Apl.de.ap has always approached hip-hop as a student first. Born in Angeles City, Pampanga, the rapper first encountered the culture through television, watching kids breakdance in a Pepsi commercial that left a lasting impression. Long before the Black Eyed Peas became a global name behind hits like “Where Is the Love,” “Let’s Get It Started,” and “Boom Boom Pow,” he focused on learning the language of the genre itself. He spent time studying words from the dictionary, hoping to converse in English fluently and earn respect among peers who already lived inside hip-hop culture. “Before I was adopted, I was concerned about conversing with people in the U.S,” Apl.de.ap tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “So I come up to my mom, like, ‘Mom, how am I going to, like, converse with people in the U.S.’ And she’s like ‘Oh, don’t worry, you’ll get it in a month, read the dictionary.’”
At 14, he moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, where his life changed direction. There, he met will.i.am, and became close with his family, forming A.T.B.A.N Klann together with members Mookie Mook, Dante Santiago, and DJ Motiv8
In the latest episode of Rolling Stone Philippines Interview, Apl.de.ap recalled how the group worked entirely through grassroots efforts. They booked performances across California, often at universities like UCLA, showing up night after night to build momentum. With no internet access, they promoted shows by mailing flyers and spreading the word in person.
Having it Easy
A.T.B.A.N Klann’s break came when they signed with Ruthless Records in 1992, the influential hip-hop label founded by the late Eazy-E. Even then, their sound stood apart from the West Coast’s dominant gangster rap scene, eventually linking up with Taboo to later form what would become the Black Eyed Peas. The early years were far from glamorous.
“Back in the days, the West Coast was predominantly gangster music. We’re a hip-hop band. We’re inspired more by A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Boogie Down Productions, [and] Rakim,” Apl.de.ap says. “[Eazy-E] would invite us to his gangster function to make us perform, and we’re rapping about water.”
That contrast eventually became their strength. While the group would later define mainstream pop-rap in the 2000s with their long line of greatest hits, Apl.de.ap continues to stay curious about where music is headed next. During the episode, he spoke about technology and artificial intelligence, stressing that innovation should not scare artists. For him, AI can assist in production, though songwriting still belongs in human hands.
“I see AI as an extra tool,” he says. “Even if I prompt something in AI, it still can’t get the exact feeling I want or how would I sing it.”
The Black Eyed Peas have shifted through hip-hop, pop, and electronic music without losing relevance. For Apl.de.ap, that adaptability comes from paying attention to what younger artists create and staying open to influence. From Pampanga to Los Angeles stages and global charts, Apl.de.ap’s career continues to trace hip-hop as a lifelong education rather than a finished destination.
“We like to pay attention to what’s underground, what’s bubbling,” he says. “I love afrobeat right now. I’m researching how to mix afrobeat with harana, with those beautiful guitars. It’s always about staying a student of the game. Listen to the kids and see what they’re up to. Try new things.”
