The Beatnuts

Busta Rhymes, L.L. Cool J, Missy Elliott On Violator: The Album Sequel

20 Mar 2001 19:14:00 EST

Management firm's compilation disc, due in summer, also to feature Flipmode Squad, Beatnuts, Mobb Deep, Noreaga.
By Shaheem Reid

Hip-hop management firm Violator raised some eyebrows when it released Violator: The Album in 1999.

"An album themed around a freakin' management company! What in the world?," one reviewer complained, while still acknowledging that the album, which went platinum, was pretty hot, with tracks from such top Violator clients as Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes and his Flipmode Squad, Beatnuts, Mobb Deep and Noreaga.

Now Violator CEO Chris Lighty and president Mona Scott will release the follow-up, Violator the Album: V2.0, in the summer.

"Expectations are higher — people are looking for us to step it up," Lighty said. "But putting this album together is not any more difficult than the last one. It's just a matter of putting everyone's schedules in place." Besides new tracks from clients Busta Rhymes, Ja Rule, Missy Elliott, newcomer JoJo Pellegrino, Mobb Deep and L.L. Cool J, guest stars will include Trina, Fat Joe, the LOX's Jadakiss, Jermaine Dupri and Swizz Beatz.

Among the tracks already completed is an untitled collaboration between Ja Rule and Elliott, as well as a rhyme duet between Method Man and fellow Staten Island, New York-native Pellegrino. Although the album is being billed as a compilation, Violator plans to go the soundtrack route and release more than one single at a time.

While there are no plans yet for any videos, the three initial singles, going to radio in the spring, will be the Busta Rhymes track, "What It Is Right Now," featuring Kelis; Noreaga's "Grimey," both produced by the Neptunes; and L.L. Cool J's "Put Your Hands Up." Besides the compilation, Violator clients Nas, Busta Rhymes, Elliott and Maxwell all will drop new albums this year.

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Big Pun Remembered By Beatnuts' Psycho Les

12 Apr 2000 18:30:00 EDT

Two months after his death, the late Latino rapper Big Punisher will debut at number three on Monday's new "Billboard" chart, with "Yeeeah Baby," a posthumous album that, according to Soundscan, sold some 180,000 copies after one week in stores.

The record was unveiled on April 4 at the renowned "Jimmy's Bronx CafÈ," in pun's native Bronx, New York and it was there that we asked Psycho Les of the Beatnuts about his memories of the big man.

"I remember doing the first hit, our first hit with pun, yo," Les said of his dear, departed friend. "Our first hit with pun, yo, it was called "Off The Books," you know. When he was still trying to come up, but us as the Beatnuts, me and my partner Ju Ju we was like, 'Yo, Pun is ill, yo. He could take this track to the next level.' And that (song) was gonna be our single, so we connected with him, the vibe was beautiful, and we just did it, yo. That's history made right there, yo." [RealVideo]

"Off The Books" was included on the Beatnuts' 1997 LP "Stone Crazy." For more information on Big Pun and his legacy, including a complete discography, check out the MTV News Online feature "Big Pun: In Memory."

"Yeeeah Baby" features cameos from Pun's close friend Fat Joe, Ruff Ryder Drag-On, Donell Jones, M.O.P., and Cuban Link.

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Beatnuts Show Off Their Latin Roots, Team With Method Man

03 Sep 1999 12:30:00 EDT

Returning to record stores this week are the Beatnuts, with "A Musical Massacre," their first album since 1997's "Stone Crazy."

The duo of Ju Ju and Psycho Les, who debuted in 1993 with "Intoxicated Demons," descend from Dominican and Colombian backgrounds, respectively, and this time around they decided to give a nod to their Latino roots with the song "Se Acabo." [RealAudio] As Psycho Les explained to the MTV Radio Network, the idea to record the track came from parental prodding.

"From doing records all these years," Psycho Les told the MTV Radio Network, "our parents be just bothering us every day like, 'When are you going to make a song for us, the Spanish people, the Latinos?' So we was like, 'Boom, let's do it.' And people that don't even know Spanish love it, so it was like... it's hot." [RealAudio}

Unfortunately, the lyrics to "Se Acabo," which also features rapper Magic Juan of Proyecto Uno, were a little too explicit for Les and Ju's parents' tastes. However, they have just recorded a cleaned-up, English-language version of the track, featuring Method Man, which may wind up as their next single.

"A Musical Massacre" is in stores now.

-- John Gill

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Rahzel, Beatnuts, Black Star's Kweli, More Honor Rock Steady Crew

26 Jul 1999 18:30:00 EDT

An estimated crowd of 6000 hip-hop fans, MCs, DJs, breakdancers, and graffiti artists gathered on New York City's west side on Saturday for a free concert held in honor of the 22nd anniversary of pioneering b-boys the Rock Steady Crew.

The main stage featured appearances by the Beatnuts, Arsonists, Natural Elements, and Pharoahe Monch, but the biggest surprise occurred mid-day when Roots member and renowned human beatbox Rahzel was joined onstage by Black Star's Talib Kweli for three freestyle-driven songs.

Saturday's free concert was held on the banks of the Hudson River and was the highlight of the ninth annual event saluting the Rock Steady Crew, the internationally renowned pioneers of b-boying (a.k.a. breakdancing). The weekend included a series of parties, concerts, and DJ and breakdancing battles.

The Rock Steady Crew came together in 1977, showcasing unparalleled b-boying skills that would eventually lead to appearances in films such as "Beat Street," "Flashdance," and "Wildstyle," as well as countless showcases throughout the hip-hop community.

"We've been doing the concert since 1991," Rock Steady member and event organizer Crazy Legs told MTV News. "We started doing it because we wanted to honor those in Rock Steady that had passed away around that time... and also, in retrospect, to show how it used to be back in the day when you could just go to a jam for free during the day and have fun."

"We're talking about a crew that respects all aspects of hip-hop," Juju of the Beatnuts told MTV News. "Rock Steady is graffiti, MCing, breakdancing... all that. So it's like their anniversary is like an anniversary of hip-hop."

"This is what it was like before it was on videos and all that," the Beatnuts' Psycho Les added. "It's just us rocking at the park. Breakdancing, music, speakers out there. So you know, we're still doing it out here. That's Rock Steady. It's real hip-hop out here." [RealVideo]

Despite the stifling summer heat, dozens of breakdancers entertained the masses in circles broken out like mosh pits. The b-boy vibe, however, is a much more peaceful one than you might find at a rock show.

"Right now, it's good that we do get the media attention," Crazy Legs said on the resurgence of b-boying/breakdancing. "because it will inspire a lot of young kids to get involved with something that's positive and have the opportunity to learn something that they can use to focus all the negative energy into. All that stress. Just go out there and be competitive, battle somebody. Get it out of your system and shake hands after."

For more on the Rock Steady Crew, log on to www.rocksteadycrew.com.

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The Beatnuts - Off The Books

24 Jun 1997 00:00:00 EDT

Off The Books

Artist: The Beatnuts
Label: Relativity Records
Director: Chris Robinson
Album: In My African Dream