The Native Tongues Posse is a collective of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good naturedly-Afrocentric lyrics, and for pioneering the use of eclectic sampling and later jazz-influenced beats. They were also closely-tied to the Universal Zulu Nation. Its principal members are the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... An 1812 map of Africa Afrocentrism is an academic, philosophical, and historical approach to the study of world history. ... Sampling may refer to: Sampling (signal processing), converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal Sampling (music), re-using portions of sound recordings in a piece Sampling (statistics), selection of observations to acquire some knowledge of a statistical population Sampling (case studies), selection of cases for single or multiple case... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Universal Zulu Nation, originally known simply as The Organization, is an international hip hop awareness group, which arose among reformed street gang members in New York City in the 1970s, formed and headed by hip hop music pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. ... The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip hop group to use an in house producer. ... De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ...

History

The New York-based Native Tongues was a collective of like-minded hip hop artists who would help bring abstract and open-minded lyricism - that addressed a range of topics, from spirituality and modern living to race, sex, and just having fun - to the mainstream. Together with the use of eclectic samples that would take on an increasingly jazzy sound, they would be pioneers of so-called "conscious hip hop" and "jazz rap". NY redirects here. ... Conscious hip hop is a subgenre of alternative hip hop which focuses on social issues. ... Jazz rap is a fusion of alternative hip hop music and jazz, developed in the very late 1980s and early 1990s. ...

Fostered by Kool DJ Red Alert, the success of the Jungle Brothers would pave the way for De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest; together, these three groups would form the core of the posse and continue the spirit of Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation. By 1989 they had been joined by Queen Latifah and the UK's Monie Love, and soon by the Black Sheep, Chi-Ali, and Leaders of the New School (which included Busta Rhymes). Collectively, the members of the Native Tongues Posse had a huge affect on the style and trends of hip hop during its most important period, the "golden age" of the late 80s/early 90s. A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul's albums of this time are considered among the best and most important in the hip hop repertoire. It is proposed that this article be deleted. ... The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip hop group to use an in house producer. ... De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ... Afrika Bambaataa (born on April 17 in 1957)[1] is a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1970s. ... The Universal Zulu Nation, originally known simply as The Organization, is an international hip hop awareness group, which arose among reformed street gang members in New York City in the 1970s, formed and headed by hip hop music pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. ... Also see the Arab singer Latifa Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey) is a Grammy-winning American rapper/singer, model, and Academy Award-nominated actress. ... Monie Love (born Simone Wilson on July 2, 1970 in London) is an English rapper and the sister of techno musician Dave Angel. ... Black Sheep is an alternative hip-hop duo from The Bronx, New York, consisting of Andres Dres Titus and William Mista Lawnge McLean. ... Chi-Ali (born Chi Ali Griffith) is an American rapper, best known musically for his album The Fabulous Chi Ali which he recorded at the age of 14. ... The Leaders of the New School were an American hip hop crew composed of Long Island, New York natives Charlie Brown, Dinco D, Busta Rhymes and Cut Monitor Milo. ... my best friend Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr. ... The golden age of hip hop, derivative of old school hip hop, began with Run-DMCs album Raising Hell in 1986 and ended with the popularity of Dr. Dres album The Chronic in late 1992. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ... De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. ...

While featuring an extensive discography, the collaborations of the Native Tongues have been failry limited: they never recorded anything under that name, and the number of notable posse cuts can be counted on one hand. The various groups grew distant with time, and by 1993, De La Soul's Trugoy The Dove proclaimed "that native shit is dead". They would however reunite in 1998 for the Jungle Brother's "How Ya Want It We Got It (Native Tongues Remix)"; collaborators in this period, such as Common and Mos Def, could be seen as latter-day additions to the crew. Posse cut is a popular form of song in hip hop music, that involves successive verses by four or more rappers. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... As a noun, common may refer to: An alternate form of commons A common - an area of common land The rapper, Common (formerly known as Common Sense) As an adjective, common may denote: Ordinary or most frequently occurring; prevalent. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, USA), is an American rapper and actor. ...

