apl.de.ap

apl.de.ap
Name	apl.de.ap
Birth name	Allan Pineda Lindo
Birth date	28 November 1974
Origin	Sapang Bato, Angeles City, Philippines
Genre	Hip hop, pop, R&B
Occupation	Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active	1988–present
Associated acts	The Black Eyed Peas, Atban Klann

apl.de.ap. Allan Pineda Lindo, known professionally as apl.de.ap, is a Filipino-American rapper, singer, and record producer, best known as a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas. His unique rhythmic style, often incorporating Tagalog lyrics, has been a distinctive element of the group's global success. Beyond music, he is recognized for his significant philanthropic work in the Philippines, focusing on education and community development.

Early life and background

Allan Pineda Lindo was born in Sapang Bato, a neighborhood in Angeles City, Philippines. He was raised in modest circumstances and was diagnosed with nystagmus, an eye condition causing involuntary movement. At age 14, he was adopted by American Peace Corps volunteer Joe Ben Hudgens after the two connected through a pen pal program organized by the Pearl S. Buck Foundation. He relocated to Los Angeles, where he attended John Marshall High School. It was there he met fellow aspiring musician will.i.am, forging a partnership that would become central to his future career. His early life experiences between two cultures profoundly shaped his artistic identity and later humanitarian focus.

Musical career

apl.de.ap's musical career began in the late 1980s when he and will.i.am formed the rap group Atban Klann, which was signed to Ruthless Records by Eazy-E. After Eazy-E's death, the duo rebranded as The Black Eyed Peas, releasing their debut album, *Behind the Front*, in 1998. The group achieved mainstream global success with the 2003 album *Elephunk*, which featured the hit singles "Where Is the Love?" and "Shut Up". His solo work includes the 2012 single "Jump In" and the 2014 album *It's Me, APL*, which featured collaborations with artists like Pharrell Williams and featured songs predominantly in Tagalog. He has also produced tracks for other artists and contributed to major soundtracks, including for the NBA.

Artistry and influence

apl.de.ap is noted for his rapid-fire, staccato rapping style and for frequently incorporating his Filipino heritage into his music. He is credited with helping introduce Tagalog verses into mainstream Western pop music, particularly on global hits like "The Apl Song" from *Elephunk*. His artistic influence extends to promoting Asian representation in hip hop music, a genre historically dominated by African American and Latino artists. Alongside will.i.am, Fergie, and Taboo, he helped craft The Black Eyed Peas' signature sound—a fusion of hip hop, pop, and electronic dance music that dominated charts in the 2000s.

Philanthropy and activism

His philanthropic efforts are primarily channeled through the apl.de.ap Foundation International, which he founded to support education and community projects in the Philippines. A key initiative is the We Can Be Anything campaign, which builds music classrooms and donates learning tools to schools. He has worked with organizations like the National Geographic Society and the Philippine Department of Education on these endeavors. Following natural disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan, he has been active in relief efforts. His advocacy also includes supporting children with disabilities and promoting cultural pride among the Filipino diaspora.

Discography

*With The Black Eyed Peas: *Behind the Front* (1998), *Bridging the Gap* (2000), *Elephunk* (2003), *Monkey Business* (2005), *The E.N.D.* (2009), *The Beginning* (2010), *Translation* (2020), *Elevation* (2022). *Solo studio album: *It's Me, APL* (2014). *Notable solo singles: "Jump In" (2012), "Balikbayan" (2014).

Awards and nominations

As a member of The Black Eyed Peas, apl.de.ap has won multiple Grammy Awards, including for "Let's Get It Started" and "I Gotta Feeling". The group has also received awards from the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. In 2011, he was awarded the Order of Lakandula by the Government of the Philippines for his cultural and philanthropic contributions. He has also been recognized by the Myx Music Awards and the Asian Awards for his impact on music and representation.

Category:American rappers Category:Filipino musicians Category:The Black Eyed Peas members