will.i.am directs new video

Rapper will.i.am has stepped back behind the camera to direct his first music video in nine years.

The Black Eyed Peas frontman took charge of the promo for the band's hit song Where Is the Love? in 2003, but he's not had the chance to return to the role of video director until now.

The star recently shot footage for his new solo single This Is Love in London, where he was filmed playing a piano in front of the city's Tower Bridge before connecting with clubgoers over his laptop via video-calling program Skype.

He debuted the promo on Friday (25May12) and took to his Twitter.com blog to share the news, writing, "iamsoproud because thisislove is the 2nd video I directed...the 1st was 'where is the love' 10years ago (sic)..."

And will.i.am has chosen to dedicate the song to the U.K., where he serves as a judge on the British version of The Voice, because it was the first country to fully embrace the Black Eyed Peas' socially conscious hit.

He tells radio station Capital FM, "The first place that I ever had success was here in the U.K. and it was a song called Where Is The Love?. Throughout my whole career after the success of Where Is The Love? - I found the love and it's here in the U.K. and that's why this (track) is (called) This Is Love."

will.i.am stopped by Capital FM's London studios earlier this month (May12) to debut This Is Love, risking the wrath of his label bosses who had yet to even hear the song.