Bush Babees HHV Records 15 Items

The native tongues of Brooklyn

The Native Tongues Posse is the name given to the loose association of hip hop groups formed in the late 1980s onwards in New York. This includes Da Bush Babees, an underground gang from Brooklyn. The group’s members originally performed under the stage names Babe-B-Face Kaos, Mister Man and Y-Tee. They formed in 1992 after Mister Man saw a performance by Kaos and shared the vision of a new project with him. They wanted to combine their West Indian roots (Jamaica/Trinidad) with hip hop, as they grew up listening to reggae and calypso music and it naturally influenced their musical taste. After Kaos and Mister Man decided to work together, they were looking for the missing piece of the puzzle that would give their sound that certain something. With Y-Tee’s reggae voice, the trio was finally complete and was able to wow the crowds at live performances in New York. After a few gigs, they attracted the interest of major label Reprise , who then got a live office audition to be blown away. Within three months of forming, the three then signed the contract and launched their careers as budding hip hop stars.

Dub meets Hip Hop

In 1994, the 13-track debut album Ambushed was released, featuring production from the likes of Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Tribe Called Quest) , Jermaine Dupri. Jay Matias, Salaam Gibbs, Mark Batson and Nikkie Nikole and the group itself were involved in the production. They delivered an album that skillfully combines hip hop with reggae. The dub-like reverb on Y-Tee’s voice or the Album cover, which shows the group in the middle of a jungle, is what makes the record something successful. Their sophomore Album Gravity (1996) was released on major Label Warner and was more commercially successful than its predecessor. The Bush Babees received support from a number of Native Tongues members, including Q-Tip / The Ummah , Mos Def and De La Souls Posdnous as well as Rahzel of The Roots. Gravity is best known for launching the hip hop career of Mos Def , who is featured on three tracks from the album ( Intro, The Love Song und S.O.S. ) . An album announced for 2004 has not yet been released.

From the gang for the gang

Da Bush Babees have since resumed recording and performing under the name Dub Rock All-Stars and are currently completing an as-yet untitled Album. They most recently performed at the Lyricist Lounge 20 Year Reunion Party at (le) Poisson Rouge in New York City on May 23, 2012. The Da Bush Babees were joined on stage by hip hop classics Doug E. Fresh, Kid Capri , Black Thought of The Roots, Prodigy of Mobb Deep , Mos Def , Pharoahe Monch and many others. Later, Mr. Man changed his nickname to Mr. Khaliyl and later to Lord Khaliyl , and produced for other artists. He also released a rare 12-inch single on the Rawkus Label with Talib Kweli , Pharoahe Monch and DCQ. More recently, Mr. Man has also produced for artists such as Res and Fabolous .