Will.i.am
Birthday:
15 March 1975, Los Angeles, California, USA
Birth Name:
William James Adams Jr.
Height:
175 cm
Will.i.am was born on March 15, 1975 in Los Angeles, California, USA as William James Adams Jr.
We're from the projects - East L.A. On welfare the majority of our lives. A lot of my friends are dead and in prison, just like any urban pe...Show more »
We're from the projects - East L.A. On welfare the majority of our lives. A lot of my friends are dead and in prison, just like any urban person that comes from areas like I'm from. But my grandma was super-grandma. Ain't nobody mess with our family in my neighborhood because everybody loved my grandma. She was the one that prayed for everybody. We were one of the first families in the projects. And I moved them out. Music allowed me. Show less «
You want to play stadiums? You listen to U2. You study it for harmonics, the vocal placement, the freaking chord progressions, their lyrics....Show more »
You want to play stadiums? You listen to U2. You study it for harmonics, the vocal placement, the freaking chord progressions, their lyrics. You study the production. You study it because studying that equals stadiums. Show less «
I'm good at thinking outside the box, so much that you realize it's not a box to begin with.
I'm good at thinking outside the box, so much that you realize it's not a box to begin with.
I was born and raised in the ghetto, on welfare, two minutes from homeless.
I was born and raised in the ghetto, on welfare, two minutes from homeless.
I just like seeing kids inspired.
I just like seeing kids inspired.
There's only one type of music and that's good music, no matter what genre it is.
There's only one type of music and that's good music, no matter what genre it is.
When you follow your heart, you're never supposed to do things because of what you think people might say. You do it for the opposite reason...Show more »
When you follow your heart, you're never supposed to do things because of what you think people might say. You do it for the opposite reasons. Show less «
Philanthropy is the thing that I am really excited about, and having success means I can do more.
Philanthropy is the thing that I am really excited about, and having success means I can do more.
You can rule ignorance; you can manipulate the illiterate; you can do whatever you want when a people are uneducated, so that goes in line w...Show more »
You can rule ignorance; you can manipulate the illiterate; you can do whatever you want when a people are uneducated, so that goes in line with corrupt business and corrupt politics. Show less «
If you are a chef, no matter how good a chef you are, it's not good cooking for yourself; the joy is in cooking for others - it's the same w...Show more »
If you are a chef, no matter how good a chef you are, it's not good cooking for yourself; the joy is in cooking for others - it's the same with music. Show less «
There are five issues that make a fist of a hand that can knock America out cold. They're lack of jobs, obesity, diabetes, homelessness, and...Show more »
There are five issues that make a fist of a hand that can knock America out cold. They're lack of jobs, obesity, diabetes, homelessness, and lack of good education. Show less «
It should be mandatory that you understand computer science.
It should be mandatory that you understand computer science.
When someone is denying what they are, then that's when things start to spiral down.
When someone is denying what they are, then that's when things start to spiral down.
Eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex and the damage it could do to society.
Eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex and the damage it could do to society.
I don't follow waves or trends or emotions.
I don't follow waves or trends or emotions.
Not many people give you a vision of what the future will bring.
Not many people give you a vision of what the future will bring.
I know people in gangs; I could have went down that route.
I know people in gangs; I could have went down that route.
If my mind's not trying to fix something or create something, I don't know what to do. It just throws me off.
If my mind's not trying to fix something or create something, I don't know what to do. It just throws me off.
I don't want to hope anymore. I don't think we should hope anymore. We hoped enough. Now we have to do. We all have to do now.
I don't want to hope anymore. I don't think we should hope anymore. We hoped enough. Now we have to do. We all have to do now.
Most of these people who are celebrities now don't do anything to deserve it, so by that fact alone, I don't want to be one.
Most of these people who are celebrities now don't do anything to deserve it, so by that fact alone, I don't want to be one.
