Black Eyed Peas' Success Powers will.i.am Projects

With a new album set to drop on Tuesday, the multiracial Black Eyed Peas are continuing a wide range of activities that have led to their current status as pop stars. From opening for the Rolling Stones to appearing in almost every major festival that's including hip hop artists, Black Eyed Peas are now as mainstream as it gets. Of course, album sales will be a crucial indicator of where they really stand and they seem to be doing everything possible to make Monkey Business a success, including use of the increasingly obligatory MySpace.com and forming a marketing alliance with American Eagle Outfitters.

While such developments are certainly a blow to those upset with the fact that they added a white woman to the group, it's opened up such possibilities as will.i.am's plans to sign Australian artists, who have been neglected to date, and his integral involvement with Macy Gray's next album.