Not My Future Boom Boom
I heard “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas while switching between radio stations in my car. The words “I got the that rock and roll, that future flow, that digital spit, next level visual shit” piqued my curiosity so I decided to listen to the rest. As the beat kicked in, I remembered sort of liking the Peas’ first album and dreamily wondered whether T-Pain and Kanye West have inspired an amazing new genre: cyber rap. Just as I was starting to smile at the prospect of a Funkadelic generation for the 21st century, Fergie’s brute battle screech crushed all my hopes of space-hop grandeur with just one verse: “I like that boom boom pow, them chickinz jackin’ my style, they try copy my swagger I’m on that next shit now”.
Still, I looked up the video when I got home – wanted to see what boom-boom-pow looked like. Observe:
Alright, I’ll admit that, with the exception of the cheesy gas masks and biohazard symbols, there is a lot to like about the visuals thanks to art director Norm Myers but… I can’t help but weep for the future if it is to be filled with My Little Ponies headphones and slang from the 80s. I like a little supersonic boom as much as the next guy, but until one of these Peas can be a little more specific about their zooming space shit I’m afraid I just don’t buy it. What exactly makes this song futuristic? Help me out. Until then I’ll try to avoid saying “You’re SOO two thousand and LATE” in my lexicon and look to the cosmos for answers.
Enjoy the uncensored lyrics, below the supersonic space-jump. Try not to get shat on.
Gotta get that
Gotta get that that that, that that
Boom boom boom (gotta get that)
Boom boom boom (yeah)
Boom boom boom
[Will.i.am]
Yo
I got the hit that beat the block
You can get that bass overload
I got the that rock and roll
That future flow
That digital spit
Next level visual shit
I got that (Boom boom boom)
How the beat bang (Boom boom boom)
[Fergie]
I like that boom boom pow
Them chicken jackin’ my style
They try copy my swagger
I’m on that next shit now
I’m so 3008
You so 2000 and late
I got that boom boom boom
That future boom boom boom
Let me get it now
Boom boom boom (gotta get that) (x4)
Boom boom boom (yeah) (x2)
Boom boom boom (x2)
[Taboo]
I’m on the supersonic boom
Y’all hear the space shit zoom
When when I step inside the room them girls go apeshit, uh
(…)
(…)
I’m on that HD flat
This beat go boom boom pow
[Apl.de.ap]
I’m a beast when you turn me on
Into the future cybertron
Harder, faster, better, stronger
Sexin’ ladies extra longer, cuz
We got the beat that bounce
We got the beat that pow
We got the beat that 808
That the boom boom in your town
[Fergie]
People in the place
If you wanna get down
Put your hands in the air
Will.i.am drop the beat now
[Will.i.am]
Yep yep
I be rockin’ the beats (Yep, yep)
I be rockin’ the beats (Yep yep yep, yep)
Here we go, here we go
Satellite radio
Y’all getting hit with (Boom boom)
Beats so big I’m steppin on leprechauns
Shittin’ on y’all you with the (Boom boom)
Shittin’ on y’all you with the (Boom boom)
Shittin’ on y’all you with the…
This beat be bumpin’ bumpin’
This beat go boom boom
Let the beat rock
Let the beat rock
Let the beat r…
This beat be bumpin’ bumpin’
This beat go boom boom
[Repeat]
May 21st, 2009 at 8:48 am
i love how serious and even angry they look as they say things like “beats so big i’m steppin on leprechauns”.
though really, the leprechauns have had it coming for a long time now.
and it seems their vision of the future consists of touch screen computers, HD tvs, and satellite radio. i think they might have gotten their future boom boom confused with their present boom boom.
May 21st, 2009 at 8:53 am
El, clearly they just don’t realize leprechauns are small and easy to step on.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
I’ll be happy when this maxxed out auto-tune fad is over. And yeah Fergie, don’t get me started on her terrible “my humps” influence on the BEP. Their first couple albums had some really excellent tracks. Soulful and fun with some really hilarious lines like the leprechaun one in this song. And then after Elephunk, Fergie was pushed front and center and it became all boring “my humps” and “I’m on that shit now”
May 21st, 2009 at 9:18 am
el – exactly. They list these things that are pretty boom boom now, which is no fun! But at least we’ll be navigating spaceships will coverflow in the future…Does that mean half my address book won’t have images ’cause I’ll be going to all the indie planets?