Disco is the first technology music. And what I mean is that 'disco' music is named after discs, because when technology grew to where they ...Show more »
Disco is the first technology music. And what I mean is that 'disco' music is named after discs, because when technology grew to where they didn't need a band in the clubs, the DJ played it on a disc. Show less «
I go out partying to figure out exactly who I'm making music for. You can't just guess.
I go out partying to figure out exactly who I'm making music for. You can't just guess.
The computer allows me to execute my ideas at the speed I think them.
The computer allows me to execute my ideas at the speed I think them.
There's no chivalry in culture any more. Sometimes you meet someone who everyone says is polite and you're like, 'Wow,' but then it's like, ...Show more »
There's no chivalry in culture any more. Sometimes you meet someone who everyone says is polite and you're like, 'Wow,' but then it's like, 'Hang on, isn't everyone supposed to be polite?' Show less «
If you really want change, you really want it to be inclusive, where everyone's included, otherwise you're just going to have more of the sa...Show more »
If you really want change, you really want it to be inclusive, where everyone's included, otherwise you're just going to have more of the same in the future. Show less «
If I didn't mould my reality then I'd still be in the ghetto where people like me are supposed to stay. You have to dream your way out of th...Show more »
If I didn't mould my reality then I'd still be in the ghetto where people like me are supposed to stay. You have to dream your way out of the nightmare. Show less «
Most kids are not dreaming of being programmers, scientists or engineers.
Most kids are not dreaming of being programmers, scientists or engineers.
If Apple's a technology company in the music industry, why can't somebody in the music industry make technology?
If Apple's a technology company in the music industry, why can't somebody in the music industry make technology?
How about no one's ever going to outsell Michael Jackson at selling records because the record industry is over. Game over. There's no more ...Show more »
How about no one's ever going to outsell Michael Jackson at selling records because the record industry is over. Game over. There's no more record stores. With no more record stores there's no more pressing plants. With no more pressing plants, there's no more charts. Show less «
Now that Obama's president, it changes inner-city youths. They can now not just dream to be Lil Waynes and 50 Cents, but they can now dream ...Show more »
Now that Obama's president, it changes inner-city youths. They can now not just dream to be Lil Waynes and 50 Cents, but they can now dream to be Obamas. Show less «
Music is my therapy and my straitjacket. Music keeps me sane and keeps my mind on something. It's fragile up there.
Music is my therapy and my straitjacket. Music keeps me sane and keeps my mind on something. It's fragile up there.
I'm fascinated with quantum physics.
I'm fascinated with quantum physics.
If you live in a ghetto and really want not to just change your life and your family's life but change your ghetto's life, make your ghetto ...Show more »
If you live in a ghetto and really want not to just change your life and your family's life but change your ghetto's life, make your ghetto a good neighborhood, learn science; try to be like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Show less «
I like all the families in the U.K. But what I like about the idea of the royal family is... they seem like they're well educated and there'...Show more »
I like all the families in the U.K. But what I like about the idea of the royal family is... they seem like they're well educated and there's something admirable about them. And the Queen... she reminds me of my grandma. Show less «
If you live in a good neighborhood, you drive home and there's a bank. There's grocery stores and big houses - but no motels. What that tell...Show more »
If you live in a good neighborhood, you drive home and there's a bank. There's grocery stores and big houses - but no motels. What that tells you psychologically is you protect your money and buy good things for your family to eat in your nice big house. Show less «
I can't be quiet, as that's when I notice the ringing in my ears.
I can't be quiet, as that's when I notice the ringing in my ears.
Hip-hop culture is probably one of the most powerful things to come out of America in a long time - everything from the music to the art to ...Show more »
Hip-hop culture is probably one of the most powerful things to come out of America in a long time - everything from the music to the art to the dance to the language. Show less «
I don't have political agendas. I have social agendas.
I don't have political agendas. I have social agendas.
If countries were people, England and France would be old men. Italy would be dead. Compared with them, America is in its 20s.
If countries were people, England and France would be old men. Italy would be dead. Compared with them, America is in its 20s.
Code writers, they are my idols.
