The Beatnuts are an American hip hop group and production duo from New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. JuJu is a Dominican American from Corona and Psycho Les is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights, Queens. Although only peripheral members, they are routinely acknowledged by Q-Tip as being members of Native Tongues. The Beatnuts were originally a trio before Fashion, now known as Al' Tariq, left the group to start a solo career. V.I.C. was also a member of The Beatnuts' production team for a while.
"Jazz " is the second single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. A portion of the track "Buggin' Out" appears in the music video. The sequences from "Jazz " are in black and white, while the "Buggin' Out" sequences are in full color. The original material sampled in the song was provided by Pete Rock, and was then recreated in a similar way by Q-Tip. Although Pete Rock is not officially credited, Q-Tip credits him in the outro of the track, rapping "Pete Rock for the beat, ya don't stop.". Rolling Stone magazine lists "Jazz " on their list of 20 essential songs from the group. On their list of 10 lyrics that prove Phife Dawg's talent, Pitchfork included a rhyme from "Jazz ": "Make sure you have a system with some phat house speakers / So the new shit can rock, from Bronx to Massapequa." The article notes that, "these kinds of stunt rhymes may not have been the most common component of Phife's lyrical arsenal, but they were usually the most 'oh shit' moments in any given verse, since they sounded so unexpected without really feeling forced."
"Blow Your Mind" is the first single released in Redman's rap career and is found on his acclaimed debut, Whut? Thee Album. It is produced by longtime Redman collaborator Erick Sermon and is co-produced by Redman himself. Its beat contains many samples including "The Payback (Intro)" by James Brown, "The Big Bang Theory" and "Theme From The Black Hole" by Parliament and "Dance Floor", "I Can Make You Dance" and "Computer Love" by Zapp. Its percussion also samples "Outstanding" by Gap Band and "Sing A Simple Song" by Sly & The Family Stone.
"Reign of the Tec" is the debut single by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records on March 23rd, 1993 before being placed on The Beatnuts' debut EP Intoxicated Demons: The EP. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les. It contains a beat that samples a guitar riff from "Wicked World" by metal band Black Sabbath. The song and its accompanying music video directed by David Perez Shadi are cited as "getting The Beatnuts noticed". DJ Fatboy of RapReviews.com lists its notable aspects: an"infectious chorus," a vocal sample from Brand Nubian's "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down (Remix)," and humorous lyrics.
"No Equal" is the second single by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records as a single before being placed on The Beatnuts' debut EP Intoxicated Demons: The EP. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju, Psycho Les and Fashion. It contains a spacy beat that features a prominent xylophone and brass section sampled from "Ain't No Sunshine" by Willis Jackson, "The Confined Few" by Irvin Booker & Booker Little and "Ain't No Sunshine" by Harlem Underground Band. It additionally samples Q-Tip's vocals from "Jazz " by A Tribe Called Quest and Rakim's vocals from "My Melody" by Eric B. & Rakim. The song's lyrics are explicit, braggadocios and humorous. DJ Fatboy of RapReviews.com explains that the song is carried by its "spanish(sic) tinged jazzy" beat, not its unjustifiably braggadocios lyrics.
"Props Over Here" is the first single from The Beatnuts: Street Level, a 1994 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records as a single with "Yeah You Get Props" as its b-side in 1994. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by JuJu, Psycho Les and Fashion. The lyrics are not as boastful as other Beatnuts songs, but are instead a hopeful demand to be considered good. "Props Over Here" contains a slow upbeat jazz-inspired instrumental that samples "Wee Tina" by Donald Byrd & Booker Little and "The Bridge" by MC Shan. Lenny Underwood plays keyboards on the song.
"Hit Me with That" is the second single from The Beatnuts: Street Level, a 1994 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records as a single with "Get Funky" as its b-side in 1994. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by JuJu, Fashion and Psycho Les. Its lyrics are about how "hardcore" The Beatnuts and their music are. It contains a slow, downtrodden and drum-heavy instrumental that samples "Love & Happiness" by Monty Alexander and "Holy Thursday" by David Axelrod. The song's refrain also contains a scratched sample of Method Man's vocals from "7th Chamber" by Wu-Tang Clan.
"Hellraiser (Remix)" is a 1994 single by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records as a single with "Fried Chicken" as its b-side. The song "Hellraiser" is found on The Beatnuts' first full-length album Street Level, but the remix was only released as a single. The remix is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by JuJu, Psycho Les and Fashion. Its lyrics are mainly about violent braggadocios threats. It contains a slow and instrumental that matches the nature of its lyrics. "Hellraiser (Remix)" failed to chart and is one of the rarer Beatnuts singles.
"Find That" is the first single from Stone Crazy, a 1997 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records in 1996 as a promo single and track on the label's compilation album, Relativity Urban Assault. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features braggadocios raps by Juju and Psycho Les. Its eerie, bass-heavy, xylophone-assisted beat is more minimalistic and less sample-reliant than most Beatnuts songs.
