The Transcenders - History

History

Transcenders story starts back in 1995. As founding members of one of music’s most creative and unique groups, The Black Eyed Peas (BEP), Terence Yoshiaki, Brian Lapin and Mike Fratantuno helped to define a groundbreaking sound and vision for the multi-platinum selling recording artists. By fusing a live band into hip-hop before it was the accepted norm, the band’s raw sound and high-energy shows marked the arrival of a new alternative hip-hop style. In addition to years of touring with BEP, the three made their mark as songwriters. Brian co-wrote the band’s first single Joints & Jam in 1998. Mike co-wrote both the 2001 MTV favorite Request + Line featuring Macy Gray, and the #1 hit Where Is the Love? featuring Justin Timberlake. Mike and Terence also co-wrote the Grammy-winning Top 10 hit single Let's Get It Started with BEP.

After leaving BEP in ’99 to pursue a career as a songwriter and producer, Brian spent two years as a songwriter with Warner/ Chappell Music Publishing. During that time he produced and wrote for artists signed to Sony, Interscope and Maverick Records. Terence and Mike continued to tour the world with BEP for five years while writing, producing and recording with many of the artists they met along the way.

When BEP took a break from touring in 2002 to record their third album, Elephunk, Brian, Terence and Mike got together to collaborate on the film score for Cross Bronx.