SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: TABOO

Jaime Luis Gomez, or as we know him, Taboo, best known as a member of the Black Eyed Peas. He was born in Los Angeles, California as a Mexican-American on both sides, and Shoshone Indian on his mother's side. Taboo lived out much of his young life in California and at the age of 32, he married Jaymie Dizon with Will.i.am. (William Adams) and Apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda) as two of his groomsmen. 

Much of his career has been alongside Will.i.am. They began in the late 1980s performing in the 8th grade with Apl.de.ap in Los Angeles. Later, they signed to Eazy-E’sRuthless Records in 1992 and, along with another friend Dante Santiago, the group was called Atban Klann (ATBAN: A Tribe Beyond a Nation). Unfortunately, their debut album Grass Roots was never released due to the passing of Eazy-E. The group was able to, later, reform themselves under the new name Black Eyed Pods, and then Black Eyed Peas.

Taboo began his solo career in 2008 but spoke on the album later saying that it would be some time before he would even start a solo album. It wasn’t until 2014 that he released his debut solo song “Zumbao” (it’s about having fun and infected with positive energy). He has collaborated with artists such as Ryan Key of Yellowcard, David Rolas, Fudge Dog, and even merengue star Juan Luis Guerra. Taboo has proven to have a diverse background as well as a diverse sense of style when it comes to music. 

 

By Kianna Woods for RAPstation