Taboo, of the Black Eyed Peas, came up from the east side of LA along with fellow members, Will.I.Am and Apple. He has always made it his goal to be a provider for his family, and after his first son, Taboo never wanted to NOT be able to be there for his family and more than just a financial provider. He has a warm personality and great care for his family, community, and to his music.
Taboo: You know I’m just excited you guys are playing my record, honestly, I'm gona be honest with you I just put on soundcloud because I felt like you know the Black Eyed Peas fans or the taboo fans you know like when you have them waiting for music for a long time you gotta find other avenues that may not be traditional or conventional to the way that we do promotion of records. So I just put on sound cloud I don't think anything of it and then when I got an email, I was like "yo are you serious?" You guys really know about Magnificent?! That's really dope, so I'm excited to speak to somebody that really took the time to even listen to that record.
RAPstation (Kianna Woods): Where did your name come from? What made you pick Taboo?
Okay so Taboo in the neighborhood I was born in, I was born in East Los Angeles California which is a predominately Mexican community, and then I moved to Rosemead which is a predominantly Mexican and Asian community. I’ve always been a Hip-Hop his, so in my neighborhood there weren’t a lot of people listening to De La Soul and Tribe called Quest and Boogie Down Productions and NWA and that was my culture. It was a taboo to listen to that style of music. I was a B-boy, it was a taboo to kind of like be into anything other than being a jock, a gangster or a cholo or you were just like a rebel. My thing was I was the Hip-Hop kid in my neighborhood. I had a black girlfriend who was my first son's mom and that was a taboo to date outside your race. So I was kind of living a taboo lifestyle because I didn’t see color or race or creed, I just loved Hip-Hop. I was part of a culture that there was no color line and I loved whoever I affiliated myself with which happened to be not Mexican or Asian, I affiliated myself with everybody. So I was kind of like the taboo of the school if that makes sense. Yeah because I was living that lifestyle and people would always look at me like “oh how come you hanging out with the blacks?” or “how come you doing this Hip-Hop thing?” or “how come you have a black girlfriend?” And I’m like well I don’t see color or race so it was like I was kind of living something that was true to me but everyone around me looked at it like I was selling out of my own race or kind of like not being in tune with just living the same way that everybody else was living. I was like “fu*k that man!” I’m Hip-Hop. I love Hip-Hop music. Public Enemy, you know anything that was Hip-Hop oriented I wanted to be part of it and I got a lot of flak for it coming up as a kid.
You mentioned you were a b-boy?
I still am a b-boy! You should check out my Instagram @officialtaboo. I actually posted some today. I was in London two weeks ago with my group, Black Eyed Peas, and I was still killing the cypher! You know what I mean? Anytime I get a chance, I still want to be able to hone in on the craft that got me to the point where I’m at right now. If it wasn’t for b-boying or dancing or freestyle dancing, I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in and had the drive and the passion to become a Black Eyed Pea.
So before you guys became big, was dancing a hobby for everyone?
Yes. So Will.I.Am and Apple before we became the Black Eyed Peas, they had a dance crew called A Tribe Beyond A Nation. My dance crew was called Tribal Brothers. This was like in 91, 92 andWill.I.Am has always been an MC but back then he was known as Will1X and we met at a club called Ballistics through dancing through battling other crews and we had similar styles so we just joined forces ad became like, you know, we became a big group called Grassroots of dancers, MCs, musicians, producers, songwriters, and that stem from that relationship of being a big crew. Kind of like the Native Tongues. Then Will.I.Am and Apple got signed to Eazy E in 93, Ruthless Records and he passed away in 95 and we started Black Eyed Peas in 95.
How has your heritage influenced your music (Mexican and Native American)?