Code writers, they are my idols.
When you think about the guys who started Twitter, and the Google guys, and the Facebook guys and the Napster guys, and the Microsoft guys, ...Show more »
When you think about the guys who started Twitter, and the Google guys, and the Facebook guys and the Napster guys, and the Microsoft guys, and the Dell guys and the Instagram guys, it's all guys. The girls, they're being left behind. Show less «
We need to forge a whole new energy and American Dream.
We need to forge a whole new energy and American Dream.
If you know how to freestyle, you will never have writer's block.
If you know how to freestyle, you will never have writer's block.
You know, the Super Bowl is so fresh that every single commercial is even on, you know, some next-level entertainment.
You know, the Super Bowl is so fresh that every single commercial is even on, you know, some next-level entertainment.
You can get your money and you put it in the bank, or you can put it in the youth. You can put it in our future.
You can get your money and you put it in the bank, or you can put it in the youth. You can put it in our future.
When you're a corporation, you're going to stick with what works. That's why every McDonald's is the same.
When you're a corporation, you're going to stick with what works. That's why every McDonald's is the same.
I was born and raised in East Los Angeles by a single mom who had three biological kids and adopted four more. I never met my dad.
I was born and raised in East Los Angeles by a single mom who had three biological kids and adopted four more. I never met my dad.
Crime and violence are the easiest emotions to reenact.
Crime and violence are the easiest emotions to reenact.
Traveling in Europe made me understand that America has an island mentality: No one exists except us. There's a whole other world out there,...Show more »
Traveling in Europe made me understand that America has an island mentality: No one exists except us. There's a whole other world out there, but most Americans - all they know is America, the marketing plan. Show less «
I don't need anyone to validate me.
I don't need anyone to validate me.
I have ADHD. I'll admit it.
I have ADHD. I'll admit it.
My mom's never been married. I've never even seen my mom kiss a dude.
My mom's never been married. I've never even seen my mom kiss a dude.
You know, I do music. If you look under the hood of the industry I'm in, it's all based on technology. From radio to phonographs to CDs, it'...Show more »
You know, I do music. If you look under the hood of the industry I'm in, it's all based on technology. From radio to phonographs to CDs, it's all technology. Microphones, reel-to-reels, cameras, editing, chips, it's all technology. Show less «
We all rely on technology to communicate, to survive, to do our banking, to shop, to get informed, but none of us knows how to read and writ...Show more »
We all rely on technology to communicate, to survive, to do our banking, to shop, to get informed, but none of us knows how to read and write the code. Show less «
The music industry isn't converging toward dance music. Dance music is dance music. It's been around since disco - and way before disco. But...Show more »
The music industry isn't converging toward dance music. Dance music is dance music. It's been around since disco - and way before disco. But there's different versions of dance music. Show less «
I will not start an initiative until I've spent my own money. Because if I spend my own money, people who want to get on board afterwards kn...Show more »
I will not start an initiative until I've spent my own money. Because if I spend my own money, people who want to get on board afterwards know that I am serious about it. Show less «
We have no control over the outcome of anything. Like the planet and global warming, we don't control that. If politicians want a war we don...Show more »
We have no control over the outcome of anything. Like the planet and global warming, we don't control that. If politicians want a war we don't control that. Acts of terrorism, we can't control them. Show less «
Why shouldn't a child look to want to be a political figure, to change our nation, to lead us the right directions?
Why shouldn't a child look to want to be a political figure, to change our nation, to lead us the right directions?
If you have a vaccine or an antidote that people can benefit from, you're not going to want to keep it to yourself. You're going to want to ...Show more »
If you have a vaccine or an antidote that people can benefit from, you're not going to want to keep it to yourself. You're going to want to spread that wisdom or whatever to as many people as you can, so everybody can benefit from it. Show less «
There's an entry point to any relationship.
There's an entry point to any relationship.