As of 2007, Monie Love and Queen Latifah have retired from recording, Chi-Ali is in jail for murder, and despite hopeful press reports, Black Sheep and A Tribe Called Quest reunions have never materialized; De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers are still active, but the time of the Native Tongues has apparently passed. There are several collectives today - with overlapping membership - that can be seen as the spiritual heirs to the Native Tongues Posse: the Spitkicker crew (founded by De La Soul's Trugoy and Posdnous in 2000), the Okayplayers, and the Soulquarians. Chris Lighty - a member of the Native Tongues-affiliated street crew The Violators, who began his career carrying records for Zulu Nation DJs and later as the Jungle Brothers' roadie - now runs the successful Violator Management, which represents Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip amongst other high-profile clients. Black Sheep is an alternative hip-hop duo from The Bronx, New York, consisting of Andres Dres Titus and William Mista Lawnge McLean. ... Spitkicker is by its own definition A collective unit that, through the power and use of words, will set trends, unify cultures, and create positive standards for communities. ... Kelvin Mercer (born August 17, 1969) is a rapper, producer, and one-third of the groundbreaking hip hop trio De La Soul. ... Okayplayer. ... Soulquarians (common mispelling: Soul Aquarians) is a neo soul-inflected musical collective from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with most of its members sharing the astrology sign of Aquarius. ... DJ or dj may stand for Disc jockey, dinner jacket The DeadJournal website, or Djibouti. ... The road crew (or roadies) are the technicians who travel on tour, usually in sleeper buses, with musicians and who handle every part of the production except actually playing the music. ... Violator Management is a company founded and run by Chris Lighty which specializes in managing the careers of hip hop and R&B performers. ...

Members

Founding members

• Jungle Brothers (Mike Gee, Afrika Baby Bam and DJ Sammy B)
• Kool DJ Red Alert
• De La Soul (Posdnous, Trugoy and Maseo with Prince Paul)
• A Tribe Called Quest (Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White)

The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip hop group to use an in house producer. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted. ... De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. ... Kelvin Mercer (born August 17th, 1969) is a rapper, producer, and one-third of the groundbreaking hip hop trio De La Soul. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Vincent Mason (born March 27th, 1970), is a rapper, producer, DJ, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop trio, De La Soul. ... Prince Paul (born Paul Huston) is a DJ and hip hop producer. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ... Q-Tip can refer to one of the following: Q-tips, a brand of cotton swabs or cotton buds Q-Tip (rapper), American MC, former leader of A Tribe Called Quest This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Phife Dawg (born Malik Taylor on April 20, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York), also known as the Five Foot Assassin, is an African American rapper who was a member of the acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest with high school classmates Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and for a short... Biography Ali Shaheed Muhammad (born August 11, 1970) is a hip-hop DJ who enjoyed moderate fame as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. ... Jarobi White was the fourth member of the hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. ...

Other flagship members

• Monie Love
• Queen Latifah
• Chi-Ali
• Black Sheep (Dres and Mista Lawnge)

Monie Love (born Simone Wilson on July 2, 1970 in London) is an English rapper and the sister of techno musician Dave Angel. ... Also see the Arab singer Latifa Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey) is a Grammy-winning American rapper/singer, model, and Academy Award-nominated actress. ... Chi-Ali (born Chi Ali Griffith) is an American rapper, best known musically for his album The Fabulous Chi Ali which he recorded at the age of 14. ... Black Sheep is an alternative hip-hop duo from Queens, New York, consisting of Andres Dres Titus and William Mista Lawnge McLean. ...

Later additions (c. 1990-1998)

• Leaders of the New School (including Busta Rhymes)
• Da Bush Babees
• Mos Def
• Talib Kweli
• Common

The Leaders of the New School were an American hip hop crew composed of Long Island, New York natives Charlie Brown, Dinco D, Busta Rhymes and Cut Monitor Milo. ... my best friend Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr. ... Da Bush Babees are members of the late 1980s to early-mid 1990s rap alliance known as the Native Tongues Posse. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, USA), is an American rapper and actor. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ...