Well, first of all, it’s influenced my performance. Because what you see on stage is like, I’m kind of like the warrior out of the Black Eyed Peas. Like when you see me perform, there’s no fear. Like I have no fear factor. There’s a certain connection with spirituality when I step on that stage that, not to sound deep, but it’s kind of like if you need someone to fire up the crowd, I’m the dude that’s going to do that because that’s juts the gift that I bring. Everybody in the Peas has their gift and my gift is live performance. Whenever I step on that stage I feel like my ancestors from being Native American really tap into my soul and my spirit and that’s what I give people around the world. As far as music, I’ve utilized Spanish lyrics on different songs throughout the years on Black Eyed Pea albums and some of the Latin influence records that we have like “Latin Girl,” or “Release” or “Tell Your Mama Come” those stem from us being immersed in Latino community. You know, Will.I.Am was born in east Los Angeles which is a predominately Mexican community. I’m from east LA, so we implemented those sounds that we grew up on and put it into the Black Eyed Pea experience because we take from our experiences and our influences and we implement that in our own music. That’s why Black Eyed Peas earlier music, from Elephunk to Monkey Business it varies across the board. You’ll hear different sounds. It’s not just one themed sound like The End and The Beginning was very electro EDM/pop/house, right? But the earlier records that we have is Hip-Hop but you’ll hear Latin influence, you’ll hear rock, you’ll hear soul, you’ll hear Bossa Nova. So those are the things we always wanted to implement in our music and I think our backgrounds, specifically our cultures, even Apple, Apple being from the Philippines, he has records where he’s using Filipino samples and he’ll speak in Tagalog or sing in Tagalog, and these things are always resonating with fans around the world, like “yo Black Eyed Peas are really into their heritage!” That’s something that a lot of groups don’t really have is diversity. A Black dude, an Indian Dude that’s half Indian (American Indian), half Mexican, and a Filipino and Black dude and then you have Ferg who’s a hodge podge of different nationalities you know from Scottish, to Irish, to Mexican, she has a lot of different nationalities. So, it’s beautiful to implement our culture in our music. There’s soothing in the history of music that has ever even come close to the success of a diverse group like ours where all four singers are diverse. It’s a diverse make-up and I’m saying we’ve accomplished a lot. From Super Bowls to over 70 million records sold, to 6 Grammy’s. All these things that, at the end of the day, I don’t live my life for that, but, if you think about it, a kid from the Philippines that didn’t know a word of English, was a farmer, came to America in 1989, adopted, like you know those “hey adopt a kid from the Philippines for 25 cents,” that’s Apple. So, for him to com from the Philippines, poverty stricken 3rd world country, come to America, meet Will.I.Am who was from the projects of east LA, he was on welfare, me being a Native American/Mexican kid from east LA, we combined our forces and we generate such a splash around the world. That’s like an epic story. It’s a story of underdogs and of an immigrant who are able to overcome and actually live out their dreams beyond any expectations. It’s crazy because we are celebrating our 21 years of being a group. We started the group in 95. We actually performed together 2 weeks ago in London and there were 10,000 people and once we hit the stage it was like we had never gone on hiatus. We went on a hiatus in 2011 because Ferg wanted, of course, she had her baby and she wanted to enjoy her husband and now it’s like, I feel like, thing are starting to resonate again. We’ve always been connected as a group so I’m excited to see what the next 5 years, 10 years holds for the Black Eyed Peas.
Work you’ve don’t aside from the Black Eyed Peas ranges in diversity, how did you establish yourself as an artist that is willing and capable of different styles?
It’s the influence. Like growing up listening to Spanish music because it was in my household. Being able to adapt to different styles and incorporating that into my own music. It’s kind of like it goes hand in hand because I’ve always done it. Every single Black Eyed Pea album, I’ve always incorporated Spanish somehow so it was only right that I came out with “Zumbao” in 2014 which was all in Spanish. Now I put out “Transmit” paying homage to my dance community and then I put out “Magnificent” that has that, kind of like, east LA, Spanglish kind of like swagger out flavor to it because the beat is kind of like it gives a nostalgia to the old school Hip-Hop heads. Over time I come out I want it to be something that has sprinkles of my Latin heritage. I’m going to do some Native stuff as well because it’s important for people to know that I’m proud to be Native American. I’m proud to be Shoshone Indian. I’m proud that my grandmother was born in Jerome Arizona and she spoke to me about reservations and celebrating the beauty of our American Indian culture. That’s something that I’ve been trying to really tap into these last couple months. Like actually making it a point to go into different schools and speak on education, saving the Arts program, Music program, healthy living, because I’m a b-boy and a dancer so I like to always talk about health and fitness. I love, dance being the foundation that leads to kids getting up and moving. A lot of times you have these kids that get into the gaming world. It’s cool. I hear video games and I see where that could go, but I was a kid that used to love playing outside and playing football, but also practicing and doing what I did as a b-boy and I like to incorporate that with my speaking engagements when I go to different schools. My next move is to go to reservations around the United States, like Native American reservations and talk about healthy living and inspiring because we really don’t have a lot of Native American iconic figures in pop culture that have made a big huge splash and I want be that guy.
