In 1992, apl.de.ap a Filipino descent rapper, with his group mate will.i.am, and several others had their group Atban Klann sign to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E). They made their first appearance on Eazy-E's EP, "" on the track entitled "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas". Soon after, the duo recorded their debut album, "Grass Roots" which was to be released on October 6, 1992; however, the album was shelved shortly before its release. The duo would stay with Ruthless until they were dropped from the label after Eazy-E's death in 1995. Soon after they changed their name to Black Eyed Peas. Another vocalist would join, Taboo, and they made their critically acclaimed debut "Behind the Front".