apl.de.ap Interview (pg. 2)

Courtesy of A&M

By: Sindy

Sindy: What's next for the Black Eyed Peas? apl.de.ap: We have another album coming out in 2007. We're also doing a tour of the US, Canada and South America until December.

Sindy: Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with?
apl.de.ap: Definitely Stevie Wonder and Gnarls Barkley.

Sindy: Tell me about the Peapod Foundation.
apl.de.ap: It's a bi-yearly benefit. We were just in South Africa and we played a concert there for poor people who probably wouldn't be able to afford to go to concerts normally. We also visited schools and raised money for education.

Sindy: You recently released video for Bebot - what kind of response is it getting here and in the Philippines?
apl.de.ap: It's getting tons of play in Asia. It's number one on Asian MTV and it's huge on You Tube and other internet sites. It wasn't one of our singles or anything, but I just thought it was important to make for the Asian community.

Sindy: Is it true that you funded the video yourself?
apl.de.ap: Yeah, I did. I just wanted to make it for the Filipino community. So, if I had to finance it myself, that's cool.

Sindy: Why was it important for you to do that?
apl.de.ap: I'm Filipino. I grew up there and it's a Third World country. It's a hard life. I want to reach out and encourage people back there to pursue their dreams. That's what the record label is all about. It's about encouraging music at a grassroots level. And encouraging change at a grassroots level.

Sindy: Did you listen to hip-hop when you were growing up in the Philippines?
apl.de.ap: Definitely. I grew up in the provinces but went to school in the city. When I got there, I used to go into record shops and they'd be playing, like, NWA. I felt a connection to the music.

Sindy: You've made huge strides in your young life - do you ever feel you're running out of goals to accomplish?
apl.de.ap: I'm barely getting started. I have so much more I want to do. Any success I've had has just made me more ambitious.

Sindy: What advice would you have for kids who are looking to follow in your footsteps?
apl.de.ap: It's just like what I'm trying to do with this label - it's just got to be about the music first. It's not about the materialistic things surrounding it. Just try to make good music.

Related Stories: