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| Jungle Brothers: SummerStage 2013 |
So when I heard the Jungle Brothers were going to perform for Summerstage 2013 at Marcus Garvey Park I flipped out. I don't remember exactly when I first heard them but I feel like my BFF, V. put me on to them when we were in high school. "Done by the Forces of Nature" was an album that just did things to me. I had never, have never heard anything like it before or since. It was fun, free, educational, proud, pro-black, pro human, pro-human, pro sexual, pro spiritual, pro funk, rap, house, dance, collaborative. It was so many things and they were all things I could get down with. The album dropped in '89 but I didn't hear it until one summer in the early 90s and it was one of the best Summers of my life. I hear DBFN and I remember hanging out with V in Greenwich village and our quasi hippy love tendencies, the whole resurgence of black pride and wearing your hair natural, Brand Nubians, A Tribe Called Quest and De-La Soul. This was our comfort zone.The era that fit us like a glove, something that was a mixture of the Black pride influence of our parents time and the neo soul, rap hip-hop culture of our own.
I had ripped down all my Teen Beat, Tiger Beat, Teen Bop white posters and replaced them with posters from Right-on, Yo and Black Beat. My walls were covered with New Edition, Bobby Brown, Tribe Called Quest, Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, Eddie Murphy, etc. I remember the one poster I ever found of the JBs and I loved it. I fell in love with Afrika immediately. He was the light skinned, sexy freak who looked like he was perpetually high.
My dad took me and V. to see them in concert at the Apollo and we screamed until our voices were gone for this man. It's so funny. That was the first and only time I ever saw them in person. But I remember the feeling so well. It was so full of fun, and love and creativity and silliness. And last night was the same. "Remember when hip-hop was fun?" I do. And you could tell that the majority of people out there were true hip-hop fans. It was a very old school vibe. I felt totally at ease around people who just came out to dance, have fun and see some people who they love perform from the heart. Dres, from Black Sheep were there. Special Ed was there and Nairobi from Tribe was there! It was so good to see him. I couldn't even believe it. I was so glad I came because I was not in the greatest mood beforehand but I told myself I had to get out and make myself feel better.
There was maybe a second or two when I might have thought that the JBs may not be able to deliver the way they used to. You know, life can do that to the best of us. But after Sammy B came out to warm up the turn tables, I knew we were in for some love and goodness. Two MCs and one DJ. No props or sets or light shows or gimmicks. I was so happy for those two hours I couldn't believe it. The JBs familiar energy just drew me in. I was so open I couldn't help it. And everyone around me was open and happy and smiling and dancing.
I'm still very taken with Afrika. I mean now when I think of it, I realize that Babybam is hard to define as just a rapper or performer or music maker. He is and always has been beyond labeling which is probably why I love him so much. He's so damn laid back and relaxed while at the same time full of energy. He's from Brooklyn (like all good things) and age has not impeded his spirit at all. He wore a t-shirt with a light cardigan, loose fitting pants and trademark sunglasses. At one point I noticed his sandals (yes, sandals) were off and he was just jumping around the stage like a kid. *sigh*
There is just something really sexy to me about any performer, male or female who performs barefoot. There's such trust in it and an apparent comfort in ones own skin. I really envy that.
Well that's my Jungle Brothers SummerStage report. I hope your Summer has been filled with fun, friends and inspiration. Stay cool.
