The Black Eyed Peas return to their original sound with new song Street Livin'

The Black Eyed Peas have released their first new original song in seven years.

Street Livin' sees the group return to their original sound - the hip-hop track laced with jazz elements is a call-to-action, looking into problems faced by the black community, including racism, police brutality, and gun violence. 

Controversial, thought-provoking lyrics in the song include "you're guilty until you're proven innocent, if you're ebony they presume your temperament", which also looks at political themes and makes historical references to slavery.

The group posted on Twitter: "We have the POWER to make change together. Prison Industrial Complex. Immigration. Gun Violence. Police Brutality. These issues are critical for our families, friends, communities, and world. Stay Woke, Take Action Now. #BEPStreetLivin"

will.i.am explained the song's concept further: "Every ghetto is systematically zoned to have fast food restaurants next to liqueur stores & check cashing places...motels next to strip clubs down & the street from low funded schools, while the jails & prisons are heavily funded."

Street Livin' is The Black Eyed Peas' first original single since 2011's Don't Stop The Party from their last studio album to date, The Beginning. The group did however release a re-worked version of Where Is The Love in 2016 for charity.

Fergie is notably absent on the track, which is no surprise considering will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo have made a handful of appearances without her, and she recently released her second solo album Double Dutchess. Last year, will.i.am was reported to have said Fergie had left the group, but he later clarified to Official Charts that this wasn't true.

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The Black Eyed Peas scored a string of global hits between 2003 and 2011. Two of their singles, I Gotta Feeling and Where Is The Love, are among the UK's best-selling singles of all time.