Renegotiations: The Remixes

Album Review

It's doubtful that hip-hop fans were expecting anything good from a Black Eyed Peas remix EP circa 2006, especially coming after the deflated sellout that was 2005's Monkey Business. They'd better do themselves a favor, however, and check it out, since it includes not only two of the best hip-hop tracks from the album but also, for the remixes, what has to be called one of the best rap production casts ever assembled. The seven-track disc opens with the album track "Like That," a Tribe Called Quest tribute featuring Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Cee-Lo, and John Legend. The other album version is "Audio Delite," but it's lost among the five remixes, which feature Erick Sermon, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Large Professor. (At least the Black Eyed Peas were spending money on something other than clothes and choreographers.) Premier's breezing remix of "My Style" and Rock's funky "They Don't Want Music" (featuring James Brown) are the highlights, but the others aren't far behind. If these tracks had appeared on Monkey Business, the album would have been (setting aside "My Humps" and "Don't Phunk with My Heart") one of the best rap records of the year. Perhaps it's better this way, with the pop productions sequestered on Monkey Business and this tight EP the perfect choice for hip-hop fans.