The Beatnuts are a New York-based hip hop group and production duo
from Queens, New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho
Les. JuJu (born Jerry Tineo on December 14, 1968) is a Dominican
American from Corona and Psycho Les (born Lester Fernandez on April
10, 1970) is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights. The Beatnuts
are the only Latino members of the Native Tongues collective. Although
only peripheral members, they are routinely acknowledged by Q-Tip. The
Beatnuts were originally a trio before Fashion (born Berntony Smalls
on January 13, 1970), now known as Al' Tariq, left the group to start
a solo career. V.I.C. (Groove Merchantz, Ghetto Pros) was also a
member of The Beatnuts' production team for a while.JuJu and Psycho
Les grew up in different communities in Queens, New York. Psycho Les
started producing beats and DJing at age 15 under aliases including DJ
Les Jams and DJ Incredible. At a high school in Flushing, Queens, a
friend DJ Loco Moe introduced Les to fellow producer JuJu. While crate
digging, both Beatnuts ran into Afrika Baby Bam from the Jungle
Brothers. Afrika introduced them to Native Tongues members including
De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers. At this
time, JuJu and Psycho Les were DJing parties under the alias Beat
Kings. The Jungle Brothers claimed that they were not kings, but
rather two nuts for their comical nature and the fact that they were
crazy enough to carry hundreds of records to every show they played.
They thus changed their name and "it stuck." The two Beatnuts members
later met up with rapper Kool Fashion.The Beatnuts entered the
recording industry in 1990 producing two tracks for the British
alternative hip hop/electronica group Stereo MCs as well as a song for
British rapper Monie Love. Over the next two years, they produced
songs for rappers including Common, Pete Nice & DJ Richie Rich and
Kurious, as well as a full album for Chi-Ali. As of 1992, JuJu had not
appeared on a record, but fellow Beatnuts rappers Fashion and Psycho
Les appeared on tracks that he produced. In 1993, The Beatnuts
produced more songs for the artists they had previously collaborated
with as well as Fat Joe, Suprême NTM and Da Youngsta's. At the same
time, The Beatnuts made their name as remix specialists by remixing
songs for MC Lyte, Da Lench Mob, Naughty by Nature, Jomanda and
others.The Beatnuts' early production work earned them a record deal
with Combat Records in 1992. The Beatnuts planned on releasing a
"mini-LP" through that label, but its release was delayed when Kool
Fashion was sentenced to six months of jail for drug convictions.
After Fashion completed his sentence, The Beatnuts left Combat Records
and signed deals with Violator Management and Relativity Records. On
April 6, 1993, The Beatnuts released their debut album, Intoxicated
Demons: The EP, through their new label. It featured 11 songs,
including the two singles "Reign of the Tec" and "No Equal". The album
was characterized by its hedonistic party-style lyrics and
sample-heavy jazz beats. It was a critical success receiving favorable
reviews by Allmusic, The Source and Entertainment Weekly.
from Queens, New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho
Les. JuJu (born Jerry Tineo on December 14, 1968) is a Dominican
American from Corona and Psycho Les (born Lester Fernandez on April
10, 1970) is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights. The Beatnuts
are the only Latino members of the Native Tongues collective. Although
only peripheral members, they are routinely acknowledged by Q-Tip. The
Beatnuts were originally a trio before Fashion (born Berntony Smalls
on January 13, 1970), now known as Al' Tariq, left the group to start
a solo career. V.I.C. (Groove Merchantz, Ghetto Pros) was also a
member of The Beatnuts' production team for a while.JuJu and Psycho
Les grew up in different communities in Queens, New York. Psycho Les
started producing beats and DJing at age 15 under aliases including DJ
Les Jams and DJ Incredible. At a high school in Flushing, Queens, a
friend DJ Loco Moe introduced Les to fellow producer JuJu. While crate
digging, both Beatnuts ran into Afrika Baby Bam from the Jungle
Brothers. Afrika introduced them to Native Tongues members including
De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers. At this
time, JuJu and Psycho Les were DJing parties under the alias Beat
Kings. The Jungle Brothers claimed that they were not kings, but
rather two nuts for their comical nature and the fact that they were
crazy enough to carry hundreds of records to every show they played.
They thus changed their name and "it stuck." The two Beatnuts members
later met up with rapper Kool Fashion.The Beatnuts entered the
recording industry in 1990 producing two tracks for the British
alternative hip hop/electronica group Stereo MCs as well as a song for
British rapper Monie Love. Over the next two years, they produced
songs for rappers including Common, Pete Nice & DJ Richie Rich and
Kurious, as well as a full album for Chi-Ali. As of 1992, JuJu had not
appeared on a record, but fellow Beatnuts rappers Fashion and Psycho
Les appeared on tracks that he produced. In 1993, The Beatnuts
produced more songs for the artists they had previously collaborated
with as well as Fat Joe, Suprême NTM and Da Youngsta's. At the same
time, The Beatnuts made their name as remix specialists by remixing
songs for MC Lyte, Da Lench Mob, Naughty by Nature, Jomanda and
others.The Beatnuts' early production work earned them a record deal
with Combat Records in 1992. The Beatnuts planned on releasing a
"mini-LP" through that label, but its release was delayed when Kool
Fashion was sentenced to six months of jail for drug convictions.
After Fashion completed his sentence, The Beatnuts left Combat Records
and signed deals with Violator Management and Relativity Records. On
April 6, 1993, The Beatnuts released their debut album, Intoxicated
Demons: The EP, through their new label. It featured 11 songs,
including the two singles "Reign of the Tec" and "No Equal". The album
was characterized by its hedonistic party-style lyrics and
sample-heavy jazz beats. It was a critical success receiving favorable
reviews by Allmusic, The Source and Entertainment Weekly.
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