Imma Be

{{Infobox song

| name = Imma Be

| cover = Bep-imma-be.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Black Eyed Peas

| album = The E.N.D.

| A-side = Rock That Body

| released = December 15, 2009

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|EDM}}

| length = * 4:16 (album version)

3:53 (radio edit)

| label = Interscope

| writer = {{hlist|William Adams|Allan Pineda|Jaime Gomez|Stacy Ferguson|Keith Harris|Thomas Brenneck|Michael Deller|Daniel Foder|Jared Tankel}}

| producer = {{hlist|will.i.am|Keith Harris}}

| prev_title = Meet Me Halfway

| prev_year = 2009

| next_title = Rock That Body

| next_year = 2010

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be.ogg

| description = The Black Eyed Peas – Imma Be

}}{{External music video|{{YouTube|kdAj-dBNCi4|"Imma Be"}}}}

}}

"Imma Be" is a song by the American group the Black Eyed Peas from their fifth studio album The E.N.D. (2009), released by Interscope Records on December 15, 2009 as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, The E.N.D. (2009). Initially released as a promotional single, the song titularly refers to the informal contraction imma.

"Imma Be" received generally mixed reviews from critics, who praised the group's confidence and second part of the song, but expressed ambivalence towards its first half. The accompanying music video for the song was filmed back-to-back as a ten-minute video, titled "Imma Be Rocking That Body", with "Rock That Body". The song was part of the soundtrack of the film The Other Guys (2010) and was used in the bar scene,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386588/soundtrack|title= The Other Guys Soundtrack|work=IMDB|access-date=March 10, 2011}} and appeared in the film The Hangover Part II (2011).

Critical reception

Critical response to the song was generally mixed. Eric Henderson from Slant Magazine stated that in the song, "halfway through, the pulse gets an upgrade, the tempo hustles up to a strut, the rudimentary synth hits explode into a chunky-funky rush, and before you know it, will.i.am has transformed a deliberately lazy self-parody into a heated club-floor burner. He added: "The dialectic without conversation within "Imma Be" is replayed ad nauseam throughout the album's entire bloated running time".{{cite web |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1771 |title=The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D. | Music Review |work=Slant Magazine |access-date=December 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901152903/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?id=1771 |archive-date=September 1, 2009 }} PopMatters gave the song a positive review: "Highlights of the album include 'Imma be', which despite the repetition of the title no less than 105 times...takes a really interesting path from hip-hop attitude to club hit to jazz romp that holds up well to repeated listens".{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/94793-black-eyed-peas-the-e.n.d/ |title=The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D. < Reviews |work=PopMatters |access-date=December 10, 2009}} Vibe Magazine said that "Imma Be is the 2008 version of 'My Humps'".{{cite web |author=Tracy Garraud |url=http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2009/06/revs_the_black_eyed_peas_the_end/ |title=REVS: The Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D |work=Vibe Magazine |date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=December 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108052443/http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2009/06/revs_the_black_eyed_peas_the_end/ |archive-date=January 8, 2011 }} Billboard said "The group sounds as unabashedly confident as ever here.....A brazen horn section and smooth keyboards cruise along until the song's sudden transition, when the beat switches from a snap music-meets-Neptunes stomp to a funk-house glide, meshing with a seemingly endless vocal loop of 'Imma be' to form a pounding, assertive club thumper. Given the success of its predecessors, 'Imma Be', while inherently gimmicky, should be sticking around for a long time".[http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069792/the-black-eyed-peas-imma-be Review by Billboard]

Chart performance

Prior to The E.N.D.{{'}}s release, "Imma Be" was released as a worldwide promotional single and peaked at number 50 in the United States, based on downloads alone. It was later released as the fourth single from the album in the U.S. and became the group's third number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending March 6, 2010 and halted the nine-week run of Kesha's "Tik Tok". It was the group's third number one from The E.N.D., following their first two number ones, "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling", as well as their fourth consecutive top ten from the album. With the single reaching number one, the Black Eyed Peas became the first group or duo to place three number ones on the Hot 100 from one album since the Wilson Phillips's debut album, Wilson Phillips, in 1990–1991.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959266/black-eyed-peas-back-on-top-of-hot-100-with-imma-be|title=Black Eyed Peas Back On Top Of Hot 100 With 'Imma Be'|magazine=Billboard }} This placed the Black Eyed Peas adjoined with Usher's 2004 Confessions album to have their singles from the same album spend the most weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, at 28 weeks, only beaten by Drake's Scorpion, (2018) whose singles spent 29 collective weeks at number one. "Imma Be" reached the top ten on the Canadian Hot 100 due to a significant increase in digital downloads following a performance of "Imma Be" at the 52nd Grammy Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/billboardbiz/photos/pdf/canadian_update_021010.pdf |title=February 10, 2010 Billboard Canadian Update |publisher=Billboard |access-date=December 10, 2010 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512001118/https://www.billboard.com/business |url-status=dead }}