Peripheral members

• Jungle DJ Towa Tei (later of Deee-Lite)
• Vinia Mojica
• The Violators (including Chris Lighty)
• Lucien Revolucien
• The Beatnuts
• Shortie No Mass

Towa Tei , 鄭東和 정동화 Chung Dong-hwa) is a Japanese-born DJ, who first earned notice for his production work on the Jungle Brothers 1989 LP Done by the Forces of Nature. ... Deee-Lite was a house- and dance music group formed in New York City. ... Vinia Mojica is a female recording artist who began her professional career singing on Hip Hop albums in the early 90s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Beatnuts are a hip hop crew from Queens, New York City. ...

Collaborations

Collaborations involving the original members, those that could be considered true Native Tongues Posse "posse cuts", are in bold. Note that this list is incomplete. Posse cut is a popular form of song in hip hop music, that involves successive verses by four or more rappers. ...

1988

• "Black Is Black" by Jungle Brothers feat. Q-Tip, from Straight Out The Jungle
• "The Promo" by Jungle Brothers feat. Q-Tip, from Straight Out The Jungle

1989 Straight Out The Jungle is the highly praised and acclaimed debut album from Hip Hop group Jungle Brothers. ...

• "Buddy" by De La Soul feat. Jungle Brothers and Q-Tip, from 3 Feet High And Rising
• "Description" De La Soul feat. Q-Tip and Prince Paul, from 3 Feet High And Rising
• "Buddy (Native Tongues Decision)" by De La Soul feat. Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love and Queen Latifah, from "Buddy" 12" single
• "Brain Washed Follower" by De La Soul feat. Chi-Ali, from "Me Myself And I" 12" single
• "The Mack Daddy On The Left" by De La Soul feat. Chi-Ali, from "Say No Go" 12" single
• "Acknowledge Your Own History" by Jungle Brothers feat. Vinia Mojica, from Done By The Forces Of Nature
• "Done By The Forces Of Nature" by Jungle Brothers feat. DJ Towha Towha, from Done By The Forces Of Nature
• "Doin' Our Own Dang" by Jungle Brothers feat. De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Q-Tip and Monie Love, from Done By The Forces Of Nature
• "Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children" by Queen Latifah feat. De La Soul, from All Hail The Queen
• "Ladies First" by Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love, from All Hail The Queen

1990 Buddy is a single by De La Soul from 3 Feet High and Rising. ... 3 Feet High and Rising is the influential debut album from American hip-hop trio De La Soul. ... Me Myself And I is a single by De La Soul, released in 1989. ... Say No Go is a single by De La Soul from their influential 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising. ... This article is about an album by alternative hip hop crew the Jungle Brothers. ... All Hail the Queen is the debut album by alternative hip hop artist Queen Latifah, released in November of 1989 (see 1989 in music) on Tommy Boy Records. ...

• "Swiney Swiney" by Monie Love feat. De La Soul, from Down To Earth

1991

• "Verses From The Abstract" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Vinia Mojica, from The Low End Theory
• "Scenario" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Leaders Of The New School, from The Low End Theory
• "Come On Down" by Big Daddy Kane feat. Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes, from Prince Of Darkness
• "La Menage" by Black Sheep feat. Q-Tip, from A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
• "Pass The 40" by Black Sheep feat. Chi Ali, Jim Jones, Chris Lighty and Dave Gossett, from A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
• "A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"" by De La Soul feat. Q-Tip and Vinia Mojica, from De La Soul Is Dead
• "Fanatic Of The B Word" by De La Soul feat. Dres and Mike G, from De La Soul Is Dead

