Will.i.am Reflects on Growing Up in Public Housing and Launching His i.am Angel Foundation (Exclusive)

etonline.com:

will.i.am has come a long way since he was a boy growing up in Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. The rapper, songwriter and mega music producer sat down with ET for an intimate reflection on his journey to stardom that touches on his numerous projects along the way, including the growth of his beloved i.am Angel Foundation.

When asked why a seven-time GRAMMY winner keeps returning to Estrada Courts, the housing project he grew up in, will.i.am shares that his regular visits «keep me grounded.»«This is where I was born and raised.

I grew up here in these projects,» the star says, reminiscing on how much his community has changed since he was a child. «When I grew up here, this recreation center wasn't here.

We called it the circle; it was a park so it's where I played football, baseball, basketball. [I] first wanted to make music here… It keeps me grounded.»Estrada Courts is also where the singer's i.am Angel program began, with only 65 kids.