will.i.am Slams ICE Raids in New Single EAST L.A. with Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo
Grammy-winning artiste will.i.am, alongside Black Eyed Peas bandmate Taboo, has released a powerful new single, EAST L.A., on July 11, 2025, calling out the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Los Angeles. The mariachi-hop track, which samples Santana’s 1999 hit MARIA MARIA, celebrates the city’s vibrant Latino culture while condemning the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration tactics. In the song, will.i.am raps, “I love Mexicanas from the Border / Make her my wife so ICE won’t deport her,” reflecting his solidarity with the Latino community. The music video, filmed partly at an anti-ICE protest at Los Angeles City Hall, amplifies this message, with will.i.am stating, “Black people, my ancestors, know exactly some version of what’s happening right now.”
The release follows widespread unrest in L.A., where ICE raids, including operations at Home Depot stores and workplaces like Ambiance Apparel, have detained nearly 2,800 immigrants since June 2025, sparking protests and a curfew. Speaking to Rolling Stone, will.i.am, raised in a predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood, described EAST L.A. as “response music” to the “sloppy, careless, and sprinkled with hate” raids targeting “people that make our city beautiful.” The track’s bilingual lyrics pay tribute to East L.A.’s culture, blending Spanish and English over a bouncy beat. As the raids continue to disrupt communities, EAST L.A., available on all major streaming platforms, stands as a bold anthem of resistance and unity.
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