I know why people say BEP's style has changed...but it's really not THAT different. I've made mixtapes with stuff from all their albums and while their style broadened, it's not 2 much of a stretch. They've always been different and mixed different music genres and used samples from time 2 time. And Fergie kinda takes the place, the girl who did all the R-N-B vocals on most of their past work. They just made her an official member and put her out there. And she's been doing her thing commerically much longer than BEP has been.
Their new style may not be 4 everyone...but i'm lovin' it. I'll take Beyond The Front any day over the newer stuff, but 2 call them irrelevant is just wrong. They are the hardest working act in Hip-Hop and it's paying off. No gimmicks, just pure creativity and fun. And unlike other people on the charts, THEY LOVE HIP-HOP. Watch them at award shows when other people perform. When MC Hammer did that suprise performance at the MTV Music Awards, they were loosing their mind more than i waz.