Traversing territory that falls somewhere between Jurassic 5 and the Roots, alt-rappers Black Eyed Peas make a bid for crossover appeal on the follow-up to the 2000 set “Bridging the Gap.” The lead single is the slick peacenik track “Where Is the Love” featuring Justin Timberlake. Meanwhile, “Anxiety,” with Papa Roach, is tailor-made for modern rock play. And thus, the Los Angeles-based quartet is tough to pin down. Between pop and rock turns, the Peas dabble in everything from Latin-rhythms (“Sexy”) to Sean Paul-style dancehall (“Hey Mama”). Though diversity is the calling card on “Elephunk,” it works best as a laid-back party album, blending live instrumentation and old-school hip-hop beats. Standout tracks include the feel-good anthem “Let’s Get Retarded” and the swinging opener “Hands Up.”—BG
