Their first album, "Straight Out the Jungle", was released on an independent label and featured a hip hop/house collaboration "I'll House You" produced by Todd Terry. In spite of the commercial failure of Straight Out the Jungle, Warner Brothers Records soon signed the group and released "Done By the Forces of Nature" in 1989. The album was a critical smash at the time, though it has since been largely ignored by hip hop critics, due to the similarly acclaimed fusion of jazz and rap "3 Feet High and Rising" by De La Soul being released the same year. Following a four year break, the Jungle Brothers returned in 1993 with "J Beez Wit the Remedy", another commercial disappointment. Their next album, "V.I.P." was produced by Alex Gifford of Propellerheads and, during production, they found time to add their vocal stylings to the Propellerheads tracks "Take California (And Party)" and "You Want It Back". In 2002 they released "All That We Do". In 2005, the Jungle Brothers released a "greatest hits" and "classic remixes & rarities" double-CD entitled "This Is…", which included remixes by The Wiseguys, Urban Takeover, Natural Born Chillers and Stereo MCs.
Beeds on a String
Jungle Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jungle Bros. no competition and nothin' to prove
Want me to be on your family tree
But you're all about yourself which won't
allow me to be
You see I'm the kind of brother that gets up
on the stage
To get down for the people that came and paid I throw on my uniform, but not to get pretty
Show no shame, feel no pity
You all showed up and I'm glad you came
Still the same person everything's the same
Once again I show towards you all due respect
But my main concern for now is keepin' things
in check
Hands in the air and everybody will sing
As they hang on the my rhythm like the
Beeds On My String
Recess
My soul sings a FUNK-E song, as the beat
goes on and on
Another day gone and still learnin' my right
from wrong
The party's gettin' packed as I turn up the
BASS more
The meter's goin' crazy up and down like a
see saw
Takin' off my crown, to give my lo, lo, lo, locks
a breathe
I wanna stop myself but I still got some
rhyme left
Uncle Sam breaks it down as everybody shakes the butt
Brothers gettin' happy lettin' out the longin' nutt
Hands in the air and everybody will sing
As they cling on the rhythm like the BEEDS
on my STRING
Recess
You know what...
Sisters on the side sayin' get on get on
Brothers everywhere sayin' JUMP ON IT!
Can't get enough of what I'm doin' here
Well the picture is painted the message is clear
Here, the Beeds are the People the String
is the Vibe
The Vibe is what mentally connects the tribe
Once you get on it you can't get off it
You fall off beat well baby doll you lost it
Maybe next week of even the next beat
Makes ya feel at home beats up against ya dome
Find ya self inside an AfriKan syndrome
Found ya culture brother I told ya
Black is Beautiful Money is Powerful
You was afraid that's why you stayed away
The true blue brothers they followed me anyway
I gave 'em alternative found a new way ta {sic} live
Somethin' that's positive which I thought was
good to give
A whole lot of tribes of us feelin' the vibes
from us
Everybody's down nobody's ridin' us
Hands in the air and everybody will sing
As they hang on to my rhythm like the Beeds
on my String
Now everybody pump your first as we proceed
to leave this place
Step into a zone where there's no mind for
color face
Children are the future so let them lead the way
Carry our nation into a brighter and better day
Evil will be broken by Allah in due time
We will soon find out what is matter and
what is mind
Now hands in the air and together we sing
As we the pretty colors of the BEEDS on
the STRING...
In the first verse of Jungle Brothers' "Beeds on a String," the rapper speaks about being true to himself and his artistry while facing the pressures from others to conform to their expectations. He explains that he doesn't want to be a part of someone else's "family tree" because they value their own interests over his, but instead wants to perform for the people who appreciate his talent. The rapper also takes notice of his fans' loyalty and shows his respect for them. He claims that the beads on his string represent the people who connect with him through his music.
In the second verse of the song, the rapper continues to discuss the power of music and its ability to bring people together. He describes the scene of a party where everyone is having a good time and dancing to the upbeat music. He also touches on the importance of retaining one's cultural identity and finding a sense of belonging within one's own community. The rapper believes that this sense of belonging is what drives people to connect with others and find a rhythm together.
Overall, the lyrics of "Beeds on a String" showcase the Jungle Brothers' celebration of both individuality and community. The song is a call to embrace one's own identity while appreciating others and finding connection through music.
