Description
Save over 25% when you buy The Jungle Brothers first two albums.
DONE BY THE FORCES OF NATURE
The Jungle Brothers 1988 debut, Straight Out The Jungle, was important for many reasons. It was sloppy and goofy but had moments of real focus and social consciousness. It was a true kitchen sink record, that caught a rap fanbase enraptured by Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions a bit off-guard. Also of note, beyond the excellence of the album itself, the Jungle Brothers were the fulcrum for what would become the Native Tongues movement – they came first, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest followed, under their guidance.
By 1989, the group had even more confidence, plus a Warner Bros. contract and advance in their back pocket. They used it to great advantage on the self-produced and criminally underrated Done By The Forces Of Nature, expanding their sonic palette and continuing their Afrocentric approach to music and life. Singles like What U Waitin 4 and Doin Our Own Dang (with De La and Q-Tip, alongside Monie Love) showed the groups fun side, which has also lead the way in the hip-house movement. But things werent all fun and games, as deeper, more pensive album tracks like Black Woman, Beeds On A String, and Acknowledge Your Own History show. It was another accomplished mix of fun, frolic and knowledge-of-self, proving that you could be serious in the rap game but still let off steam and fill the dancefloor.
Done By The Forces Of Nature stands as one of the most cherished hip-hop documents of the late 80s among true-school heads, and this edition is the perfect way to revisit this classic thinking-mans (and womans) rap platter. Issued for the first time ever on 2-LP with the original picture sleeve artwork, it also comes with a reproduction of the original insert, with credits and lyrics.
STRAIGHT OUT THE JUNGLE
De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest may have been more commercially successful, but the afrocentric, jazz political rap movement and unfadeable Native Tounge Massive started with the Jungle Brothers. Their debut full length Straight Out the Jungle opened up many doors that are walked through by artists like Mos Def, Common and even Kanye West. Their taste for jazzy horn samples helped kick-start the entire jazz-rap movement, and their James Brown fixation was one of the first. Plus, the groups groundbreaking collaboration with legendary house producer Todd Terry, Ill House You, paved the way for numerous hip-house hybrids that shot up the dance and pop charts over the next few years and appeared to be a staple on every East Coast Rap Album from 88 until 92. The opening track Straight Out the Jungle samples the classic Bill Withers drum break as the JBs tell you where they are coming from. Black Is Black (featuring a young Q-Tip) and Sounds Of The Safari introduces the pro-black edge, while the sexually subtle classics Jimbrowski and Im Gonna Do You are funny, clever and timely. Hard, smart, fun, clever and brilliant, Mike G., Africa Baby Bam and Sammy G may not have realized it but they crafted a classic rap album that stands the test of time. Available here on high grade, loud pressed, double vinyl!