1992 The Low End Theory is the critically acclaimed alternative hip hop second album by A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991 (see 1991 in music) on Jive Records. ... Scenario was the third single from A Tribe Called Quests second album The Low End Theory. ... Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is a rapper from the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, New York. ... Prince of Darkness is the fourth album by rapper Big Daddy Kane, released in late 1991 on Cold Chillin Records. ... Black Sheep is an alternative hip-hop duo from The Bronx, New York, consisting of Andres Dres Titus and William Mista Lawnge McLean. ... A Wolf In Sheeps Clothing is the debut album from Native Tongues Posse members Black Sheep. ... Black Sheep is an alternative hip-hop duo from The Bronx, New York, consisting of Andres Dres Titus and William Mista Lawnge McLean. ... Chi-Ali (born Chi Ali Griffith) is an American rapper, best known musically for his album The Fabulous Chi Ali which he recorded at the age of 14. ... A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays is the first single from De La Souls second album, De La Soul Is Dead. ... De La Soul Is Dead is De La Souls second full-length album, and one of the few albums in hip-hop music to receive a Five Mics rating in the Rap magazine The Source. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazines 100...

• "Scenario (Remix)" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Kid Hood and Leaders Of The New School, from "Scenario" 12" single
• "Let The Horns Blow" by Chi Ali feat. Dres, Dove, Fashion and Phife Dawg, from The Fabulous Chi-Ali

1993 Chi-Ali (born Chi Ali Griffith) is an American rapper, best known musically for his album The Fabulous Chi Ali which he recorded at the age of 14. ... Dres is a rapper of the alternative hip hop duo Black Sheep (hip hop group). ...

• "Award Tour" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Trugoy, from Midnight Marauders
• "Oh My God" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Busta Rhymes, from Midnight Marauders
• "One Two Shit" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Busta Rhymes, from "Oh My God" 12" single
• "Roll Wit Tha Flava" by The Flavor Unit MCs feat. Treach, Chip-Fu, Freddie Foxxx, Queen Latifah, Heavy D, D-Nice and Dres, from Roll Wit Tha Flavor

1994 Award Tour was the first single by A Tribe Called Quests third album Midnight Marauders and features Trugoy from De La Soul. ... Midnight Marauders is a hip hop album by A Tribe Called Quest, released on November 9, 1993. ... Oh My God may refer to: God (expression) Oh-My-God particle, a particular case of an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray Oh My God (Band) Several songs: Oh My God (A Tribe Called Quest song) (1994) Oh My God (Guns N Roses song) (1999) Oh My God (Michael Franti... The Flavor Unit is a posse of rappers and DJs from New York City and Northen New Jersey. ... Treach is the stage name of Anthony Criss (born December 2, 1970), an American rapper and actor. ... The Fu-Schnickens are a hip-hop trio. ... You Cant See Me is the debut album of World Wrestling Entertainment champion John Cena, along with his cousin Tha Trademarc. ... Heavy D. & the Boyz was an American hip hop group led by 250-lb Heavy D., who is known for his wild boastings about his sexual prowess. ... D Nice is a rapper and hip hop musician who began his career in the mid-1980s. ...

• "Sh. Fe. MC's" by De La Soul feat. A Tribe Called Quest, from Clear Lake Auditorium EP

1996

• "Ill Vibe" by Busta Rhymes feat. Q-Tip, from The Coming
• "3 MC's" by Da Bush Babees feat. Q-Tip, from Gravity
• "S.O.S." by Da Bush Babees feat. Mos Def (prod. by Ali Shaheed Muhammad), from Gravity
• "Love Song" by Da Bush Babees feat. Mos Def (prod. by Posdnous), from Gravity

1997 The Coming was the first solo album released by former Leaders of the New School representative Busta Rhymes, in 1996. ... Gravity is the acclaimed sophomore album from Hip Hop group Da Bush Babees. ...