I remember when I was 11, I told my mom, 'One day I'm going to buy you a house.' And she said, 'Boy, don't you be making promises you can't ...Show more »
I remember when I was 11, I told my mom, 'One day I'm going to buy you a house.' And she said, 'Boy, don't you be making promises you can't keep.' I was like: 'No, Ma, it's not a promise. I'm going to buy you a house one day.' Show less «
When I got into junior high school, that's when my mom let me dress how I wanted to dress. Up to that point I wore suits to school all the t...Show more »
When I got into junior high school, that's when my mom let me dress how I wanted to dress. Up to that point I wore suits to school all the time. Show less «
I'm a fan of X-men.
I'm a fan of X-men.
We need creative people working with broadcasters, making smart content to inspire people to be geniuses.
We need creative people working with broadcasters, making smart content to inspire people to be geniuses.
Kids today aren't listening to music audio-only. They're picking up a CD and looking at the lyric sheet and wondering why the pictures aren'...Show more »
Kids today aren't listening to music audio-only. They're picking up a CD and looking at the lyric sheet and wondering why the pictures aren't moving around. Who wants to do that? It's like Bam Bam Flintstone hanging with the dinosaurs vs. Elroy Jetson who's flying around space. If I'm a kid, I wanna be kicking it with Elroy. Show less «
Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds o...Show more »
Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of hip-hop? Show less «
Here's the problem: Profiteers haunt America, and for everything we try to control, someone's going to profit from it, more than you control...Show more »
Here's the problem: Profiteers haunt America, and for everything we try to control, someone's going to profit from it, more than you control it. Show less «
It's dangerous to be a child star, but it's dangerous to be a child in the ghetto, or to be a child at school being bullied.
It's dangerous to be a child star, but it's dangerous to be a child in the ghetto, or to be a child at school being bullied.
Every single song that I've listened to is in my memory forever.
Every single song that I've listened to is in my memory forever.
If you would ask my mom what books I liked growing up, I liked Dr. Seuss.
If you would ask my mom what books I liked growing up, I liked Dr. Seuss.
Philanthropy is my job.
Philanthropy is my job.
My mom's discipline worked out perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing.
My mom's discipline worked out perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing.
I feel my personality is richer than my bank account. So if I meet a girl, maybe first she just likes me because I'm rich. But then she's go...Show more »
I feel my personality is richer than my bank account. So if I meet a girl, maybe first she just likes me because I'm rich. But then she's gonna get to know me and say, 'Screw the money.' Show less «
As we develop and get quicker with technology in America, it's like we're downgrading if you look at the investment in education... that's t...Show more »
As we develop and get quicker with technology in America, it's like we're downgrading if you look at the investment in education... that's the thing that worries me. Show less «
Hip-hop is limiting itself and that also goes for editorially. Magazines and websites are the gatekeepers of what people think hip-hop is, b...Show more »
Hip-hop is limiting itself and that also goes for editorially. Magazines and websites are the gatekeepers of what people think hip-hop is, but they actually end up limiting what hip-hop can be. Show less «
Love lasts forever.
Love lasts forever.
Electro is today's disco - making electronic music not for the sake of selling it but for sharing it and touring around the world D.J.-ing.
Electro is today's disco - making electronic music not for the sake of selling it but for sharing it and touring around the world D.J.-ing.
I've got all this stuff in my head at the same time as I'm doing stuff and I don't know how to stop or slow down.
I've got all this stuff in my head at the same time as I'm doing stuff and I don't know how to stop or slow down.
I've been truly protected by my uncles.
I've been truly protected by my uncles.
My attention span is very short.
My attention span is very short.
I'm like a mama's boy and stuff.
I'm like a mama's boy and stuff.
I've got Republican fans. Republicans like the Black Eyed Peas.
I've got Republican fans. Republicans like the Black Eyed Peas.
I have a pro tools rig that I carry in my backpack.
I have a pro tools rig that I carry in my backpack.
Black Eyed Peas is a chameleon group.
Black Eyed Peas is a chameleon group.
