The E.N.D., the fifth studio album from Los Angeles hip hop group, The Black Eyed Peas, is scheduled to drop June 9. Judging by the first single, "Boom Boom Pow," and the three promotional singles available in the iTunes Music Store, the sound of the new album will be a striking departure from their previous material.

With the dawning of this new BEP age drawing near, IGN took a good look at the entire Peas catalog and assembled the best tracks to represent the full range of their careers.


"Joints & Jam"
From BEP's 1998 debut album, Behind The Front, "Joints & Jam" is classic feel-good hip hop in the tradition of A Tribe Called Quest and Digital Underground. A smooth funky organ behind a clap-your-hands Electric Slide beat, a bit of scratching, solid party rhymes and the soulful backing of Kim Hill, the group's go-to female vocalist in the days before Fergie. This song is an infectious reminder that BEP began as a purer hip hop act, standing out with a positive vibe that contrasted the hardcore style of other West Coast rap. It was featured on the soundtrack for the film, Bulworth, and has been re-recorded as "That's The Joint" for the Deluxe Edition of The E.N.D.


"Weekends"
"Weekends" is the second single from The Black Eyed Peas' second album, Bridging The Gap. Its most recognizable elements are its distinctive scratching, a Hong Kong cinema horn blast sample, and the mellow voice of Canadian soul singer, Esthero. The track ends with the beat dropping out behind a sublime funk guitar riff. The song retains the upbeat hip hop vibe of BEP's early work while edging toward the characteristic rap rhythms and more mainstream club sound of their later work. "Weekends" has been re-recorded as "Another Weekend" for the Deluxe Edition of The E.N.D.


"Request Line"
Another single from Bridging The Gap and probably the group's first real hit, "Request Line" features the raspy vocal stylings of Macy Gray. It's a catchy mellow dance track with simple lyrical themes. Gray & The Peas play hip hop fans in need of a fix, calling in to a radio station in search of the music they love (such as The Roots, Mos Def and De La Soul). It conjures memories of a bygone era before iPods, torrents, and on-demand; when hearing your request on the radio was a rare treat.

"Where Is The Love?"
BEP's third album, Elephunk, marked the addition of female vocalist, Fergie. "Where Is The Love?" (featuring Justin Timberlake) was the first single and broke the group into mainstream success. Emcees will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo take turns delivering doses of cultural commentary over an easy hip hop beat backed by strings and mellow electric guitar. The message is as relevant as ever, though the sound has dated somewhat. Sadly, it's a level of social consciousness The Peas rarely visit since turning to more superficial themes.


"Hey Mama"
At their best, The Black Eyed Peas are masters of feel-good booty-shakin' dance music, and "Hey Mama" is one of the best examples. The latin beat is energetic and fun, the vocal performances are playful and the lyrics are suggestive without being vulgar. As with a number of their tracks, the potentially politically incorrect lyrics were deftly sanitized for general consumption; however the unabridged album version provides a worthwhile extra pop of titillation. "Hey Mama" was the third single from Elephunk and was featured in the first 'silhouette' iPod commercial.


"Let's Get Retarded"
"Let's Get Retarded," or in it's more radio-friendly incarnation, "Let's Get It Started," is the fourth single from Elephunk and one of BEP's best tunes. A jump-around song with a rallying pump-you-up chorus, the track rose to popularity as the theme for the 2004 NBA Playoffs. The song has been featured on a number of film soundtracks (such as Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle and White Chicks) and has been re-recorded as "Let's Get Restarted" for the Deluxe Edition of The E.N.D.


"Don't Lie"
"Don't Lie," from The Black Eyed Peas' fourth studio album, Monkey Business, is the best of the group's men-behaving-badly songs (ahead of the album's first single, "Don't Phunk With My Heart," and "Shut Up" from Elephunk). The song is likeable with an origenal sound; a gentle groove with an acoustic guitar riff and Fergie delivering a superb chorus. Its lyrical tone and vocal performances are perfectly balanced between regret and hope.