(REUTERS) - US hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas are "still one big family" rapper Will.i.am said on Wednesday (July 22) as the Grammy Award-winning band marks its 20th anniversary this year.

The group last week released a music video for the single Yesterday showing rappers Will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo, who first formed The Black Eyed Peas in 1995. Female vocalist Fergie, who like Will.i.am has released solo material in recent years, did not join the group until several years later and does not appear in the Yesterday video, which Will.i.am has said is an homage to the band's hip hop heroes.

Asked if Fergie was still an active member of Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am answered "Yes", adding that the four musicians are one big family.

"We are still one big family. You know we are recording Fergie's record right now. It is sounding amazing. So we were in the studio with Fergie last week. We are going to be in the studio with Fergie this coming up week to finish her new solo project," he said during an interview in a promotional event in Madrid.

Fergie is working on her second solo album.

The Black Eyed Peas have achieved great success since the band was created 20 years ago.

Now in 2015 Will.i.am is a 40-year old experienced artist who has always proved to be versatile in different disciplines.

Asked if he would like to send a message to his younger self, Will.i.am said he would just express his gratitude for the work and dedication he showed in the past.

"I wouldn´t give advice to my younger self I would say thank you for being hardworking, passionate, determined, disciplined. I wouldn't try to tell my younger self anything. I would just say thank you," he said.

On many occasions the Grammy award-winner has shown great interest in science and technology. He even has a consumer electronic company named I.am +. Now, he is involved in a project to inspire poor minority children to embrace science. He started the project with just 60 kids and now he is providing education and equipment to 600 students.