The Beginning - Black Eyed Peas
The Beginning Image
Metascore
47 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.0 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 79 Ratings

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  • Summary: The album following The E.N.D., The Beginning is the sixth studio album from the hip-hop, dance-pop quartet.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 19
  3. Negative: 4 out of 19
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Dec 7, 2010
    83
    The Peas may not have dramatically outdone themselves this time, but they've succeeded at keeping the good times rolling yet again.
  2. Spin
    Dec 7, 2010
    70
    Peas leader will.i.am mixes up house and disco beats, Chic and Slick Rick samples, wonky Moog hooks, crunchy guitars, and '70s funk bass into one of the year's wildest sonic stews.
  3. Consequence of Sound
    Jan 10, 2011
    60
    Although the overall plot of the album is sparse, it's hard to deny the enjoyment it can bring to you. If you know what to expect when you hear it, you can take The Beginning for what it is: a feel good album.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Dec 7, 2010
    37
    The vocals are slathered in Auto-Tune (didn't Jay Z proclaim Auto Tune dead once already?). The rhymes are simplistic ("You're the gas in my car, you're my petrol/You and I go way back, retro") or silly ("This is the original, this has no identical"–-really?). And the music's reliance on rhythmic and lyrical repetition (as opposed to progression and surprise) becomes wearying.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 35
  3. Negative: 10 out of 35
  1. Wolfmother
    10
    I wonder if people ever even read reviews, and then read other people's critiques, I doubt that they ever condescend against the Black Eyed peas, You people obviously need to see the line between grading someones music and just pure bad-mouthing them, its bad music? WHY? What happened to logic these days? Those reviews you see are trimmed down to be short but you can read full reviews and understand, saying an album or music is bad goes beyond saying "you dont like it" I dont know why Metacritic ever bothered putting in a user score system when everyone who grades it are completly unfair, illogical, and not objective.… Expand
  2. Kadeemluvmusic
    8
    Well, it's not the best Black Eyed Peas album yet. But with it's incredible auto-tuning vocals and thumping beats coming through your eardrums, "The Beginning" was one of my favorite and steady albums of 2010. I definitely love "Time of My Life (Dirty Bit)" and "Just Can't Get Enough." I saw the video and it was so emotional and amazing on making the video sending a positive message to help save the innocent victims from the events of the horrific Earthquake in Japan last March. All of the songs were great. The one song I have to buy on Itunes right now was their 3rd single, "Don't Stop the Party."
    Turning up a mixture of the gay community, this is the album I have to get. Great album, not that great since 2009's "The E.N.D." Just a phenomenal dance mix.    … Expand
  3. Avnish
    6
    The Beginning came second. The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) was first both chronologically and in quality. The Black Eyed Peas are a band that has delivered many best-sellers in the last decade. In this album, the band plays around with different effects and styles; some for the better and others for the worse. The quality of the music varies from the lets listen again to turn it off right now range. The E.N.D. was full of best-sellers.
    The Energy Never Dies was the bandâ    … Expand
  4. GabroMuzik
    0
    Black Eyed Peas must be afraid to stand in the same that their previous album...it's a shame that they made this album...is the worst BEP album ever...auto-tune effect kill their music...is really disappointing...! I love BEP but this album is a really crap,simple and unnecessary for a great band..where is the reinvention and creativity of their previous album? this is not BEP...is an example of how commercial music attacks the good music..!… Expand

See all 35 User Reviews

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