Jungle Brothers

The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. They began performing in the mid-1980s and released Straight Out the Jungle in 1988 (see 1988 in music). With Afrocentric lyr

The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. They began performing in the mid-1980s and released Straight Out the Jungle in 1988 (see 1988 in music). With Afrocentric lyrics and innovative beats, the Jungle Brothers were critically acclaimed and soon joined the influential Native Tongues Posse. The trio is comprised of Mike Gee, Afrika Baby Bam, and DJ Sammy B.

Their first album, "Straight Out the Jungle," was released on an independent label and featured the Todd Terry hip hop/house collaboration "I'll House You." In spite of the commercial failure of Straight Out the Jungle, Warner Brothers Records soon signed the group and released Done By the Forces of Nature in 1989 (see 1989 in music). The album was a critical smash at the time, though it has since been largely ignored by hip hop critics at the expense of the similarly acclaimed fusion of jazz and rap 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul, released the same year. Following a four year break, the Jungle Brothers returned in 1993 with J Beez Wit the Remedy (1993 in music), another commercial disappointment. Their next album, V.I.P. was produced by Alex Gifford of Propellerheads and, during production, they found time to add their vocal stylings to Take California (And Party), and You Want It Back. Their latest album to contain any new releases is 2002's All That We Do.