You mentioned your grandmother. Tell us more about her.
My grandmother was the person that inspired me to do what I do. I actually wrote a book called Falling Up. It’s on Amazon.com. It talks about my trials and tribulations and speaks a lot about her and how she inspired me.
She is the one who is Native American, right?
Yes, she’s Native, yes.
Working with the Black Eyed Peas, what has been your struggle and also your favorite aspect?
Easy! My biggest struggle and sacrifice would be being away from my son, Josh. My oldest son who I had a very young age but the reason why I was motivated and juiced up to do Black Eyed Peas was to support my son. And during the time period that we started taking off, we started touring around the world, it took away from Josh. That was my biggest, like, moment of feeling not fulfilled. Even though I was taking off career wise, being a parent that was a sacrifice and it hurt my relationship with him because he didn’t really know who I was. I was just a figure of financial support. I wasn’t present and at the time that needed to be, like those young years, you know, 5 to 10 or 1 to 5. I was always gone so I would say that was my biggest struggle; being away from my son. The high point was being able to take care of my family. That was the high point. I feel like because of “Where’s the Love,” the first song that changed my whole life, I was able to always sustain a solid family security. I owe it to all of us because we all worked our a**es off to do what we do so that we could support our families and provide and just be the parents that we are to be weather you’re not literally parenting, because all the Peas, we don’t all have kids, but I did and that was my main motivation. I was like “yo if I could take care of my kid and provide a solid lifestyle and know I worked my a** off to do this,” then I think that’s my biggest accomplishment. Beyond the achievements, because the awards and the records being sold, it kind of goes hand in hand, but really it’s like who am I as a human being? Yes, I had a kid at 17, and that was my main objective as a lot of us musicians that try to balance being fathers or mother because there are musicians that are females that are trying to balance that as well. It’s a struggle to try to do both. Especially if you don’t have financial means to try to hire help. And I didn’t have that back then. It was just me and luckily my mom was there to help me out but I didn’t feel fulfilled because I knew my mom was doing the bulk of the work and I didn’t feel like I was putting in the work I should’ve. It’s a learning experience with me with my kids that I have now. Now I have 3 young ones. I have Jalen who’s 6 going to be 7, Journey is 5, and then I had Jet Juliana who was born 3 months ago. So as a father now, I’ve learned what It’s like to be stable and really be consistent and be present.
You’re in the process of creating a solo album, right?
Not really, I’ve been talking about solo albums. That sh!t doesn’t exist anymore. I feel like this market is all about singles. Honestly, I’ve been talking about it for so long, it’s kind of like things happen, I change modes, I change creative ways of thinking and I feel like I’m only gonna put out singles. I don’t think right now, where I’m at right now, I feel like if something's not working go to the next single. If you put out an album, and the album tanks and it’s not working, that’s a body of work that’s done. So you put out 10 or 12 songs it’s like “yo, that sh!t failed.” Those 10 or 12 songs failed. But if I put out something one at a time and I work it, you know, put something out on Soundcloud, put something out with a partnership. Like Black Eyed Peas, we’ve always done great work with partnership and having other people join forces so that that song could propel and have prosperity and success, whether it’s a movie soundtrack or a commercial or whatever it is, to have other vehicles to have your songs have success and that’s where I’m at.
I was really hoping you would say yes!
