Tyler, The Creator has received a response from will.i.am after subtly shading the Black Eyed Peas frontman while praising the group for influencing him.
The Call Me If You Get Lost rapper penned a heartfelt tweet on Saturday (July 1) celebrating the 25th anniversary of BEP’s debut album, 1998’s Behind the Front, which he credited for “helping shape my ear and getting me started to write words down.”
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Tyler’s otherwise complimentary message opened with a playful shot at will.i.am, however, as he referred to the veteran hitmaker as a “dipstick.”
“will. i. am is still a dipstick,” Tyler wrote. “BUT 25 years ago Behind The Front by the Black Eyed Peas (1998) released. one of the first hip hop albums i owned. 7 years old, i wrote my first rap to the second half of ‘positivity’ ( starts around the 5 minute mark). ‘the way you make me feel’ ( my favorite) melds perfectly with kim hills vocals.
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“‘Joints and jams’ simple yet incredible video is still something i awe over and ‘love wont wait’…sheesh…still amazing! this album was my introduction to the sounds of bossa nova cause of the great ear will had for samples, which led to him doing that sergio mendes project almost a decade later.”
He capped off his nostalgic tweet by writing: “thank you for helping shape my ear and getting me started to write words down.”
I MADE A BET WITH WILL I AM FOR A MILLION BUCKS THAT I WILL BE MAKING MONEY 10 YEARS FROM NOW DOING WHAT I LOVE AND NOT WHAT MAKES THE MOST
— T (@tylerthecreator) October 29, 2013
will.i.am caught wind of Tyler, The Creator’s post and despite the light jab, returned the favor by giving the Grammy-winner his flowers for his contributions to music.
“Thanks for the LOVE… I’m beyond proud of you,” he replied in a tweet of his own. “You’re an amazing contribution to the world of music and all things creative.”
Thanks for the LOVE…
I’m beyond proud of you…
You’re an amazing contribution to the world of music and all things creative… https://t.co/2cJkcm8qsd— will.i.am (@iamwill) July 2, 2023
Behind The Front arrived in June 1998 with features from Macy Gray, Kim Hill and Redfoo. Despite receiving relatively positive reviews for its fun energy and clever samples, the album only reached a peak of No. 129 on the Billboard 200.
Five years later, with Fergie in toe, the West Coast group reinvented themselves as a more pop-oriented outfit and soared to double platinum success with Elephunk, led by the socially conscious smash hit “Where Is the Love?”
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BEP remained mainstays on the charts and radio for the remainder of the decade thanks to follow-up efforts like Monkey Business and The E.N.D., each of which continued to evolve their sound.
This isn’t the first time Tyler, The Creator has ribbed will.i.am on social media. Back in 2013, the former Odd Future frontman claimed he made a bet with the Black Eyes Peas frontman that he would achieve longevity in music without selling out.
“I MADE A BET WITH WILL I AM FOR A MILLION BUCKS THAT I WILL BE MAKING MONEY 10 YEARS FROM NOW DOING WHAT I LOVE AND NOT WHAT MAKES THE MOST,” Tyler wrote at the time. “N-GGA SAID ‘THEN YOU MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT TO DO TO SURVIVE’ NO N-GGA THATS NOT HOW IT IS FOR EVERYONE. IM NOT GONNA MAKE MUSIC I HATE.”
He added: “I CANT BELIEVE THIS N-GGA WAS PLOTTING ON MY FUCKING DOWNFALL CAUSE HE MAKES SHIT HE HATES AND DOESNT LIKE HIMSELF. WILL I AM IS A MARK. THIS N-GGA REALLY WALKED UP TO ME TELLING ME ABOUT MYSELF 10 YEARS FROM NOW N-GGA FUCK YOU NOW IMA GO OUT OF MY WAY TO PROVE YOU WRONG.”
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A decade later, Tyler is coming off back-to-back Grammy-winning and chart-topping albums with IGOR and Call Me If You Get Lost.
