** Black Eyed Peas

BRIDGING THE GAP

(Interscope)

If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. It's a lesson that we all learned in kindergarten, but the LA hip-hop trio Black Eyed Peas would benefit from a refresher course. Because even though there's a host of reasons why BEP's second disc is unsatisfying, it's the group's incessant dissing of "bad" MCs (those who rhyme about money, sex, and violence) that turns Bridging the Gap from a fun, lightweight affair into a serious drag. When they decide to accentuate the positive, BEP can turn out wonderful pop rap that's cool enough for the Abercrombie kids but safe enough for Joe Lieberman. "Request + Line" is a sinewy Macy Gray collaboration that smartly updates Aretha Franklin's "Mr. D.J. (5 for the D.J.)" for the hip-hop nation. And sexy party jams like "Weekends" and "Lil' Lil'" highlight Will.I.Am as a producer to watch. But BEP's well-intentioned outlook is soured by constant haranguing, hollow ego inflating, and hectoring commands to "get original!" -- all inexcusable in light of their uninspired rhyme schemes, tired disses, and blatant beat biting. "You shoulda took your record advance and bought a style," BEP say on "Bringing It Back." Actually, that would've been a good idea.

-- Michael Endelman