This story is featured in CityBeat's June 28 print edition.
In the late ‘80s, hip-hop was still in its nascent phase. Acts like Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys and Public Enemy had mainstreamed the genre, but in 1987, Jungle Brothers — DJ Sammy B, Mike Gee and Afrika Baby Bam — came along and infused house and jazz elements, thus creating a different sound. (You can dance to their music). The Brothers recruited like-minded groups De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest to form collective Native Tongues, a way to pay homage to their African roots. Later on, Black Sheep and rappers Queen Latifah and Monie Love joined the Tongues. In 1989, they collaborated with Tribe’s Q-Tip and Love on the feel-good bumping single “Doin’ Our Own Dang.”
In 1988, Jungle Brothers released their first album, Straight Out The Jungle, on indie label Warlock Records. The titular song sampled Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s 1982 seminal hip-hop hit “The Message.” “I’ll House You" not only became a club hit, but it also became the first non-Chicago house music single to become a hit. The Marvin Gaye-inspired “What’s Going On” integrated horns, beats and samples. “Black Is Black” injected social commentary with lyrics like “My light complexion has no meaning/If you think so you’re still dreaming.”
Their sophomore follow-up, 1989’s major label Done By the Forces of Nature, included the track “Beyond This World,” which sampled 1983’s now-classic “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It).”
The trio remained prolific through the ’90s and 2000s — they call themselves “the longest-running hip-hop group in the world” — and in 2020 released Keep It Jungle. Today, hip-hop is quite different from its roots. But Jungle Brothers set the template for the golden era of hip-hop and deserve to have more credit for doing so. July marks the 35th anniversary of Straight Out the Jungle, so expect to hear many nostalgic songs and tributes to a bygone era. “Jungle Life 4 Ever,” indeed.
Jungle Brothers play Woodward Theater at 8 p.m. June 30. Sons of Silverton will open the show. Info: woodwardtheater.com.
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