Jungle Brothers
Jungle Brothers | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Hip hop group |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Pioneering the fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and house music; founding members of the Native Tongues collective |
Jungle Brothers comprise an American hip hop trio formed by Michael Small (Mike Gee), Nathaniel Hall (Afrika Baby Bam), and Sammy Burwell (DJ Sammy B). They are widely acknowledged as trailblazers in merging jazz, hip-hop, and house music genres, notably becoming the first hip-hop ensemble to work alongside a house-music producer. Their inaugural album, Straight out the Jungle, debuted in July 1988 and was later reissued to feature the hip-house club anthem "I'll House You." With backing from Kool DJ Red Alert, their achievements played a crucial role in propelling groups such as De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and the Native Tongues collective they helped establish.
History
The group's initial release, Straight out the Jungle, appeared in 1988 under the independent label Warlock Records. Shortly afterwards, they secured a contract with Warner Bros. Records and unveiled Done By the Forces of Nature in November 1989. In 1990, they took part with the track "I Get a Kick" on the Cole Porter tribute compilation Red Hot + Blue. Following a four-year break, they made a comeback with J Beez Wit the Remedy in 1993. Their fifth studio effort, V.I.P., produced by Alex Gifford of Propellerheads, included collaborations such as vocal contributions on Propellerheads' songs "Take California (And Party)" and "You Want It Back." Their most recent album featuring original tracks is 2002's All That We Do.
In 2001, their song "What's the Five 0" was incorporated into the soundtrack of the music video game FreQuency. Three years later, in 2004, they teamed up with UK producer Mr On to create "Breathe (Don't Stop)", a remix blending Q-Tip's "Breathe and Stop" with a sample from Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," inspired by an unofficial remix circulating at the time.
The year 2005 saw Jungle Brothers release This Is..., a double-disc compilation featuring greatest hits, remixes, and rare tracks with contributions from The Wiseguys, Urban Takeover, Natural Born Chillers, and Stereo MCs.
Studio albums
- Straight out the Jungle (1988)
- Done by the Forces of Nature (1989)
- J Beez wit the Remedy (1993)
- Raw Deluxe (1997)
- V.I.P. (2000)
- All That We Do (2002)
- I Got U (2006)
- Keep It Jungle (2020)