Released on September 20, 2005, stands as one of the most polarizing artifacts in pop music history . While music critics famously loathed it, the song became a massive commercial juggernaut, winning a Grammy and a MTV Video Music Award while cementing The Black Eyed Peas' transition from socially conscious hip-hop to avant-garde pop . 1. Composition and Origins
The song heavily interpolates the 1983 track "I Need a Freak" by Sexual Harassment . This led to a significant legal dispute in 2011, where original songwriter Lynn Tolliver won $1.2 million in damages for unauthorized licensing . The Black Eyed Peas - My Humps
It is a hip-hop/dance duet between will.i.am and Fergie , backed by a minimalist, electro-influenced drum beat . 2. Lyrical Meaning and Themes Released on September 20, 2005, stands as one
Critics from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork labelled it "puerile," "vacuous," and "the single worst song ever written" . Much of the hate focused on its 55-fold repetition of the word "hump" . Composition and Origins The song heavily interpolates the
Watch the official music video for 'My Humps' to see the visual representation of its themes of luxury and attraction: The Black Eyed Peas - My Humps BlackEyedPeasVEVO YouTube• Jun 17, 2009 4. Cultural Legacy and Parody
The lyrics are a playful, if blunt, exploration of .
The song refers to Fergie's buttocks ("humps") and breasts ("lumps"), which she uses as leverage to get men to buy her expensive gifts—referred to as "ices" (jewelry) .