Artist : Black Eyed Peas, Album : Monkey Business (A&M)

Once a band reaches cult status for ushering in a musical novelty and hits pay dirt, a cartoon version of the new star soon emerges. Pearl Jam had Stone Temple Pilot as their surrogate whilst New Order had Happy Mondays to freely advertise their songs.

In the case of Outkast, its faithful follower is the Black Eyed Peas. This Los Angeles four-piece outfit sold million records from its positive-mental-attitude rapping in Elephunk. But that was before Outkast hit it big with Speaker Boxxx/The Love Below.

Monkey Business was the Black Eyed Peas' Speaker Boxx without an edge. Despite their labor to sound and rhyme the way Outkast did, this hip-hop outfit barely scratches the surface. Monkey Business lacks the feel-good effect.

Monkey could have been just another passable record if not for the presence of James Brown, Justin Timberlake, Sting and singing surfer Jack Johnson as guest musicians.

A comparison this time, even with a new act such as Outkast, is like an insult. -- M. Taufiqurrahman