In a quest to move forward musically, sometimes I have to look back and reflect. Even though I get plenty of new music on the regular, I still dig in the crates for some of that old classic material. One of my favorite hip-hop groups that began their music journey in the early 90s, but still hasn’t received the respect that they deserve is The Beatnuts! Original group members included Ju-Ju, Psycho Les and Kool Fashion a.k.a. Al’ Tariq. Kool Fashion left the group early on, but Ju-Ju and Les remained focused and never seemed to lose a step during the transition. As forgotten members of the Native Tongue’s movement the Beatnuts have laced rap fans with several hot joints over their years in the business. Outside of being the staple of early Latino based hip-hop back in the day they have also worked with dope artists like Common, Dead Prez, A.G., Freeway, Grand Puba, Tha Alkaholiks, etc. Back in the 90s if you wanted a sick beat the Beatnuts were on that top producers list along with other greats like Premo, Puff Daddy & Jermaine Dupri. I don’t know about you, but the Beatnuts have definitely influenced my love for hip-hop over the years with some of those crazy azz beats that they’ve produced.
Classic Beatnuts’ joints like “Intoxicated Demons EP,” “Street Level” and “Stone Crazy” still makes my music rotation from time to time even in 2007. Why the Beatnuts are never included in the average hip-hop fan’s Top 10 producer’s list is amazing to me, but then again I guess it is understandable. The truth is that most fans hardly ever remember what an artist did in the past, because they are so focused on what they are doing now. Sadly, when it comes to most of the fickle music fans of the new millennium, if you’re not doing anything at the moment your whole career seems to be irrelevant. Personally, I don’t give a damn if the Beatnuts never make another hot record ever again, they will always remain in the SoundNexx Hip-Hop Hall of Fame for eternity.
As we continue on…take a look at this Beatnuts video tribute that I put together by way of YouTubage…
The Beatnuts - Watch Out Now
The Beatnuts ft. Big Pun - Off The Books
The Beatnuts - No Escaping This
Okay, that is all...
5 comments:
I downloaded Off The Books a couple of days ago.
the watch out now beat gets stuck in my head at random and i end up humming.. do do do do do, watch out now.. my poor co-workers.
@Homebwoy - Stop stealing! Nah, on the real you need those early Beatnut joints in your collection like yesterday!
@Greena a.k.a SFF - LOL! That name fits you well. Now, you understand why I added an "A" to the first word or your screenname! Well, maybe you don't, but it's based on a hero's name..
i didnt know, but ill have to look into it
:)
bytheway-- hows it going down-- bomb ass song. loved it in, what 98? 99? still love it now
I think "Off the Books" was one of the first songs that made me fall in love with hip hop..
Beat was just crazy at the time, and still is a banger..
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