The Jungle Brothers were a hip hop group that was associated with the informal Native Tongues coalition that included groups such as De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep. The groups could be connected through their common interest in expanding the sound of the genre, sampling jazz fusion albums, country music, sixties pop music, as well as a greater palate of R&B and funk. In addition, their approach to MCing moved away from the aggressive, shouting approach that defined earlier acts such Run DMC, the Beasties, etc. to smoother, more laid back approach. Lyrically, the groups alternated between serious political topics and a return to the sort of playfulness that defined early hip-hop. The band put out their first record in 1988, with 'Straight Out Of The Jungle', and a second album followed in 1990 with 'Done By The Forces Of Nature'. 'Crazy Wisdom Masters' was to have been their third album, and it featured some considerably experimental hip-hop for the time, as well as production from Bill Laswell. Warner Brothers constantly rejected the tapes, and eventually a much diluted version of the album was released in 1993 under the title of 'J. Beez Wit The Remedy'. Though the final album is considerably more conventional, experimental tracks are still in evidence, including a few left over from the 'Crazy Wisdom Masters' sessions, such as 'Spittin' Wicked Randomness' and 'For The Headz At Company Z'. Some tracks have officially surfaced, with four appearing on the Wordsound 'Crazy Wisdom Masters' 10" EP in 1998, and the track 'Troopin' On The Down Lo' being included on the obscure Warner Brothers compilation 'Trademark of Quality Volume 2' in 1993, but here is the full album as it would have appeared if the band had been given their head and been allowed to take rap and hip hop to the next level.
Track listing
01 Simple as That02 Good Ole Hype Shit03 Book Of Rhyme Pages04 JB's Comin Through05 Spittin Wicked Randomness06 Sparl A New Flame07 Mysterious Monkey08 Battle Show09 I'm In Love With Indica10 Ra Ra Kid11 Peace Ahki12 Trials Of An Era13 Book Of Rhyme Pages (Remix)14 Troopin' On he Down Low15 Headz at Company Z
