Will.I.Am: Lost Change

Since making its debut with Jay Dee's critically acclaimed Welcome 2 Detroit earlier this year, BBE's Beat Generation series has quickly become one of hip-hop's most encouraging developments: a loose and lively forum for champion beatsmiths to flaunt their skills with nearly unprecedented creative freedom. Pete Rock's instrumental-heavy Petestrumentals proved a worthy successor to Detroit, and the series continues its winning streak with Lost Change, the solo debut from Black Eyed Peas producer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist Will.I.Am. Stripping off BEP's glossy pop sheen while retaining its adventurous spirit, Lost Change gets off to a terrific start with "Ev Rebahdee," a joyous bit of celebratory braggadocio enlivened by the presence of Planet Asia, who illustrates yet again why he's one of underground hip-hop's most popular pinch-spitters. From there, Will.I.Am takes listeners on a characteristically eclectic tour of his restless muse, with stops along the way for mellow instrumentals ("Thai Arrive," "Lost Change In E Minor"), lush soul ("Lay Me Down," "Possessions"), and stirring reggae ("Worriors," featuring Burning Star). Like kindred spirit Wyclef Jean, Will.I.Am moves effortlessly across musical boundaries, reconfiguring and revamping musical genres to suit his needs. Consequently, Lost Change is at its best when Will.I.Am stretches his musical muscles, whether indulging his inner jazzman or creating lush, laid-back soundscapes that recall the dreamiest moments of Mos Def's Black On Both Sides. Will.I.Am's astutely mongrelized blend of soul, funk, pop, reggae, jazz, and whatever else catches his fancy may never win over the mainstream or underground purists. But that commitment to following his own path is exactly what makes him such a vital figure and Lost Change such a low-key treat.