May 21st, 2009 at 9:21 am
Will.i.am appeared on CNN as a hologram. That’s some serious Jem-level shit. He’s totally seen the future, and the future is… oh, more repetitive self-aggrandizement.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:25 am
Aw, man! I always thought they were saying “I’m so 2008, you’re so two thousand and late” and being outrageously ironic.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:27 am
Oh yess! Thanks for the reminder, Jennifer. Here’s that surreal CNN video, for the curious.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:28 am
clearly, the boom boom boom is working its way through the central core of the boom boom boom and really, what they did was put together a bunch of words that rhyme (maybe) and when they couldn’t think of anything boom boom boom to say (lyrically) they boom boom BOMBED!
i am so sad with much of the music coming out on the airwaves today, i clearly do not let my children listen to anything that is not in my CD collection!
:) This is more crap for the non-industrial airwaves, where is the tru radio cosmonaut when you need them….boom boom boom
May 21st, 2009 at 9:37 am
I am now training myself (on a beach during sunset to a wailing 80s guitar noodling soundtrack) so that I can instantly counter any and all insults with “I’m so 3008, You so 2000 and late”
May 21st, 2009 at 10:27 am
Touchscreens may one of those weird futuristic concepts, but that is a real, existent computer they feature at the beginning and end of the video — the same one I’m using now, even. http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/touchsmart/alt/tsalt.html has some photos and screenshots of it — looks like they’re even using software that ships with it to….represent the future. Oh well.
May 21st, 2009 at 10:38 am
Clearly their choreographer saw your post on Raquel Welch.
I’m not saying this is good, but I like it in the same way I like “Hey Mama”, I just like to shake it, sorry.
And doesn’t Fergie do the commercials for that touchscreen computer?
May 21st, 2009 at 11:00 am
This is why I run to Kpop. THIS IS WHY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbxsM9RUtU
if anything, for the earth-people make up. especially the one with the ocean.
http://mapthesoul.com/
May 21st, 2009 at 11:05 am
The Black Eyed Peas were once great, before the depressing Fergiezation happened — for proof watch BEP Empire http://bit.ly/cmhaO which ironically mocks sellout hiphop
May 21st, 2009 at 11:58 am
As far as futuristic music videos with hilarious lyrics go, I say this one is a real winner:
May 21st, 2009 at 12:31 pm
“Shittin’ on y’all you with the (Boom boom)”
boom boom wow that’s like a new level of bad….I don’t want to be shat on by the (boom boom), it seems unpleasant.
May 21st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Can I please hear one new pop song that does not have people singing like someones little brother doing Darth Vader impressions into an oscilating fan?
May 21st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Thews, that was GOLD (or silver!). Love it. Thank you for sharing!
As far as the imaginary genre of “cyber rap” goes, I’ve always enjoyed this video/song by Common:
May 21st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Thews’ post – That definitely got a chuckle outta me.
The boom boom video –
I like the black and white full body costumes. My attention was not fully captured by this video though.
Audio – I guess if it was REALLY loud and I found myself hearing it in a club I’d dance to it. Maybe. It doesn’t really take much to get me dancing though. Otherwise – I give it 3 yawns.
May 21st, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I’m torn. Obviously it goes way beyond irony to hear Fergie puking out lyrics bragging about her originality and innovation.
But then they did name drop Cybertron… If you gonna represent some real hard core shit, those gang affiliations, infamous cities, or rough ‘hoods ain’t got nuffin on the home world of the robots in disquise!
May 21st, 2009 at 2:14 pm
This got that (Boom boom boom):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtM
May 21st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Between Zlad, Common, and the Large Hadron Collider rap I’m dying from laughter. And still sort of wishing cyber rap existed as a real genre!
May 21st, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Zo. ZO. IT DOES! Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of Deltron 3030.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7_jbluF0qo
No video, unfortunately. Just “intergalactic hip-hop heroes” battling for social justice. The album is a narrative … sort of. If you can follow it.
May 21st, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I don’t like what these future-people, with their strange clothes and their alien language, are doing to our humble jungle village values. I vote we sacrifice them to one of our crueler gods.
May 21st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
This is the kind of music that a thugish, teenage Elroy Jetson would make.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:05 pm
The fact that “Cyberton” was namedropped kind of makes me want to go watch Transformers right now.
May 21st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
“…dreamily wondered whether T-Pain and Kanye West have inspired an amazing new genre: cyber rap…”
They are but pretenders to the glory that is Afrika Bambaataa. If anyone put the future in rap and Hip Hop as a whole it was he. Planet Rock to this day STILL sounds like it was beamed from space.
Add in DJ Qbert who by all accounts IS an actual alien…and well the future, space, and cyber goodness has been fueling acts like the BEP for some time. They just can’t really handle it…like putting racing fuel in a Yugo.
