Monkey Business
by The Black Eyed Peas
  • Record Label: A&M
  • Release Date: Jun 7, 2005
User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 165 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 165
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 165
  3. Negative: 47 out of 165

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  1. SuchiB14
    Oct 25, 2018
    10
    This album is great. Not the best of the Black Eyed Peas, but still great. 7/10
  2. JordanT
    Sep 10, 2006
    10
    I love this album, the concert was great
  3. Paxster
    Oct 11, 2010
    5
    Way too commerical for the Peas. Superb funky pop songs like 'My Style' are contrasted with dreary, universal peace application 'Union'. Seriously Sting and Will.I.Am, it was never going to work! The song with James Brown is brilliant quite and important in terms of his last work as he died soon afterwards. However, Monkey Business takes catchy too far that it becomes annoying and takesWay too commerical for the Peas. Superb funky pop songs like 'My Style' are contrasted with dreary, universal peace application 'Union'. Seriously Sting and Will.I.Am, it was never going to work! The song with James Brown is brilliant quite and important in terms of his last work as he died soon afterwards. However, Monkey Business takes catchy too far that it becomes annoying and takes the Peas into a commerical wasteland that many critics and original fans are really going to hate. A poor if not terrible effort.… Expand
  4. jos95
    Sep 5, 2011
    10
    This has GOT to be The Peas' best album! I loved it instantly upon hearing it - except for My Humps which is a lousy song but it can be easily dismissed. Don't Phunk With my Heart was the song that won me over to the Peas and Don't Lie and Pump It aren't far behind. James Brown's work on the album is quite remarkable - R.I.P. This album has a great mix of rap songs of all sorts and it isThis has GOT to be The Peas' best album! I loved it instantly upon hearing it - except for My Humps which is a lousy song but it can be easily dismissed. Don't Phunk With my Heart was the song that won me over to the Peas and Don't Lie and Pump It aren't far behind. James Brown's work on the album is quite remarkable - R.I.P. This album has a great mix of rap songs of all sorts and it is impossible to dislike so I recommend you go get it!… Expand
  5. BenG
    Jun 20, 2005
    6
    Ok but not brilliant
  6. BSixsmith
    Nov 20, 2005
    0
    Oh dear lord, their one hype raised by starry eyed anthem 'where is the love' should surely have worn off by now. Lets consider the albums 'best' moments, 'dont phunk wid my heart' is an irritating shocker with trademark poor rhymes and a dull poppiness. 'Dont lie' is slightly better while still retaining its irritating wailing and lack of anything Oh dear lord, their one hype raised by starry eyed anthem 'where is the love' should surely have worn off by now. Lets consider the albums 'best' moments, 'dont phunk wid my heart' is an irritating shocker with trademark poor rhymes and a dull poppiness. 'Dont lie' is slightly better while still retaining its irritating wailing and lack of anything happening. 'My humps' oh god, this really does show the decline, this shoud drop even their young fans brought on by their almost naive innocence, it is appalling. And thier the albums best parts, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhh. The BEP are really, really lovely people but their music, aggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh… Expand
  7. CiCiG
    Jul 12, 2005
    8
    I like this C.D. BEP's are all about positive hip hop...I like how their lyrics are laced with cuss words and "gangsta" crap...it's great to hear positive music these days. Yeah,some of the songs sound a little popish, but i like it overall!
  8. LeviM
    Jan 7, 2006
    4
    Nothing special. "My Humps" is completely tasteless. There are many different alternatives for this album that don't talk about milk and cocoa puffs. Bottom Line: Don't waste the money.
  9. chellec
    Oct 10, 2005
    8
    I loved the CD. It is the best CD i have heared from them yeat. and the best music that i think has come out in years.
  10. IvyC
    Oct 2, 2005
    10
    I love this CD...it's the first I've heard from The Black Eyed Peas. I wasn't overly impressed with them as a whole, until I took a chance on this CD. It stays in rotation in my car and on my computer.
