Fists and feet are flying at William James Adams Jr.’s teenage face and body. He’s from one of the few Black families living in Boyle Heights’ infamous Estrada Courts housing projects. It’s the mid-80s, cholos run the block and William thinks it’s a good idea to get jumped in.
Too bad his mom is the real gangster.
“I got jumped in, jumped out, and then my mom jumped me,” he tells me. “That one was the real one. The other one was just ... playing with your friends and getting initiated. But my mom? My mom kicked my ass.”
That’s more evidence that William James Adams Jr., AKA will.i.am—the Grammy-winning frontman of the Black Eyed Peas—is an honorary Chicano; at least according to me. Even before he told me that story, I could tell. It’s in the way he throws up old-school ’90s hand signs—snapping his forearms to his chest like he’s still posted up at Estrada Courts.
We spoke recently at FYI, his futuristic HQ in Hollywood, where he hosted a private event celebrating East L.A., a new track and music video with his Peas bandmate, Taboo, all while a fruta lady made Tajin-covered fruit cups, a taco lady served tender al pastor, perfectly refried beans and bright orange rice, and a woman scooped out Jalisco-style, vegan nieves de garrafa—pillowy soft ice cream traditionally hand made in a large wooden jar.
While food and staff swirled around us, our conversation ranged from tacos to ICE raids, from old-school high school football rivalries to the sacredness of the Sears building in East L.A.