Overview

• In a July 31 interview on Sway’s Universe, Will.i.am proclaimed Black Thought “a trillion times better” than Jay-Z based on his spontaneous and unpredictable freestyling.
• He urged the two rap icons to face off in a lyrical showdown and floated using artificial intelligence to recreate their duel if no live event takes place.
• Will.i.am shared his top-five rappers as KRS-One, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Nas and Black Thought, underscoring his preference for freestyle prowess over rehearsed catalogs.
• This commentary follows his early July release “East LA,” a collaboration with Taboo that honors Los Angeles’s immigrant communities and critiques current border enforcement.
• The “East LA” debut was accompanied by a statement denouncing the fear and dehumanization inflicted on migrants and praising their vital contributions to the city’s cultural and economic life.