On the evening of February 7th, The Jungle Brothers took the stage at SOB’s in lower Manhattan. It was their first gig in six years, their first since 1997 with all three original members, and a historic evening for any fan of hip-hop music. An all-star assortment of acts appeared to support the local heroes: The Leaders Of The New School (minus original member Busta Rhymes) performed a brief and energetic set, Dres (from Black Sheep) and Jarobi (of A Tribe Called Quest) wowed the audience with tunes both new and old, and DJ Red Alert spun a selection of classic hip-hop breaks.
And then, right around midnight, the Jungle Brothers took the stage. Afrika Baby Bam and Mike G grabbed microphones, Sammy B manned the turntables, and the audience went wild.
See, the Jbeez are underground hip-hop royalty. Their albums are revered among collectors and aficionados, their singles are staples in clubs and on radio, and despite never attaining the widespread commercial success of their contemporaries A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, they’re responsible for some of the greatest songs of rap’s golden age. They’re well-seasoned performers, consummate showmen, and the deep, jazzy textures of their productions are ideal for a live setting. And on this evening, aided by a versatile percussionist and a stage full of friends and associates, they were unstoppable.
The setlist was nothing but classics: “What U Waitin’ 4”, “Because I Got It Like That”, “Beyond This World”, “Jbeez Comin’ Thru”, “Jimbrowski”, “I’m Gonna Do You”, “On The Run”, and a extended finale of “I’ll House You” that got the entire crowd jumping. The Brothers strode the stage, dancing, staring down the audience, rapping the words and singing the hooks with intensity and enthusiasm.
So yes, the Jungle Brothers have returned. They still got it like that. And it’s great to have them back doing what they do best.
Photos © 2012 Marnie Ann Joyce.