Brothers In Arms

"We had to peel them off the ceiling," jokes The Jungle Brothers' main man Afrika, the morning after the band's performance in Belfast. The act, part of the first wave of US hip-hop acts to enjoy popularity on this side of the pond, are making a serious return to form.
Capitalising on last year's highly successful eponymous single and album, which saw them collaborating with dancefloor friendly drum'n'bass act Urban Takeover, The Jungle Brothers' have returned again with a new single, 'VIP', and an album of the same name in the autumn.
While their work with Urban Takeover will have won them fans with the often purist drum'n'bass following, their new work is produced by Alex Gifford from The Propellorheads and Afrika believes it will propel them into the big beat arena.
"The Urban Takeover mix set the tone for what was to come," Afrika says, referring to the subsequent slew of hip-hop based drum'n'bass tracks.
"Drum'n'bass is pure dancefloor music, and the kids into jungle are the new true school. They're fanatical about the scene, they're intelligent people and they've got the majors looking at them, wondering what they're going to do next. That's why we also feel comfortable with big beat and artists like Norman Cook and even Stardust. It's all music that cleverly rocks the dancefloor."
So, while the group have found new friends among the drum'n'bass community, their collaboration with Alex Gifford on their forthcoming VIP album has opened them up to another dance audience big beat. Amidst a deluge of commercial softcore rap, Afrika sees The Propellorheads main man as the keeper of hip-hop's original spirit.
"Alex still gives respect to where he's coming from," he explains. "His attitude blows away all the egotism out there. We've helped put him in what we call the 'true school', people who observe the origins of what hip-hop is all about. He has ten years from his background, and we're now supplying him with our knowledge to push this scene. Nowadays, hip-hop is too money oriented, it needs to return to its roots to revitalise."
The most refreshing thing about The Jungle Brothers is that their whole existence revolves around the music and its culture. When not checking contemporary producers Shadow, The Beasties and Roots, the art of turntablism gets the thumbs up, and, although they've just finished a new album, Afrika isn't keen to rest on his laurels.
"Hip-hop needs more inspired artists working in the industry, he offers. "It feels great to be re-connected to dance music, and the way I feel right now, I'm ready to write a whole new album." n
VIP is released on V2 on June 28th with mixes from Wiseguys, Alex Gifford and Urban Takeover. An album follows in September.