Be

Album: AP3 (2015)
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Songfacts®:

  • This solo track by Apl.de.ap features Canadian-Cambodian rapper Honey Cocaine and singer Jessica Reynoso, who was a finalist in the first season of The Voice Philippines (Apl.de.ap was one of the coaches). The Black Eyed Pea member told Billboard magazine why he recruited the virtually unknown Honey Cocaine for this song. "I caught Honey's flow online and knew I had to collaborate with her on one of my tracks," he explained. "There's a few things about her that made this song come together real well. First off, she's real. You don't find many like that in the industry nowadays. Her skills on the mic are ridiculous and the fact that she's this little feisty Asian rapper, I think is just dope."
  • The song's music video was filmed in various locations around New York City and Jersey, Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan) and the Philippines. It finds Apl.de.ap in the middle of a violent video game landscape along with Honey Cocaine and Jessica Reynoso. Identical twins Lulu & Lala, who host a show on Miami's Hits 97.3, also make a cameo appearance. Said Apl.de.ap: "Ultimately, the video and song are about being yourself and having self-confidence. Today, I see so many people trying to be someone they're not, especially online. Even I got caught up in that for a hot minute."

    The Black Eyed Pea member eventually "realized that I was worrying too much about how my followers and fanbase saw me." He added: "Sometimes it ain't about the comments, the profile pic, or the best photo of yourself retouched to perfection. It's about living in the moment and connecting with everyone else that comes into your life."

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