  11. larrycigar
    Oct 8, 2005
    3
    1). Pump it (2) - not very danceable and utterly onnoying beat 2). Don't Phunk with My Heart (6) - beat is a little overdone, and, like all other songs on this album, the lyrics are just searching for cheap rhymes 3). My Style (3) - Where is Justin? Pretty stupid song 4). Don't Lie (5) - It sucks, but still it is one of the better songs 5). My Humps (9) - The best song off the 1). Pump it (2) - not very danceable and utterly onnoying beat 2). Don't Phunk with My Heart (6) - beat is a little overdone, and, like all other songs on this album, the lyrics are just searching for cheap rhymes 3). My Style (3) - Where is Justin? Pretty stupid song 4). Don't Lie (5) - It sucks, but still it is one of the better songs 5). My Humps (9) - The best song off the album. It refers to a womans a** and br**sts, but the beat and lyrics are so catchy its hard not to like this song 6). Like that (6) - Cool beat, dumb lyrics 7). Dum Diddly (3) - fun the first few times you hear it, but gets to be the most onnoying song after 2 times 8). Feel It (2) - as the ying-yang twins say "badd" 9). Gone Going (3) - "don't you love us now that we use guitar in a song?" "no" 10). They dont want music (5) - "eh" 11). Disco Club (0) - Beats go only so far. I feel like bashing fergies face with a bat in her solo "la la la" parts. 12). Bebot (3) - Im sure id like it more if i understood it, oh yeah and the beat sucks a**. 13). Ba Bump (2) - the black eyed peas really know their different ways of saying butt. and what a coincidence, "rump" rhymes with "bump" 14). Audio Delit... (5) - starts of great, ends off no great. 15). Union (6) - after Where Is The Love, this song is so damn unoriginal Overview "do not but this album"… Expand
  12. estiennep.
    Jun 10, 2005
    10
    i can listen to it all day long and i recommend it to everyone who like to dance. totally love this album. especially tracks "unity" and "don't lie".
  13. EchoB
    Jun 13, 2005
    10
    This CD is a beautiful piece off art and composition. I am always fascinated when music really moves me literally and figuratively. The time and effort that was put into each song is apparent, great job. The last song on the CD, Unity... WOW!!!
  14. JayBee
    Jun 10, 2005
    6
    Disapointing But The Music Is Good, and Funky..
  15. MiguelV
    Jun 23, 2005
    10
    best CD Ever!!!
  16. KG
    Jun 27, 2005
    9
    Never heard Black Eyed Peas before. This is an excellent album. I went and got all of their music based on this Cd alone. Awesome.
  17. CosmoP
    Jun 6, 2005
    0
    The most groundbreaking R&B recording since "You Gotta Believe" by Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch
  18. pzziap
    Jun 6, 2005
    0
    crap!
  19. LaurenceHC
    Jun 6, 2005
    9
    Dancy, fun, catchy, wise... What more can I ask? It's awesome.
  20. KellyW
    Jun 6, 2005
    0
    Got an advanced copy of this and I was extremely disappointed. An absolutely terrible record on all accounts.
  21. RyanC
    Jun 6, 2005
    1
    ouch. all been down hill since that first gem of an album, 'behind the front'.
  22. TH
    Jun 6, 2005
    4
    An album unable to decide whether it's unoriginal, boring, or simply inane -- so it settles for being all three. Best cuts: "Feel It" and "Disco Club" are the pick of this particular bit of refuse.
  23. LockneO
    Jun 7, 2005
    10
    The Black Eyed Peas truly hit it big with this album. Elephunk didn't get the best reviews, but Monkey Business is out of this world. The other reviewers must be CrAzY, because I loved this album, with James Brown, Justin Timberlake, Sting, and more. It's really great, and I suggest you get this album today!
  24. JasmineJ
    Jun 7, 2005
    10
    This is BEP"s best album. I don't know why people r dissing them because they changed their music. Everyone needs to change. They wanted to try something new. I LOVE U BEP ( I AM A TRUE FAN!!)
  25. joyce
    Jun 7, 2005
    10
    This album is phunking great!!
  26. mt
    Jun 7, 2005
    0
    wow, pathetic in the extreme. commendable i suppose..also i cant stand jack johnson
  27. jss
    Jun 7, 2005
    8
    Album full of fun hip-hop tracks. They don't pretend that it is anything else. Several of the songs are destinted to be radio hits. Look for this album to do well over the next year
  28. HarvardB
    Jun 8, 2005
    10
    Unique and fresh album consisting of a great variety of styles including Pilipino, Jamaican, Rap, Hip-hop, and an intriguing Beach-sound. Different from the Elephunk record, but the new tracks are phunky and fresh. You can't resist from bobbin' your head and wanting to get down to this album. The Peas were not affraid of change and they got down to "Business." Love the album!!!
  29. Matt
    Jun 9, 2005
    2
    Most of this CD didn't even make me want to get out of my seat, much less groove to the music.
  30. PatrickB
    Jun 9, 2005
    7
    Not as good as Elephunk, but that was inevitable. I love to crank up "They Don't Want Music", but I'm 44.
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Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Most Discussed Album of 2005
63
#63 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    50
    A bland meringue. [3 Jun 2005, p.81]
  2. The Guardian
    40
    The lyrical inspiration has evaporated.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    60
    Monkey Business is just as bright if not quite as fun as Elephunk.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »