Will.i.am

Will.i.am is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is best known as the frontman and co-founder of the globally successful musical group The Black Eyed Peas. Beyond music, he is a prominent figure in technology, innovation, and education advocacy.

Name: William James Adams Jr. (professionally known as will.i.am)

Date of birth: March 15, 1975

Height: 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)

Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S. (specifically Eastside Los Angeles / Boyle Heights).

Family:

Parents’ names: Debra Adams (mother) and William James Adams Sr. (father, of Jamaican descent). He was raised by his single mother.
Siblings: Information not widely publicized.
Spouse: No publicly known spouse.
Children: No publicly known children.
Relatives: Lynn Cain (maternal uncle, former NFL player).

Profession: Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, futurist, actor, DJ, education advocate.

Nationality: American

Religion: Information not consistently available. He appears to be spiritual but does not openly discuss specific religious affiliation.

College or university attended:

Palisades Charter High School
John Marshall High School
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles (briefly attended).
Harvard Business School (completed a short-term executive program in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports).

Biography and What Famous For:

William James Adams Jr., known as will.i.am, grew up in Eastside Los Angeles and was raised by his single mother. His passion for music began early, and he started rapping in his teenage years. In 1992, he co-founded the hip-hop group Atban Klann with fellow rapper apl.de.ap, signing with Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records. After Eazy-E’s passing, the group re-formed as The Black Eyed Peas in 1995, later adding Taboo and, crucially, Fergie.

will.i.am is most famous for:

Frontman of The Black Eyed Peas: This is his primary claim to fame. After a few initial albums, the addition of Fergie in 2002 led to massive mainstream success with albums like “Elephunk” (2003) and “Monkey Business” (2005). They produced global hits like “Where Is the Love?”, “Shut Up”, “Boom Boom Pow”, and “I Gotta Feeling”, selling tens of millions of albums and singles worldwide and earning multiple Grammy Awards. The group is known for their fusion of hip-hop, pop, R&B, and dance music.
Successful Solo Music Career and Producer: Beyond the Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am has released several solo albums, including “Songs About Girls” (2007) and “#willpower” (2013), which spawned hits like “This Is Love” and “Scream & Shout.” He is also a highly sought-after record producer, having worked with an impressive roster of artists including Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Usher, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, and film composer Hans Zimmer.
Technology and Innovation Entrepreneur: He has a significant passion for technology and is a prominent entrepreneur in the tech space.
- He was a founding equity stakeholder in Beats Electronics (Beats By Dre), which was acquired by Apple for over $3 billion.
- He is the founder and CEO of i.am+, a tech company focused on AI, natural language understanding, voice computing, and consumer electronics. He has launched products like smartwatches and face masks (XUPERMASK).
- He is a futurist and creative advisor to major corporations and organizations, including the World Economic Forum, where he is involved in committees examining the impact of technology, particularly AI, on society.
Philanthropy and Education Advocacy (STEAM): will.i.am is a dedicated philanthropist, particularly focused on empowering youth through education.
- He founded the i.am Angel Foundation in 2009, which provides college scholarships, college preparation (i.am College Track), and promotes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education in underserved communities.
- He is a board member of FIRST Robotics and advocates globally for STEAM skills development.
“Yes We Can” (2008): He produced and released the influential song “Yes We Can,” a viral anthem in support of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, which earned an Emmy Award.
Television Personality: He has been a coach on “The Voice UK” and “The Voice Australia,” and a judge on the reality competition “Alter Ego.”

will.i.am is known for his relentless creativity, his distinctive futuristic fashion sense, and his passionate advocacy for technology and education as tools for social change.

Have participated (Selected Works):

Musical Groups: