In April 2004, ABC’s coverage of the NBA playoffs carried a reworked Black Eyed Peas track in its promotions. That version was “Let’s Get It Started.”
The song first appeared in 2003 on Elephunk, the group’s third studio album, under the title “Let’s Get Retarded.” The group re-recorded it in 2004 as a clean version. A&M Records and Interscope Records released the new recording on June 1, 2004, as the fourth and final single from Elephunk, and it was added to a reissue of the album.
Where the Black Eyed Peas stood in 2004
Before Elephunk, the Black Eyed Peas had made two albums that critics admired but that sold poorly: Behind the Front in 1998 and Bridging the Gap in 2000. Elephunk was the group’s first album with Stacy Ferguson, known as Fergie, and it was produced by will.i.am.
Elephunk went on to sell more than nine million copies worldwide and earned six Grammy nominations. Its singles before “Let’s Get It Started” were “Where Is the Love?,” “Shut Up” and “Hey Mama,” the last of which came out on January 12, 2004. The Elephunk Tour took the album around the world in 2004.
Charts, video and the 2005 Grammys
“Let’s Get It Started” reached number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It made the top ten in Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France and New Zealand. Its music video is set on a Los Angeles street at night, and it was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video.
At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005, the song won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. It was also nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rap Song. The single was nominated for Top Digital Track at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards, and the group was nominated that year as Top Digital Artist.
FAQ
– Why does the Black Eyed Peas song have two titles?
The album track was re-recorded in 2004 for ABC’s NBA playoff promotions, and the clean version became the single. That version was released on June 1, 2004, and was added to a later reissue of Elephunk.
– What award did “Let’s Get It Started” win?
The song won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005. The group followed it in 2005 with “Don’t Phunk with My Heart,” and their next studio album, Monkey Business, came out the same year.