‘A lot of people are still left behind'

In honour of Black History Month, will.i.am investigates Britain’s past and what it means to be Black in this country today

- TRICIA MARTIN

It’s more than 20 years since William James Adams Jr – aka will.i.am – became a star with his band Black Eyed Peas, topping the charts a few years later in 2003 with Where Is The Love?

More hits followed, and the quirky rapper, singer, songwriter and producer established himself as a fascinating all-rounder, always on the lookout for the next sound, style or tech innovation.

Will’s single mother brought him and his siblings up in Eastside LA, but he travelled across the city for school in the affluent West.

Since finding fame and fortune, Will has used his wealth to become a philanthropist. A tech fanatic, he’s ploughed millions of dollars into robotics programmes for schools, and his education programme has seen huge numbers of kids make it to college.

Britain has been very important in his career and he’s loyal to his talent show mentor role on The Voice UK, having stayed with the show throughout all 10 series.

Now Will is adding yet another string to his bow, as a documentary film maker. The sound of his Black Eyed Peas hit, Where Is The Love?, has rung out from Black Lives Matter marches both here and in America.

And in honour of Black History Month, Will has made a film for ITV, investigating what it means to be Black in Britain today, and how that experience compares to life in America.

We caught up with Will, 46, to hear more about making will.i.am: The Blackprint...

Hi Will. How did this documentary come about?

ITV came up with the idea, to celebrate Black History Month in the UK. And I’m so happy we did it, I learned a lot.

Did you worry at all that there might be some negative reactions to it?