The record, which is the follow-up to 2009's 'The E.N.D', is released on November 30.

Singer will.i.am said the album's title “refers to what is actually happening in the world right now”.

He added: “'The Beginning' is symbolic of adopting new technologies, such as augmented reality, 3D, and 360 video. It’s also about being experimental and taking songs we’ve liked from the past and playing around with sick, crazy beats.”

The album will be released in several physical formats – a standard CD, a deluxe CD that includes three bonus songs and a full album vinyl - and digitally at all online retailers.

It will be preceded by the single 'The Time (Dirty Bit)', which is released on November 9.

The group's last album 'The E.N.D.' has sold more than 11 million copies world­wide and spent 52 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

(by Jason Gregory)