Naw I would be lying, I would be tripping. Unless it’s Black Eyed Peas, I really doubt that I’m in a headspace I want to put out a whole album right now. I feel like I want to gauge the market and see how it works because I’m really enjoying the process of doing shows putting out songs and not having any pressure. Pressure’s a b!tch! Especially at the level that we’re at, it’s crazy man! It could drive any person insane that there’s so much pressure on you when you get to that level like the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Eminem’s, that area, that pressure of always having to be #1 on theBillboard charts or any of that type of stuff. It really takes a toll on you and I’m like “I’m not gona put myself through that stress!” You know why? Because I have a wonderful family that I could enjoy and I could do music. I could put music out the way that I want it. I could control my own destiny and not have the pressure that I have with the Black Eyed Peas. It’s a different pressure. And when It’s a group thing, it’s cool because we have 4 members and we could feed off of each other. When it’s you by yourself, you’re taking the bulk of that pressure and stress and all the stuff that comes with it, and I’m like “I’d rather put that energy into my family and enjoying life.” I’ve been in the game for 21 years, so for me it’s like I want to enjoy my life and I want to enjoy putting out music the way that I do it on my terms as opposed to somebody else terms. That’s the beauty of where I’m at right now. I got offered Interscope for my solo project so that I could release 14 songs, on my own. You know, license them and do whatever I want to do with those 14 songs but I’m the boss. Nobody’s telling me what to do, how to do it, when to do it. I control my own music and that’s where I’m at right now in my career. It’s kind of like Prince. Prince always had that mentality, like “why am I going to have record labels on my own stuff telling me what to do for my own vision?” I get the record label stuff for the Black Eyed Peas, I get that. We got so much love for our label but when it comes to me as an individual, I’d rather just have the comfort of just being able to put something out. If it’s not working go to the next thing. Like “Magnificent.” I put it out, I didn’t even think anything. I just want to put music out. Some songs are going to have that underground, like here Soundcloud, it’s cool. Everybody does Soundcloud. That doesn’t mean that there’s a pressure to be #1 on the Billboard Charts, but there’s gong to be songs where I work traditional radio, television, Billboards, all that stuff. Those will come, but right now I’m just enjoying putting out music and having fun doing it. I can still tour, I can still do shows. It’s not like I’m hurting. And I love doing movies, too. I’ve done like 6 movies so I want to get into that. Yeah, so I’m having fun right now with my life.
Would you ever consider creating your own record label maybe catering to a culturally diverse background?
Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! I actually did that. I started TabMagnetic Inc., which is my first installment into being a label, and the first artist that I’m putting out is myself. I’m investing in myself. See if it doesn’t work it’s ok, cuz it’s me. And if it does work, well, it’s ok, because it’s me. SO I see how the market works and how I’m able to promote myself and get my music out there but then I will invest in the artist that, you know, are Native American, Latino, and have diverse types of people, ethnic people, so that I can empower different types of backgrounds. And it’s like “hey, that’s the guy that showcases the amazing Native singer, or the Native rapper, or the Native musician. It’s like if I empower my people then that I’ll be a great leader and I want to leave a legacy, not jut a catalog of music.
In the near future (being released soon) can we expect to see more music with the culture mix?
Yes, I do. My Last 3 songs have been that. “Zumbao” was all in Spanish with an Anglo type of rhythm, mixed with Brazilian sounds. “Transm1t” had English lyrics with a Spanish bridge and then “Magnificent” is English and Spanish. I mean I always do that. It’s just part of who I am. I’ve always incorporated, my solo stuff, it always has a little bit of my Spanish speaking capabilities because I’m like “yo ok if I can go to Mexico and promote this, I’m good! If I can go to South America and Promote this, I’m good.” That’s like the most important thing is being able to do that and going to these different places. I’m excited, I’m ready to do as much work as possible.
What direction do you hope to go in with your career?
I just want it to be very international. We’re able to tour worldwide and not just be regional. I feel like when you do, especially when you’re doing Spanish records, there’s a certain regional sense of “is the Cumbia? Is this Merengue? Is this Salsa?” But for me, I’m trying to do stuff that’s global because of my brand that I come from. Very international, so I want my records to reflect an international fan base.
Do you dance Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Bachata?
Yes! I do al of it! Actually, because I, you know, you have to have a foundation when it comes to dance. And I think I started Hip-Hop, but you know you put me in a situation where I have to learn choreography, I could do that. With the Peas, we had Fatima Robinson who was our choreographer and I know Will.I.Am and Apple never liked the choreography because they don’t like choreography dance, but for me, I always adapted to it because it was a form of expression that I’ve always been hands on with.
Do you have anything you would like to leave at the end of this?
I want to, first of all, thank you guys (RAPstation) for supporting my individual endeavors! Throughout the years, I know we’ve been gone for 5 years but you guys still continue to support each individual. The fact that I’m even #5 on your station means a lot to me! Thank you guys. I’m going to continue putting out music and continue performing and doing a lot of philanthropy work which I’m really proud of. I think when you’re able to give back to different communities, specifically, you’re own community but also venturing out to do something with, you know we have a responsibility to do something as entertainers and as people that have a voice to speak to millions to redirect that energy and do something in schools. Specifically in schools. That’s what I’m doing. I’m actually going to one right now.
We can undoubtedly anticipate great thing from Taboo in the near future. He has put in so much effort to get to where he is and have his fans trust he will deliver at the same as he is there for his family.