Music video

File:ImmaBeMV.jpg"]]

The video was filmed on January 13, 2010. The clip features Fergie wearing Louboutin designer footwear and a black metallic leotard and riding a BMW S1000RR motorcycle.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} Extras were dressed as robots and nomads (like apl.de.ap in "Meet Me Halfway"). It was shot on a desert road in Lancaster, California. Filming was interrupted by a sudden sandstorm; however, as the storm passed, filming resumed.{{cite web|url=http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/01/fergie-stuns-space-age-body-suit-sandstorm-delays-video-shoot|title=Fergie Stuns In Space-Age Body Suit; Sandstorm Delays Video Shoot|date=14 January 2010}} The music video, directed by Rich Lee, was shot back to back with the video for "Rock That Body", the second song on The E.N.D.{{cite web|url=http://www.videostatic.com/vs/dna/|title=SHOT: The Black Eyed Peas – Rich Lee, director|publisher=videostatic.com|access-date=January 19, 2010}} The two songs were mashed up into a medley, which is titled "Imma Be Rocking That Body". The medley length is 8:15 and the music video in total is 10:21. It premiered on Vevo and Dipdive on February 16, 2010.{{YouTube|CUFsQ5lTo6g|Double video premiere on VEVO}}[http://dipdive.com/news/14617 Double video premiere on Dipdive] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219071720/http://dipdive.com/news/14617 |date=February 19, 2010 }} The videos were separated for music channels with the introduction and conclusion removed.

= Synopsis =

The "Imma Be Rocking That Body" video begins with the Black Eyed Peas in the studio when will.i.am demonstrates a machine that recreates vocal recordings of singers and rappers from a set of typed lyrics and a series of vocal samples. After the other members protest against the device's use, Fergie walks out of the studio in frustration and rides off in a motorcycle only to get hit by a car.

The "Imma Be" video then begins with Fergie, following her accident, waking up on a road in a desert where she notices everything stuck on a loop. She gets up and sings the first verse, trailed by an evil black giant robot. She arrives at a bar and finds will.i.am who is stuck on a loop of pouring his drink. She mutes his Beats which makes him stop. He notices that the robot who looped him is following them and they both hide. As the robot looks for them, they both escape in a hovercar. The robot chases them but it runs out of energy. They arrive at a scrapyard where they find apl.de.ap who is also stuck on a loop. will.i.am taps him and makes him stop. apl.de.ap brings a good white robot to life as they dig through the scrap and find Taboo whose bottom half of his body is missing. will.i.am and apl.de.ap carry him as they find a pair of legs walking around the scrapyard and they quickly fix him. As apl.de.ap raps his verse, the robots dance in the background and they disappear, leaving the evil robot confused.

Track listing

; Digital Download E.P.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Imma Be

