means? Why, it is Wacky Wednesday! In the spirited column Wacky Wednesday, we analyze, break down, and explore songs from various musicians of various genres that can be considered unique, unusual, or ‘wacky.’  These songs can be new or old; the only requirement is that they ‘catch the ears’ because of their distinctiveness. So, with the background established, in the 19^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique song, “Pump It” performed by Black Eyed Peas. Wacky Wednesday vibes commence!

“Pump It (Louder) / Pump it (Louder) / Pump It (Louder).” You get the idea! “Damn (damn) / Damn (damn)!” Ooh-wee, the Black Eyed Peas have a knack for their high-energy, often silly, songs, particularly during their Fergie era. “Fergalicious”, bi-otches! In the 2000s, those Peas dropped a shit-ton of hits, including the irresistible “Pump It”. “Pump It” commenced the quartet’s 2005 album, Monkey Business.  Besides rapping, Will.i.am. is behind the boards as usual.  Interestingly, the song samples surf rockers Dick Dale and His Del-Tones (“Miserlou”). The sound is cartoonish, gimmicky, and playful to the nth degree.  Describing this groovy joint as ear-catching simply doesn’t do it justice.  How about that trumpet ?

Beyond the simple but infectious chorus, there is no shortage of intriguing lyrics from “Pump It.” Will.i.am is ‘on fire’ in the first verse.  On offense from the jump, he spits, “Niggas wanna hate us (Who?) / Niggas be envious (Who?) / I know why they hatin’ on us (Why?) / ‘Cause that so fabulous (What?).” Also, for good measure, will.i.am spells: “F-R-E-S-H, we fresh / D-E-F, that’s right, we def’ (rock) / We definite / B-E-P, we reppin’ it, so.” In the second verse, the will.i.am (with Taboo selectively) brushes off the haters, rightfully asserting, “When we play, you shake your ass.” Yep, sounds about right! Of course, they are referencing women shaking their asses, though plenty of men did/do too! Apl.de.ap lets his presence be known in the third verse, encouraging us to “Pump it, louder, come on, don’t stop.” Noted, Apl. Fergie, assisted by Taboo (selectively) hypes us up in the fourth verse with “La-da-dee-da-da-dee-da / On the stere-ere-ere-ere-o (Ha) / Let those speakers blow your mind.” Woo-hoo! Pump that shee-ittt up! Ultimately, “Pump It” earned the Peas another top 20 hit (number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100). They have had bigger successes, but this fun track is a sick way to start any album. P-U-M-P I-T!

Black Eyed Peas // Monkey Business // Interscope // 2005

Black Eyed Peas, Pump It: Wacky Wednesday No. 19 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Interscope; Rich The Barber Font from Font Space; Wendel Natan from Pexels; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]