The Beatnuts: The Originators

Sleazy in the best possible sense, The Beatnuts' sinister carnival-funk conjures up vivid images of psychotic dwarfs and intoxicated demons bellying up to the bar at a Tijuana roadhouse where the liquor is cheap and the women are cheaper. The Beatnuts' early work puts a belligerent blaxploitation spin on the fussily produced jazz-rap of the Native Tongues collective, but the critics who embraced groups like Main Source, A Tribe Called Quest, and De La Soul could never reconcile The Beatnuts' production genius with its thuggish, simplistic lyrics. The distinctive sound developed by Psycho Les and Junkyard Ju Ju have won a loyal following among production aficionados and rappers alike, but even after introducing the world to Big Punisher on "Off The Books," The Beatnuts' records never threatened to go gold, let alone platinum. Columbia's Loud label dropped the group after releasing a quickie greatest-hits album documenting its gradual shift from jazz to funk-based production. But the move from major to minor hasn't slowed the duo down a bit, and it's been touring constantly, in addition to scoring production credits for underground favorites like Non Phixion and Jurassic 5. The Beatnuts slides back deep underground with The Originators, and the move suits the proudly lowbrow pair. Les and Ju Ju continue to perfect their trademark sound, but they're also not averse to messing with a winning formula. "U Crazy" adds a Chronic-style synthesizer whine to the mix, while "Bionic" dabbles in "Planet Rock"-style electro-funk. The irresistible anthem "Yae Yo" begins with a burst of Reagan-era new-wave cheese before moving into funkier territory courtesy of a fluttering flute, cinematic strings, and an inspired turn by Non Phixion's Ill Bill. On The Originators' first song, Psycho Les and Ju Ju pledge to "Bring The Funk Back," but for The Beatnuts, the funk never left.