| note1 = Wolfgang Gartner Remix

| length1 = 6:24

| title2 = Imma Be

| note2 = Danger Olympic Remix

| length2 = 4:31

| title3 = Imma Be

| note3 = Poet Name Life & DJ Ammo Remix

| length3 = 4:42

| title4 = Rock That Body

| note4 = Skrillex Remix

| length4 = 5:09

| title5 = Rock That Body

| note5 = Chris Lake Remix

| length5 = 5:54

| title6 = Rock That Body

| note6 = apl.de.ap and DJ Replay Remix

| length6 = 5:54

| total_length = 31:21

}}

; UK & German CD Single

{{Track listing

| title1 = Imma Be

| note1 = Album version

| length1 = 4:12

| title2 = Imma Be

| note2 = Wolfgang Gartner Remix

| length2 = 7:00}}

Charts

= Weekly charts =

scope="col"\|Chart (2010) !scope="col"\|Peak position
class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
{{single chart\|Australia\|7\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|access-date=March 13, 2010\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|2\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|access-date=March 15, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia Tip\|8\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|access-date=March 15, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|5\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|artistid=34404\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|49\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|songid=586088\|access-date=July 9, 2010\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Hungarysingle\|4\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|date=2010-06-12\|week=5\|year=2010\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Polishdance\|50\|chartid=120\|access-date=December 23, 2011\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|76\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|date=20100612\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 30, 2019}}
{{single chart\|UK\|55\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|date=20100612\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|21\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|song=Imma Be\|date=20100612\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|1\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultpopsongs\|36\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddanceclubplay\|1\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|12\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|2\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|4\|artist=The Black Eyed Peas\|rowheader=true}}

= Monthly charts =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"|Chart (2010)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row"|Brazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay){{Cite magazine|title=Brasil Hot 100 Airplay (Jul 18, 2010)|magazine=Billboard Brasil|publisher=BPP Promoções e Publicações|issue=11|page=84|date=August 2010}}

|style=“text-align:center;"|26

scope="row"|Brazil (Brasil Hot Pop Songs){{Cite magazine|title=Brasil Hot Pop & Popular: Hot Pop Songs (Jul 18, 2010)|magazine=Billboard Brasil|publisher=BPP Promoções e Publicações|issue=11|page=85|date=August 2010}}

|style=“text-align:center;"|10

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"|Chart (2010)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url= http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2010.htm |title= ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010 |publisher= Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date= January 8, 2011}}

|style=“text-align:center;"|81

scope="row" |Brazil (Crowley){{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2010/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2010|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}

|style=“text-align:center;"|21

scope="row"|Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/chart_display.jsp?f=Canadian+Hot+100&g=Year-end+Singles|title=Charts Year End: Canadian Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=May 2, 2010}}

|style="text-align:center;"|53

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/hot-100-songs|access-date=February 7, 2011|title=2010 Year-End Hot 100 Songs |magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}

|style="text-align:center;"|20

scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 29, 2021}}

|style="text-align:center;"|68

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/pop-songs|title=Pop Songs – Year-End 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 29, 2021}}

|style="text-align:center;"|26

scope="row"|US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 15, 2019}}

|style="text-align:center;"|19

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2010|certyear=2010|title=Imma Be|artist=The Black Eyed Peas|type=single|award=Platinum|access-date=April 2, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|relyear=2010|certyear=2024|title=Imma Be|artist=The Black Eyed Peas|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=April 2, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|relmonth=6|relyear=2010|certyear=2010|certmonth=7|title=Imma Be|artist=The Black Eyed Peas|type=single|award=Platinum|digital=true|access-date=April 2, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2010|title=Imma Be|artist=The Black Eyed Peas|type=single|award=Silver|certyear=2022|id=18141-969-1|access-date=June 13, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2010|title=Imma Be|artist=The Black Eyed Peas|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2010|access-date=April 2, 2020}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release dates and formats for "Imma Be" ! scope="col"\| Region ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format(s) ! scope="col"\| Label(s) ! scope="col"\| {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row"\| United States \| January 12, 2010 \| Rhythmic contemporary radio \| Interscope \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 \|title=CHR Available For Airplay – Archive \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303172238/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 \|archive-date=2010-03-03 \|access-date=2020-07-18 }}}}
scope="row"\| Germany \| June 25, 2010 \| CD \| Universal Music \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.de/Imma-2-Track-Black-Eyed-Peas/dp/B003NDS47C\|title=Imma Be\|date=June 25, 2010\|via=Amazon}}}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Imma Be"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label(s)

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"| United States

| January 12, 2010

| Rhythmic contemporary radio

| Interscope

| {{center|{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |title=CHR Available For Airplay – Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303172238/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |archive-date=2010-03-03 |access-date=2020-07-18 }}}}

scope="row"| Germany

| June 25, 2010

| CD

| Universal Music

| {{center|{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/Imma-2-Track-Black-Eyed-Peas/dp/B003NDS47C|title=Imma Be|date=June 25, 2010|via=Amazon}}}}