“I’m not going to name any names, but I’m certainly not the one who wants a baby,” said apl.de.ap with an affectionate giggle.
When the Black Eyed Peas announced they were “focusing on solo projects” last year, the assumption was the end was approaching for the global superstars.
Not so, according to Will.i.am then, and not so today, more than a year on, according to BEP founding member ap, real name Allan Pineda Lindo.
“It didn’t come as a shock to me,” the Filipino rapper added. “We respect her,” alluding to the obvious that it was the only female of the party, Fergie, whose solo project meant starting a family.
It took me a while to cotton on (this interview took place at 4am UAE time) but Lindo doesn’t mind. “You must be tired he said,” with sweet, genuine concern.
Little things like this shouldn’t surprise us.
This little fact speaks volumes about the 36-year-old who describes himself as the utter antithesis of the archetypal ghetto-living rapper. He’s open about his private life, is uncomfortable when surrounded by bodyguards and when he isn’t dodging champagne parties, he says he is in his Philippine homeland, building schools and feeding the poor.
“I’ve been building classrooms for children,” he said. “Computer labs for kids. It’s such a huge problem and so many children just aren’t given a chance in life. I need to try and do what I can and I won’t stop.”
Spurred on by the distant memory of his own rags-to-riches tale, Lindo says the good and bad days in his life allow him to retain perspective.
Born in Angeles City, Pampanga, in the Philippines, Lindo and his five siblings were raised by his mother alone.
In 1992, aged 14, destiny took a different turn and he migrated to America thanks to the help of Joe Ben Hudgens, who would soon become his stepdad.
“I had poor eyesight when I was young and despite that, I was making good grades. I think he took pity on me and wanted me to go to the US so I can get my eyes fixed,” Lindo says.
“I was just a kid. I had nothing to my name but I was still happy. But I was also given a chance to pursue my dreams, have an education,” he said. It was thoughts like this which triggered Lindo to launch the We Can Be Anything campaign, which is heavily supported by his best friend Will.i.am.
“I see the discrepancy between the children and I can’t help but feel the need to try and do something to close the gap,” he said.
His We Can Be Anything campaign aims to build 10,000 new classrooms in the Philippines in the next two years, so more schoolchildren will one day reach graduation. “These children are running with no chances and few goals. I need to help them find hope.”
Landing in Los Angeles was like “landing on the moon” according to the producer. The plane trip alone was scary enough for the young teenager but on arrival, he faced a much bigger problem: he didn’t speak a word of English.
“I remember just sitting in silence and not knowing how to say what I wanted to anyone.”
Despite the language barrier, Lindo formed an instant bond with William Adams, better known as international record producer, singer and celebrity, Will.i.am, who he was “told to play with” when he was babysat by Adams’ mum.
“He was from LA in a poor neighbourhood but when we met we had that same dream, we stuck together,” and over their mutual love of dancing and rapping, the pair formed a group which would eventually become Grammy Award-winning Black Eyes Peas.
“His mum would make Will stay home,” laughed Lindo. “I don’t know if he liked me. I was a kid who couldn’t speak English but we seemed to always manage to talk somehow. One day I did the ‘running man’ [dance move] and Will was like “I can dance too”. It’s funny to look back and think about how it all began. We would dance to commercials. We were best friends from then on.”
BEP have now sold more than 56 million records worldwide and Will and Lindo are as close as they were on the day they met.
Adams recently flew from the UK to the US after filming an episode of The Voice to support his best friend and give a surprise performance at a fundraiser, saying “I come from a very bad neighbourhood and Apl saved my life.
“If I’d never met Apl, I probably would still be in that same ghetto and who knows what life would be like. I know there would be no Black Eyed Peas if I hadn’t met Apl... it all started the day Apl landed in LA.”
The pair also still find to catch up and party when they are home in LA. “We go clubbing,” said Lindo. “Will is a workaholic though” he added, saying Adams would often confide in him about his time as a judge on talent show The Voice. “He loved it but one day he called and said ‘it’s cool, but this s*** is hard, man’.”
It was information Lindo needed to hear as he is also planning to launch his own talent show in the Philippines, with a charity twist to raise money for his foundation.
Revealing plans to follow in Adams’ footsteps and become a TV talent show judge, the Filipino-American said the line-up would be “impressive” citing leading Pinoy musicians Arnel Pineda, lead singer of Journey, Charice and Bruno Mars as possible options. “It will be funny if Will does it with me, right? He won’t understand a bunch of the songs.”
Although 4am meant setting my alarm at an unsociable hour, the timing paid off. “It’s about 5pm here and that means sunset,” he said, me a little unsure where he was going with this.
As it turns out, he left his family for good and boarded a plane to Los Angeles as the sun set over his home country. “I hated sunsets for a long time,” he said. But as the sun set that day, little did he know what awaited him.
Sell-out gigs from nightclubs to arenas, a global following and international superstar status. “Not bad for the young kid who used to milk water buffalos and plant root crops with his bare hands,” he laughed.
Not bad at all.
