Will.i.am Wasn't Sure He'd Enjoy Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. He Left Feeling 'Energized and Inspired'

The Black Eyed Peas frontman reveals how the singer inspired the hip-hop group's upcoming Las Vegas residency

Will.i.am had his reservations about Taylor Swift's Eras Tour — and is not afraid to admit he had the wrong idea about her long-running and record-breaking concert series. 

During a recent visit to SiriusXM’s Miami studios, the Black Eyed Peas frontman, 49, spoke candidly with the hosts of Hits 1 Miami with Mack and Jen about seeing Swift's show while in Italy.  

Over the summer, while Will.i.am was in Italy, he recalled people around him getting excited to see the 34-year-old singer perform. "I'm like, 'Everybody's talking about that Taylor Swift show.' I'm like, 'And they're really, like, hyping it. Like, how dope can it actually be? Like, it's just a show,'" he said. 

"But people were, like, really, like, praising it — [like it's] the greatest thing to happen. So, I was, like, when people [praise] stuff that much, there's no way that it's that dope. It's impossible. And so I was like, 'All right, let me go check this out,'" he continued, revealing he was still skeptical about what he would see.

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"I went to Taylor Swift, like, with super heavy skeptics goggles on. Like, 'cause everybody's like, 'Yo, it's changing the economy,' " Will.i.am shared. "I'm like, 'Let me go be the judge of that.' "

When the hosts asked for the rapper's review, it was all praise — and he's now a member of the "Swiftie Swiftie gang." He added the show was "the best s--- in the world… That's my review. The best bro."

In fact, he had such a profound experience, it inspired him to say yes to a Las Vegas residency with the Black Eyed Peas. "I left like, 'Yo, we definitely doing Vegas. Let's do it.' Because I got pumped. I haven't been that inspired. I don't know when's the last time I was inspired to be like, 'Yo, oh, bro let’s imagination together,'" he shared.

Will.i.am added, "That's how transfixed I was to that Taylor Swift show. And then from there I called our management like, 'Yo, that Vegas offer still there? Say yes to it… I just came from [the] Taylor Swift show and we’re gonna do it.' I've been freaking, like, energized and inspired. So thank you Swift."

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Announced in September, the "Boom Boom Pow" group will headline the Black Eyed Peas: 3008 The Las Vegas Residency at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino starting in February 2025. 

"Our first residency in Las Vegas gives Black Eyed Peas the opportunity to do what we do best, to dream up something brand new and creative that pushes the boundaries of the live show experience. We draw inspiration from Disney rides, Las Vegas shows, concerts, AI and technology. We will reinvent how we perform, creating an interactive show, a journey to 3008 that is both a concert and play," Will.i.am said in a statement at the time. 

While speaking to Mack and Jen, the performer revealed that in addition to longtime members apl.de.ap and Taboo, the group will welcome a new addition, Vida — "an AI member of the group."