Black Eyed Peas Rewind To Our MP3 Player Days With A Nonstop Manila Party — Review

On a rainy Wednesday evening, I unexpectedly found myself having a good time in the middle of the work week, treated to a truly memorable night. Although the fun didn’t come easily, thanks to Filipino time, experiencing a party like no other in the form of a Black Eyed Peas concert was well worth the wait.

To set the tone, Ez Mil warmed up the stage as the quick opener, performing two songs, including the crowd-favorite “Panalo,” which lit up the audience. After his set, there was a bit of a wait before the stars of the night finally entered. The crowd, mostly composed of millennials and even some twentysomethings like me (but with the body of an old man), was eager to relive the music of the legendary group.

When the lights finally dimmed and anticipation reached its peak, the Peas burst onto the stage with the perfectly fitting “Let’s Get It Started,” instantly firing up the crowd. From there, it was hit after hit, including “Boom Boom Pow” and “Rock That Body,” the latter enjoying a resurgence thanks to a viral TikTok dance trend, 15 years after its original release. This showed how even today’s generation can still keep up with the party vibes the group dominated in the 2000s and early 2010s.

Suddenly, it felt like being transported back to that era, specifically during the days of “owning” music through YouTube-to-MP3 converters, downloading songs to store on iPods or MP3 players that felt like the greatest things ever back then. Even songs that never really resonated with me as a kid sparked a strange nostalgia, like reliving a moment I never actually had. With their radio dominance and instantly recognizable pop and party anthems, tracks that Filipinos have an instinct for dancing to at parties or even outdoors, there is always at least one song of theirs that you will immediately recognize. 

Hearing the songs live for the first time also brought back memories of watching daily music video countdowns on local TV and just listening to anything popular or what was on the radio at the time. Experiencing these tracks again after all these years felt surreal and thrilling, especially as I stood in the crowd just a few feet away from the group.

If that feeling wasn’t enough, even though I had prepared myself by checking out the setlist online, the night still took an unexpected turn that made the group’s Manila stop feel extra special. The members each had their moment to shine with solo sets, with Taboo Nawasha hyping up the stage through “East LA” and “IN THE AIR,” while will.i.am brought back some of his iconic collaborations, performing “Scream & Shout” featuring Britney Spears and his feature on Usher’s “OMG.”

Apl.de.ap’s homecoming proved to be more than just a full-circle moment. His solo performances of “The APL Song,” “Mare,” and “MABUTI” were already electrifying and had the crowd singing along, but bringing out honorary Filipino Sandara Park for their duet of “2 Proud” and EZ Mil for “Bebot” set the crowd ablaze with excitement. Pinoy pride was taken to another level with these guest artists.

Building on that high-octane energy, the group took things to another level and, like the madness of a Quentin Tarantino film, with “Pump It,” which featured a blazing electric guitar solo, complete with pyrotechnics and smoke effects that stood out as one of the major highlights of the night. Interestingly enough, the song used music from Dick Dale’s 1962 surf version of “Misirlou,” which was featured on Pulp Fiction.

However, amid all the spectacle, there seemed to be an elephant in the room with the absence of the group’s former vocalist, Fergie, as she had not been part of the lineup since 2018. Attention then, of course, shifted to Jessica Reynoso, also known as J. Rey Soul, who, to my surprise and perhaps to others as well, was performing on stage with the rest of the group. She was one of the contestants on the first season of The Voice of the Philippines, joining Team Apl in the process. The last time the group went on a major tour was in 2011, during the height of their popularity.

Safe to say, the Laguna-raised Filipino-American singer filled the void and matched the already high energy of the group, belting out the major female vocal parts like the proud Filipino singer she is. Now serving as a touring member, J. Rey fits perfectly into the mix and never feels out of place. For first-timers like me, returning to the group after years away, this new era may not be as bombastic as their The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) and The Beginning days, but it still reminded me just how massive they were in their heyday. And the party doesn’t stop there, with their current music and the addition of a powerful female vocalist, we just couldn’t get enough of them.

Even with the massive crowd filling the Mall of Asia Arena, there was an odd sense of intimacy to the set. will.i.am was surprisingly the chatterbox of the night, drawing the crowd into a conversational atmosphere as he shared stories about the group’s humble beginnings, his brotherly bond with Apl.de.ap, his fondness for Filipino culture, and their whirlwind 30-plus-year journey of making music together. At times, it felt like attending a TED Talk featuring will.i.am, his transitions between songs weren’t just a few quick quips, but more like full-on essays.

One particularly memorable moment came when will.i.am humored the crowd by uttering what he called the most important and “delicate” word in the Filipino language, a curse word that sent the audience roaring with laughter as he giggled like a little kid. One of the talking points was also the group harking back to “My Humps,” playfully thanking the parents who let their kids listen to it despite its cheeky and suggestive lyrics.

Not to say these moments hampered the experience — in fact, they made the performances even more meaningful. Knowing how far the group has come, and seeing how their interactions with the crowd turned into heartfelt conversations, added depth to their journey of still kicking it today. The transitions were nothing short of amazing, with each track flowing seamlessly as the group’s auto-tuned interludes made the set feel even tighter. As one song slowly ended, the hype never died down, leading straight into another and fully embracing the mantra of not stopping the party. It felt like a majestic sprint of songs, going from one banger after another with “The Time (Dirty Bit),” “Where Is the Love?” and “I Gotta Feeling.”

Ending on a high note and echoing the message of “Where Is the Love?”, the group once again reminded the crowd how Apl was able to bring Filipino culture and talent to the rest of the world. Whenever he took the stage, whether in his solo performances or with the rest of the group, it was his chance to be vulnerable, sharing his journey from moving from the Philippines to Los Angeles, meeting will.i.am and Taboo, and ultimately achieving their dream of making it big in the music industry. It was bittersweet to witness how far they have come. Apl has never looked back and remains proud of his Kapampangan roots and his background as a farmer, even declaring that “farmers are rockstars” while outlining his plans to plant 100 coconut trees and give back to his motherland. 

As much as the term “Pinoy pride” has been overused and overdone across media and social platforms, this concert genuinely captured what it means. Black Eyed Peas’ return to Manila was a vibrant testament and a powerful reminder of the impact Filipinos have had on music and pop culture worldwide.