BACKGROUND
The New York-based Native Tongues crew 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, alternative hip-hop, and jazz rap.
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 later by the Black Sheep. Collectively, they became known as the Native Tongues Posse.
The Native Tongues had a huge effect on the style and trends of hip-hop during its most important period – the end of the “golden age” of the late 80s/early #90s where the songs and music where characterized by tales of guns and gold. The “New School” era brought in by the Native Tongues was characterized by lyrics, music and style with a strong emphasis on Afrocentric pride, peace and fun. They came in on the heels of the political consciousness sparked by groups like Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy. The Native Tongues single-handedly introduced and created a platform for other rappers and entertainers to be more free with their musical and artistic expression.
There are several collectives today – with overlapping membership – that can be seen as the spiritual heirs to the Native Tongues crew: the Spitkicker crew (founded by De La Soul’s Trugoy and Posdnuos 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 company, which represents Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip, among other high-profile clients. They have influenced many other artists in the music industry.
Speaking In Tongues 