If you listen to the songs I write, they are the most ADHD songs ever. They have five hooks in one and it all happens in three minutes.
If you listen to the songs I write, they are the most ADHD songs ever. They have five hooks in one and it all happens in three minutes.
I read Twitter all the time, even though I rarely tweet.
I read Twitter all the time, even though I rarely tweet.
America has to be not just an idea but a living, breathing thing.
America has to be not just an idea but a living, breathing thing.
I remember when I was 19, it was pretty tough.
I remember when I was 19, it was pretty tough.
I don't want to be on stage when I'm 57, talking about... 'Let's Get It Started.'
I don't want to be on stage when I'm 57, talking about... 'Let's Get It Started.'
I don't want to preach to people.
I don't want to preach to people.
I don't like politics.
I don't like politics.
I rescue families who are losing their homes because they have no jobs and they can't pay the mortgage and the banks are foreclosing on thei...Show more »
I rescue families who are losing their homes because they have no jobs and they can't pay the mortgage and the banks are foreclosing on their homes. Show less «
I am hip-hop!
I am hip-hop!
I can procrastinate a little bit.
I can procrastinate a little bit.
I don't know what silence sounds like anymore.
I don't know what silence sounds like anymore.
I don't despise people.
I don't despise people.
I don't dream to be like mega crazy rich.
I don't dream to be like mega crazy rich.
It's a rare combination to have someone who can write songs and sing well.
It's a rare combination to have someone who can write songs and sing well.
Coming out with records when you're in a big, successful group that plays stadiums, that's scary to come out by yourself.
Coming out with records when you're in a big, successful group that plays stadiums, that's scary to come out by yourself.
Pop is the most competitive form of music there is. You are always fighting to be adopted and accepted by the masses, and it's always shifti...Show more »
Pop is the most competitive form of music there is. You are always fighting to be adopted and accepted by the masses, and it's always shifting. Show less «
Tom Jones is like igloo-cool.
Tom Jones is like igloo-cool.
Hip-hop was fast, originally. It was always fast music.
Hip-hop was fast, originally. It was always fast music.
What Autotune allows is for people like myself and Kanye West not to depend on the singer. Back in the Fifties, the songwriter was rendered ...Show more »
What Autotune allows is for people like myself and Kanye West not to depend on the singer. Back in the Fifties, the songwriter was rendered invisible. Now the songwriter is there in the forefront. Show less «
I'd like to see Apple and Dell factories be brought to the inner cities; in every project in America, there's some factory there, and it's a...Show more »
I'd like to see Apple and Dell factories be brought to the inner cities; in every project in America, there's some factory there, and it's abandoned, and I'd like to see those factories open and bring jobs to America. Show less «
When the music industry started collapsing, the logical people understood that the only place to go for shelter was the underground. If the ...Show more »
When the music industry started collapsing, the logical people understood that the only place to go for shelter was the underground. If the world on the surface is burning up, and you know people that have bunkers, go to the bunkers. Show less «
Releasing an album on a major label is like sending a package through Fed Ex. You know that it'll get there, and you know that it'll get the...Show more »
Releasing an album on a major label is like sending a package through Fed Ex. You know that it'll get there, and you know that it'll get there on time. Show less «
Romantic love is painful.
Romantic love is painful.
Politics are about preserving relationships at the end of the day, and it has nothing to do with the greater good for humanity. It's just al...Show more »
Politics are about preserving relationships at the end of the day, and it has nothing to do with the greater good for humanity. It's just all about business. Show less «
There's nothing wrong with white if it's all right.
There's nothing wrong with white if it's all right.
'Transformers' inspired me as a kid.
'Transformers' inspired me as a kid.
My favorite game is Madden. That's it. I'm a Madden addict. I go at it.
My favorite game is Madden. That's it. I'm a Madden addict. I go at it.
Pedro
John Wraith
Moto Moto
Himself, Himself - Guest Mentor, Himself - Performer
Himself - Guest, Himself - Musical Guest
Himself - Guest, Himself - Musical Guest