The Black Eyed Peas leader is gearing up to release his star-studded fourth solo album, which was long delayed.
- Apr 22, 2013
AceShowbiz - The long wait for will.i.am's new solo album will be worth it when fans get to hear his collaborations with so many A-list stars in the record. After pushed back from its initial release schedule of 2011, "#willpower" will finally hit the stores on April 23, poised to top albums chart following the success of the second single "Scream & Shout" featuring Britney Spears.
Originally eyeing a December 2012 release, the fourth studio installment from the Black Eyed Peas member was once again delayed after some materials of the album were leaked following his car theft. "I'm trying to finish #willpower...& now because of all the leaks I have push the album back to make new songs," he tweeted back in September 2012.
Fans' high anticipation of his new music became clear as his single "Scream & Shout"peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 following its debut in November last year. It has also topped songs charts in several other countries, including Canada and the U.K.
The album's lead single "This Is Love", which features Eva Simons, also became a hit internationally, although it only managed to reach No. 110 in the U.S. Backed up by today's young popular star Justin Bieber, the third single "#thatPOWER" climbed higher than "This Is Love" in the U.S. songs chart (No. 42).
Amidst all the excitement to launch his new album, will.i.am was hit with problem as his Chris Brown-assisted track "Let's Go" was embroiled in a copyright infringement allegation. Producers Arty and Mat Zo claim will.i.am ripped off their dance track "Rebound" and failed to ask permission.
He, however, didn't let the issue stop him from promoting "#willpower". Just days leading to the album release, the John Wraith of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" debuted an official music video for "#thatPOWER" which cost a lot of his time for the making.
"This video is probably the most time-consuming video that I've ever been a part of because I had to rehearse choreography, and I've always been against choreography for me," he admitted. "We have this real, next-level, futuristic type of choreography. It's not dance, it's like synchronized movement."
While busy preparing his own record, will.i.am was still able to spare his time to assist Ke$ha in her new song "Crazy Kids". The 38-year-old record producer/songwriter is featured in the third single off the "Die Young" songstress' latest album "Warrior".
