will.i.am Was Skeptical of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour At First: ‘How Dope Can It Actually Be?’

Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour is set to end this weekend after nearly two years on the road — but a new show will soon set up shop after being directly inspired by the trek.

During an interview with SiriusXM’s Hits 1 Miami With Mack & Jen, will.i.am revealed that The Black Eyed Peas‘ upcoming Las Vegas residency wouldn’t be happening had he not checked out the pop superstar’s blockbuster concert tour earlier this year — even though he was an Eras skeptic at first. “I’m like, ‘Everybody’s talking about that Taylor Swift show,'” he told listeners. “And they’re really hyping it. Like, ‘How dope can it actually be? It’s just a show.’ When people praise stuff that much, there’s no way that it’s that dope. It’s impossible.”

At this point in time, the “I Gotta Feeling” group had already been offered a residency slot in Las Vegas, but he and his bandmates apl.de.ap and Taboo were reluctant to take it. When they happened to be in town for Swift’s duo of July performances in Italy, will.i.am decided to tag along to one of the concerts — after which his mind was quickly changed on more than one front.

“I went to Taylor Swift, like, with super heavy skeptics goggles on,” the rapper said before giving his honest review of the “Anti-Hero” singer’s three-hour-plus performance. “That was hardcore, bro. The best sh– in the world.

“I left like, ‘Yo, we definitely doing Vegas. Let’s do it,'” will.i.am continued. “That’s how transfixed I was [with] that Taylor Swift show. And then from there I called our management like, ‘Yo, that Vegas offer still there? Say yes to it … I just came from Taylor Swift’s show, and we’re gonna do it.’

“I’ve been freaking energized and inspired,” he added. “So thank you Swift.”

Following the pop star’s lead, The Black Eyed Peas are now set to kick off their residency at Planet Hollywood starting in February. As of now, the trio has dates scheduled through the end of May next year.

As for Swift, the 14-time Grammy winner’s incredible global run is just three shows away from its close. After performing a trio of concerts in Vancouver Dec. 6-8, Swift will finally tie a bow on a historic global sweep that found her performing songs from almost all her 11 studio albums each night. By its end, some reports estimate that the trek will gross well over $2 billion.

Watch will.i.am. explain how The Eras Tour inspired The Black Eyed Peas to do a residency above.