Will.i.am reveals why he ‘never had a house’ as Black Eyed Peas founder continues living in a hotel
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Grammy-winning musician William James Adams Jr, famously known as Will.i.am, recently revealed why he still does not own a house.
While speaking at the AfroTech conference this week on November 14, Thursday, in Houston, the Black Eyed Peas founder discussed his other high-paying gigs as a sought-after tech investor behind new companies like Fyi.AI, per People.
Will.i.am still does not have his own house
Will.i.am, 49, said, "As far as the idea of 'I made it', I don't think I made it, because every milestone takes me to the next milestone. I'm making it. I've never had a house. I bought myself a studio. I have my office, but I stay in a hotel. I don't have a house because I ain't bought the house that says 'I made it'."
The idea of home is something that has long been a motivator for Will.i.am, who shared with the crowd at AfroTech that he grew up living in a South Los Angeles housing project.
He said, "I remember my mom was like, 'Wait, put your clothes on. You go up here to get our food stamps. Sit in this line to get this cheese.' When you are in a project, that's your reality."
The musician added, "You come outside, your best friend that you grew up with is no longer with you because he got shot and you want to dream different — that's where I get ambition from."
The music star has been busy investing in tech companies while continuing making music in recent years. He is now the founder and CEO of Fyi.AI, a new messenger and tool for streamlining apps, making it a one-stop shop on your device.
Will.i.am explained, "You don't need a thousand apps, especially when apps don't talk to each other. With Fyi it's all in one place, your news, your calendar, your collaborative work. It may sound like a foreign concept, but eventually it's going to be the system."
Will.i.am's efforts to give it back to the community
Despite Will.i.am doing quite well for himself through both music and investments, the 'Boom Boom Pow' artist still makes sure to go back to where it all started.
He said, "I go back to the projects every weekend when I'm home. And I've done that since when I was living there." The musician gave back to his community in a significant way after going to volunteer abroad for tsunami relief in 2005.
He added, "I was like, 'Wow, there's a tsunami that happens in every hood, every single day and it's not a tsunami of water but one of no opportunity, of neglect, of bad food, bad zoning. I thought, 'Why am I not giving back to my own neighborhood?'"
Moreover, that experience, and the popular education documentary 'Waiting For Superman', inspired him to pull upon his resources and connections to bring robotics classes and college access programs into struggling schools in his neighborhood, according to the outlet.