I’m not sure what THIS song is suppose to be outside of The BEP showing how they can truly never go back to their glory days. Visually the video has a lot to like but it still feels pretty half baked and tacked on.
Fair warning if anyone uses “I’m so 3008, You so 2000 and late” in a conversation I’ve been authorized to hit said person upside the head. Hard. Really Hard. I’m talking seeing stars spin around you Hard. So hard that your genetic code will be bruised and your kids first word will be “owww!”
May 21st, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Having seen DJ Qbrert live, I can validate Tequila’s claim. The “man” can turn records into mist, and when I met him after the show I’m pretty sure he was hiding gills under his hoodie.
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 am
I love how vague they are about “that space shit”. Kinda gives the impression that they don’t actually really know what they’re singing about, and just improvised at the last minute. “What shall we put in the lyrics, then?” “Oh, something about some space shit zooming around, we’ll fix it up later.”
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:57 am
Siiiiigh. Needs more Bootsie, Baby.
We need to get the Black Eye’d Peas to adopt Eryka Badu. Then we’d have something.
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 am
It’s about time! Good review and calling them out.
If we want to make future music though it will have to relate to something we cannot understand because we (humans) are about to become obsolete AND we’re gonna LOVE it.
FOOX
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:21 am
wow! you don’t even need real words to make a chorus anymore kids! aim high!!
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 am
Cyber rap existed LOOOONG before Deltron! Heh… I guess no one saw this post:
http://coilhouse.net/2009/04/27/better-than-coffee-the-jonzun-crew/
(Most of the links don’t work anymore, alas.) Jonzun Crew were corny-but-original hiphop/electrofunk cohorts of Bambaataa’s. Both bands formed around the same time that cyberpunk first emerged as a genre.
Tequila, I think it’s important to acknowledge that Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” borrows verrrry heavily from “Trans Europe Express” and “Numbers”. He owes Kraftwerk quite a lot.
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I have been hearing it lately on the radio too and thought it was an old song that the people of Tampa Bay finally caught on too. Only because I heard Fergie say “I’m so 2008, you’re so 2000 and late.” Because Black Eyed Peas are 2000 and late.
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I must say I am a fan of this “Cyber Rap” genre that has been turning up lately. I know it existed a lil bit in the 80’s and 90’s. But I like the direction Kanye, Cudi, and others are going with it. Even if other people don’t like it, I do.
Common’s “Universal Mind Control” is ace.
As for this song. I find it catchy. A bit funny, but I do like the line “you’re so 2000 and late”
But i do like their costumes in this vid.
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:16 pm
@Mer…True enough. Bambaataa’s DJ roots were always in his style. The man has an ear like few around…like its plugged into music from everywhere past, present, and future.
Bambaataa though you gotta admit is a much snappier dresser than the Kraftwerk krew.
May 26th, 2009 at 3:28 am
When Cher and Kanye duet on a Frampton cover for the 2012 “Tron” remake, the circle shall be closed.
May 26th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Naaah ! I am liking Yeezy and Cudi – and Hamilton for that matter – but really that sounds more like Venga Boys meet A Tribe Called Quest than anything else. The prod is poor, the heavy effects on the voice merely emphasize how poor is their flow and the whole ecorap thing sounds like the worst bits of new age Wu Tang… If you want alternative hiphop go for Saul Williams, or MS Green if you really need some syntehtic dreads.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:01 am
At first all I could think of C&C Music Factory without the awesomeness of the Weather Girls.
June 19th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Boom Boom Pow is probably a reference to how important the beat in hip hop/rap has become compared to the lyrics. but they are throwing in a lot of symbolic references to nuclear future and music not violence with the mushroom cloud having a swing hung from it and the riffle turning into a trumpet. but mostly if you live in oakland and you hear cars who have those horrible speakers, symplified makes the “boom boom pow” noise in which you can distinguish what that person is listening to by the beat. because the thing now with hip hop is to try and sound all the same but still have people recognize you. thats why on radio stations they don’t say the artists name your supposed to recognize them by the beat or lyrics. thanks to T-pain everyone is going to be singing into a little box to amplify their voices. it obvious that black eyed peas is either encouraging t-pain’s style or making fun of it. the fact that they say “Beats so big I’m steppin on leprechauns” is them probably making fun of how shitty hip hop will be in the future. that their beats are really not all that great that they are only able to step on leprechauns.
all i know is in oakland kids know what song they are listening to by what beats you hear in the first couple of seconds. if you don’t have a fresh beat your not going to pass, despite whatever your rhyming about. it has to be repetitive and have a clean beat. which is sad..
June 19th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
izi, thank you for that analysis! I didn’t think of it this way, but it makes a lot of sense. I love your interpretation!