"Do You Believe?" is the second single from Stone Crazy, a 1997 album by East Coast hip hop group the Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records as a single with "Give Me Tha Ass" as its b-side in 1997. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les. Juju begins the song with a verse about his "ghetto mentality," while Psycho Les raps a verse about partying and making music. Juju's verse was later sampled in the song "Dos Factotum" by Louis Logic, while Psycho Les' verse was sampled in "Bottom Feeders" by Smut Peddlers. The song's mournful beat contains a samples "Fueron Tres Anos" by Chilean band Los Ángeles Negros.
"Off the Books" is the third single from Stone Crazy, a 1997 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records in both 12 inch and CD format in 1997. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les, the first on-record performance by Cuban Link, and a notable early verse from Big Punisher. Lyrics from Psycho Les's verse were later sampled in "The Rep Grows Bigga" by Gang Starr and two Beatnuts songs: "No Escapin' This" and "Slam Pit". The track's beat samples "Break that Party and Opening" by Melvin Van Peebles, "Sign Song" by Buddy Baker, "Get out of My Life, Woman" by George Semper and "Hihache" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band.
"Watch Out Now" is the first single from A Musical Massacre, a 1999 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records in 1999 in both 12 inch and CD format. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features materialistic raps by JuJu and Psycho Les, as well as a chorus performed by Yellaklaw. The track's fast-paced Latin beat samples "Hi-Jack" by Enoch Light.
"Se Acabo " is the second and final single from A Musical Massacre, a 1999 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records in 1999 as a promo 12 inch and CD single. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features Spanish raps by Juju, Psycho Les and two Merengue rappers: Swinger and Magic Juan. The track's slow-paced Latin beat samples "Se Acabo" by Marco Antonio Muñiz. An English remix of "Se Acabo" featuring Method Man can be found on The Beatnuts' 2001 album Take It or Squeeze It.
"No Escapin' This" is the first single from Take It or Squeeze It, a 2001 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Loud Records in 2001 in both 12 inch and CD format. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features braggadocious raps by Juju and Psycho Les, as well as ad libs performed by Greg Nice and a chorus performed by Claudette Sierra. The track's beat samples "A Little Fugue for You and Me" by Enoch Light. The song's refrain contains a vocal sample from Psycho Les' verse on "Off the Books" by The Beatnuts.
"We Got the Funk" is single by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Loud Records in 2002 as a 12 inch single after being featured on Classic Nuts, Vol. 1, a Beatnuts hits album. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les, as well as a chorus performed by Mellanie. The song's lyrics are boastful of The Beatnuts' musical ability and sexual prowess. The song's beat, characterized by a slow funky guitar loop, deep bassline and pounding drums, samples "It's So Different Here" by Rachel Sweet. Although included on a greatest hits album, "We Got the Funk" never charted, received music video treatment or was released in CD format.
"Duck Season" is the first single from Duck Season, Vol. 1, a 2002 album by West Coast DJ Babu the Dilated Junkie. It was released by Sequence Records as a 12 inch with "Ducky Boy" as its b-side in the United States, and "What Cha Know" as its b-side in Germany. The song features raps by The Beatnuts's two rappers and former group member Al' Tariq. The song's braggadocios lyrics are complemented by Babu's piano and synth-reliant beat. The song ends with Babu scratching various phrases such as "duck season" over a minimalistic beat. In addition, "Duck Season" contains scratched samples from "Beatnuts Forever" by The Beatnuts.
"Ya Betta Believe It" is the third and final single from The Originators, a 2002 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Landspeed Records as a 12 inch with "U Crazy" as its United States b-side and "Bring the Funk Back" as its United Kingdom b-side. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les, as well as a chorus sung by Chris Chandler. The song's lyrics tell of The Beatnuts' rise to becoming a well-respected group. The song's beat is characterized by a slow funk loop sampled from "Family" by Hubert Laws.
"Hot" is the first single from Milk Me, a 2004 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Penalty Recordings as a 12 inch and CD single without any b-sides or additional tracks. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les, as well as ad libs sung by Greg Nice. The song's lyrics are braggadocios, hard-hitting and aggressive. The song's beat is characterized by a fast pounding horn loop and matching drums sampled from "Rock Box" by Run-D.M.C. The song also features live instrumentation provided by guitarist Eric Krasno and keyboardist Neal Evans.
"It's Nothing" is the third and final single from Milk Me, a 2004 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Penalty Recordings as a 12 inch with "Confused Rappers" as its b-side. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features rapped verses by Juju, Psycho Les and guest rapper A.G., as well as a chorus performed by Gab Goblin. The song is lyrically composed of braggadocios metaphors and punchlines. The song's beat is characterized by a flute sample and quick drums giving it a "futuristic funk" sound. The song also features live instrumentation provided by keyboardist Neal Evans.
"It's On" is the second single released from American hip hop trio Naughty by Nature's third album, 19 Naughty III. It was released on June 8, 1993 and was produced and written by the three members of the group. The single found decent success on the Billboard charts, making it to 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song sampled jazz artist Donald Byrd's "French Spice" for which he received writing credits. The official remix was produced by the production duo, The Beatnuts and was featured on the B-Side of the single.
