The Beatnuts

Originally operating purely behind the scenes as producers, the Latino underground outfit the Beatnuts shifted into performing roles after assembling toward the end of the 1980s. Junkyard Ju-Ju, also known as JuJu and born Jerry Tineo, joined forces with Psycho Les, born Lester Fernandez, and soon added Fashion, also called Kool Fashion and born Berntony Smalls. Following early sessions alongside the Jungle Brothers, the three secured production duties for Monie Love’s track “Pups Lickin Bone,” which appeared on her 1990 debut album Down to Earth. Additional remix work for Cypress Hill, Naughty by Nature, da Lench Mob, and Prime Minister Pete Nice led to a deal with Combat Records and the 1993 mini-LP Intoxicated Demons. Release of that project was delayed after Kool Fashion served a six-month jail term stemming from a drug conviction, yet the group issued its self-titled full-length the next year via Violator/Relativity. Following a near three-year hiatus, Fashion embraced Islam and departed the lineup, later issuing his solo debut God Connections with production assistance from his former partners. JuJu and Psycho Les resurfaced in 1997 with the Beatnuts’ third album Stone Crazy. Musical Massacre arrived two years afterward. Spring 2001 brought Take It or Squeeze It, which highlighted the crew’s danceable funk alongside guest spots from Method Man and Fat Man Scoop. The following year The Originators restored Al Tariq, formerly known as Kool Fashion, and supplied a fresh batch of bionic beats.