Black Eyed Peas is back again. The group released a new album but without their muse, Fergie. Instead, the "I Gotta Feeling" hitmakers introduced a new band member, J. Rey Soul.
Will.i.am, Taboo and Apl.de.ap explained Fergie's absence in their upcoming album. In a new profile for Billboard, the trio talked about Fergie, J. Rey Soul, and their eighth album, Translation. The group admitted that fans are always asking for Fergie but unfortunately, she did not join her bandmates in their latest LP.
Apl.de.ap said the "Fergalicious" singer's priority right now is being a mother to her six-year-old son, Axl, and she wants to focus on that. Apl added that Fergie will forever be their sister and they will always support whatever her decision is.
Will.i.am echoed his groupmate statement. He said being a mother is a hard job and they understand Fergie's decision. Will.i.am added that the 45-year-old songstress can always reach out to them whenever she wants a retreat or just wants to hang out.
Will.i.am also mentioned that the mom-of-one hasn't heard the new album yet. He hopes that Fergie will like it.
Fergie has been a single mom since she and ex-husband Josh Duhamel finalized their divorce in November 2019. The singer first filed for divorce in May 2019.
The former couple announced their split in September 2017, ending their eight years of marriage. Though Fergie and the Transformers actor split, they remain friends and have been co-parenting their child.
It was first rumored in June 2017 that Fergie was departing Black Eyed Peas. Will.i.am dismissed the rumor, saying Fergie was taking a break from the group to work on her second solo album Double Dutchess. BEP released "Street Livin," their first single without Fergie, in January 2018.
Meanwhile, Taboo gave a shout-out to their new member, Filipino-American singer Jessica Reynoso, a.k.a J. Rey Soul. The 44-year-old rapper said they are proud of J. Rey Soul. Taboo said the 22-year-old singer deserves equal respect and praise because of what she has achieved for such a young age.
Reports have it that Apl.de.ap, who is also a Filipino-American, recruited J.Rey Soul after she joined a reality singing competition in the Philippines. Since then, she was also featured in BEP's seventh studio album, Masters of the Sun Vol. 1, which was released in October 2018. J. Rey Soul also joined the group as their featured artist in their European, Latin America, and Pacific tour legs last year.
Meanwhile, Black Eyed Peas' eighth album, Translation, dropped on June 19. The group revealed the tracklist of the album on June 11. BEP also released the single "Mamacita" in April.