Line by Line Meaning
Backed by the Baby Bam Beat, the rare groove
Jungle Brothers are confident in their musical ability, as they have Baby Bam's backing and are using rare and unique beats
Jungle Bros. no competition and nothin' to prove
The Jungle Brothers are not concerned with competing against anyone, as they believe in their own skills and talent
Want me to be on your family tree
Others want to associate with the Jungle Brothers and claim a connection with them
But you're all about yourself which won't allow me to be
However, these individuals are only concerned with themselves and do not truly value the Jungle Brothers' company
You see I'm the kind of brother that gets up on the stage
The Jungle Brothers are performers who are passionate about their craft
To get down for the people that came and paid
They want to provide a good show for their audience who paid to see them perform
I throw on my uniform, but not to get pretty
The Jungle Brothers dress to perform, but their focus is not on looking attractive
Show no shame, feel no pity
They are confident and unashamed of their art, and feel no pity for those who cannot appreciate it
You all showed up and I'm glad you came
The Jungle Brothers appreciate their audience and are grateful for their presence
Still the same person everything's the same
Despite their success, the Jungle Brothers have not changed and remain true to themselves
Once again I show towards you all due respect
The Jungle Brothers acknowledge and appreciate their audience, and demonstrate respect towards them
But my main concern for now is keepin' things in check
Despite their appreciation for their audience, the Jungle Brothers are focused on managing their success and ensuring things run smoothly
Hands in the air and everybody will sing
The Jungle Brothers want to get their audience excited and engaged in their music
As they hang on the my rhythm like the Beeds On My String
The Jungle Brothers' audience is entranced by their music, following their rhythm gleefully like beads on a string
My soul sings a FUNK-E song, as the beat goes on and on
The Jungle Brothers' music has a soulful, funky quality that keeps the rhythm going uninterrupted
Another day gone and still learnin' my right from wrong
Despite their success, the Jungle Brothers are still working to improve and better themselves as individuals
The party's gettin' packed as I turn up the BASS more
The Jungle Brothers are popular and their parties are gaining in size, so they are increasing the volume and intensity of their music
The meter's goin' crazy up and down like a see saw
The energy of the music is fluctuating wildly as the party amps up, like a playground see-saw
Takin' off my crown, to give my lo, lo, lo, locks a breathe
The Jungle Brothers remove their headgear to take a breath, giving their long hair a moment to settle
I wanna stop myself but I still got some rhyme left
Despite their weariness, the Jungle Brothers still have inspiration and are not ready to stop performing
Uncle Sam breaks it down as everybody shakes the butt
The crowd is dancing enthusiastically as Uncle Sam plays some music
Brothers gettin' happy lettin' out the longin' nutt
The Jungle Brothers' male fans are happy and releasing pent-up excitement
You know what...
The Jungle Brothers are about to make a statement
Sisters on the side sayin' get on get on
Some female fans are urging others to get involved and dance to the Jungle Brothers' music
Brothers everywhere sayin' JUMP ON IT!
The Jungle Brothers' male fans are joining in on the celebratory atmosphere and encouraging others to do the same
Can't get enough of what I'm doin' here
The Jungle Brothers are enjoying their work and cannot get enough of performing
Well the picture is painted the message is clear
The Jungle Brothers' message is transparent and easy to understand
Here, the Beeds are the People the String is the Vibe
The Jungle Brothers' audience represents the beads on a musical string, united by the experience and wrapped up in the good vibe of the party
The Vibe is what mentally connects the tribe
The Jungle Brothers' music serves as a mental and emotional connection and unites their audience like a tribe
Once you get on it you can't get off it
Once someone starts enjoying the Jungle Brothers' music and vibe, they become hooked and cannot stop enjoying it
You fall off beat well baby doll you lost it
If someone loses the rhythm of the Jungle Brothers' music, they miss out on the experience and cannot fully appreciate it
Maybe next week of even the next beat
The Jungle Brothers will continue performing and creating music for their audience in the future
Makes ya feel at home beats up against ya dome
Their music provides a comfortable and exciting atmosphere that resonates with their audience
Find ya self inside an AfriKan syndrome
The Jungle Brothers' music has an African influence and transports listeners to a different cultural experience
Found ya culture brother I told ya
The Jungle Brothers have helped some individuals discover their cultural roots and encouraged them to embrace them
Black is Beautiful Money is Powerful
The statement is a powerful proclamation that black identity is positive and valuable
You was afraid that's why you stayed away
Some individuals may have avoided the Jungle Brothers and their music out of fear or prejudice
The true blue brothers they followed me anyway
The Jungle Brothers' true fans did not let fear or prejudice stand in the way of enjoying their music
I gave 'em alternative found a new way ta {sic} live
The Jungle Brothers have helped their fans discover a new perspective and way of living
Somethin' that's positive which I thought was good to give
The Jungle Brothers believe in spreading positivity and improving their audience's experience
A whole lot of tribes of us feelin' the vibes from us
The Jungle Brothers' music has united numerous groups and listeners under one positive, enjoyable experience
Everybody's down nobody's ridin' us
No one is taking advantage of the Jungle Brothers or using their success for their own gain
Now everybody pump your first as we proceed to leave this place
The Jungle Brothers are pumping up the energy and excitement, preparing to leave after putting on a great show
Step into a zone where there's no mind for color face
Their music transcends racial divides and unites everyone under one positive experience
Children are the future so let them lead the way
The Jungle Brothers believe in empowering children and the next generation to determine their own future
Carry our nation into a brighter and better day
The Jungle Brothers hope to contribute to a society that is brighter and better for everyone as a whole
Evil will be broken by Allah in due time
The Jungle Brothers express their faith in Allah to keep evil at bay
We will soon find out what is matter and what is mind
The Jungle Brothers anticipate the future, where we will better understand what truly matters and what is mere distraction
As we the pretty colors of the BEEDS on the STRING...
Despite differences in skin color or background, everyone is united and colorful like the beads on a string during a truly positive musical experience
Contributed by Luke W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.