• "Wild Hot" by A Tribe Called Quest & Busta Rhymes, from Rhyme & Reason Soundtrack
• "Big Brother Beat" by De La Soul feat. Mos Def, from Stakes Is High
• "Stakes Is High (Remix)" De La Soul feat. Truth Enola and Mos Def, from "Itzsoweezee (HOT)" 12" single
• "Rumble In The Jungle" by The Fugees feat. John Forté, A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes, from When We Were Kings Soundtrack
• "How Ya Want It We Got It (Native Tongues Remix)" by Jungle Brothers feat. Q-Tip and De La Soul, from Raw Deluxe

1998 Stakes Is High is De La Souls fourth full-length album, released during the summer of 1996. ... Itzsoweezee (HOT) is a song by De La Soul and the second single to be released from their fourth album, Stakes Is High, which was released in 1996. ... The Fugees are a critically acclaimed music band from the United States, popular during the mid-1990s, whose repertoire includes primarily hip hop, with elements of soul, and Caribbean music (particularly reggae). ... John Forté (born 1975 in Brooklyn, New York) is a rapper and producer. ... When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held in Zaïre on October 30, 1974. ...

• "Steppin' It Up" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Busta Rhymes and Redman, from The Love Movement
• "Rock Rock Y'all" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Punch, Jane Doe, Words and Mos Def, from The Love Movement
• "K.O.S. (Determination)" by Black Star feat. Vinia Mojica, from Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
• "Body Rock" by Mos Def, Tash & Q-Tip, from Lyricist Lounge, Volume One

1999 For the chewing tobacco, see Red Man. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... eMC is a hip hop crew comprised of rappers Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Punchline and Strick. ... Wordsworth is an underground hip hop MC from Brooklyn, and a graduate of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury. ... Black Star is an alternative hip hop group formed by MCs Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... Black Star is the self-titled debut by the pairing of rappers Talib Kweli and Mos Def. ... Rico Smith, better known by his stage name Tash, is an American rapper. ... Lyricist Lounge, Volume One is the first installment of Rawkus Records Lyricist Lounge album series, based on the infamous Lyricist Lounge showcases in New York. ...

• "Do It Now" by Mos Def feat. Busta Rhymes, from Black On Both Sides

2000 Black on Both Sides is an alternative rap album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999 (see 1999 in music). ...

• "I.C. Y'All" by De La Soul feat. Busta Rhymes, from Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
• "What's That? (¿Que Eso?)" by Tony Touch feat. Mos Def and De La Soul, from The Piece Maker

2003 Tony Touch, also known as Tony Toca, is an American hip hop DJ and producer from New York City, who is of Puerto Rican descent. ...

• "Let's Get Loud" by Steven Tyler, Busta Rhymes, Phife Dawg, MC Lyte and Chuck D, from the 2003 ESPY Awards

2004 Stephen Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948 in Yonkers, New York), better known as Steven Tyler (and often nicknamed The Demon of Screamin) is an American musician and songwriter. ... MC Lyte (born Lana Michele Moorer on October 11, 1971 in Queens, New York) is a female rap artist. ... Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, composer, actor, author, radio personality and producer. ... The 10th Anniversary ESPY Award. ...

• "She Wants To Move (Native Tongues Remix)" by N*E*R*D feat. Common, Mos Def, De La Soul and Q-Tip, from "She Wants To Move Remixes" 12" single

2006 N*E*R*D (pronounced en ee are dee, but also often referred to as simply nerd) is the name of a rock band consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes and their friend Shay Haley. ...

• "Get You Some" by Busta Rhymes feat. Q-Tip and Marsha Ambrosius, from The Big Bang
• "You Can't Hold A Torch" by Busta Rhymes feat. Q-Tip and Chauncey Black, from The Big Bang

Floetry is a female British hip-hop/neo-soul duo. ... The Big Bang is the seventh studio album from American rapper Busta Rhymes, released on June 13, 2006. ... Chauncey Black - author and son of United States Attorney General Jeremiah Black. ...

External links

• Native Tongues Posse at the All Music Guide
• Native Tongues album covers breakdown at Format Magazine
• "They Made Magic" at Tangents.co.uk