The Beatnuts are a
New York-based hip hop group and production duo from Queens, New
York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. The
Beatnuts are the only Latino members of the Native Tongues
Family. Although only peripheral members, they are routinely
acknowledged by Q-Tip, who has shouted them out at least twice
on record (once in 1991 and once in 1996). The Beatnuts were
originally a trio before Kool Fashion, now known as Al' Tariq,
left the group to start a solo career. The Mighty V.I.C. (Groove
Merchantz, Ghetto Pros) was also a member of the Beatnuts'
production team for a while.
Both Junkyard Juju
and Psycho Les grew up in different communities in Queens, New
York. Psycho Les started producing beats and DJing at age 15
under aliases including DJ Les Jams and DJ Incredible. At a high
school in Flushing, Queens, a friend DJ Loco Moe introduced Les
to fellow producer Juju. While crate digging, both Beatnuts ran
into hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. Bambaataa introduced them
to fellow Native Tongues including De La Soul, A Tribe Called
Quest and the Jungle Brothers. At this time, Juju and Psycho Les
were DJing parties under the alias Beat Kings. The Jungle
Brothers claimed that they were not kings, but rather two nuts
for their comical nature. They thus changed their name and "it
stuck."
The Beatnuts are
known for their sample-heavy beats and explicit party-ready
lyrics. In early records, the beats had a jazz and
funk-influenced sound, but later songs were influenced by Latin
music. Critics have commented that The Beatnuts have
consistently good beats, but lack in terms of lyrics. Juju
addressed this in a 2004 interview:
“ We are all
about the beat, that’s our formula when we produce shit, the
beats gotta be hot, it’s gotta grab you. ‘Cause I’ll be the
first nigga to say that we’re not the best MC’s in the world. It
kills me to hear these nice MC’s rhyming over fucking garbage.”
Their production
is noted as some of the most accomplished, if unheralded, in all
of hip-hop, often intricately detailed (as in their finely honed
work for Mos Def on two tracks from Black on Both Sides) but
more regularly barnstorming, club-friendly, flourish-laden party
music. The Beatnuts are noted for being unabashedly, bullishly
ribald and in-your-face performers.
- 20 Party
Starting Snares
- 20 Lo-Fi
Kick Drums
- 20 Hi-Hats
(open and closed)
- 20 Shakers
- 20 Crash
and Ride Cymbals
- Plus Many
Various Instrument Hits
This is the
bottom line right here! if
YOU
want your beats to have the exact same sound, impact and
presence as The Beatnut's then you need this kit right now!
Accept no
imitations...
