| Newcleus | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Electro, Boogie, Old school hip hop |
| Years active | 1977–1989 |
| Labels | Mayhew Sunnyview/Rhino |
| Associated acts | Jam-On Productions |
| Members | |
| Lady E Cozmo D |
|
| Past members | |
| Nique D Chilly B |
|
Newcleus is an American electro and old school hip hop group that gained popularity in the early 1980s. They are primarily known for their 12-inch singles "Jam-On's Revenge", re-released as "Jam on Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)" (1983), and "Jam on It" (1984).
Contents |
A precursor to the group, known as Jam-On Productions, formed in 1977 in Brooklyn, New York, which included teenagers Ben "Cozmo D" Cenac and his cousins Monique and Pierre (Pete) Angevin.[1] The group's popularity grew as it played block parties in Brooklyn. By 1979, the primary group's members were Cenac, Yvette "Lady E" Cook (who would later marry Cozmo D), Monique Angevin, and Bob "Chilly B" Crafton (who would later marry Angevin).[1] The coming together of families inspired the name change to Newcleus.[1]
Chilly B died of a stroke on February 23, 2010.[2]
Newcleus recorded "Jam-On's Revenge", a block party favorite that featured vocals that were sped up to resemble Alvin and the Chipmunks.[1] The track impressed record producer Joe Webb, and it became the group's first single in 1983 on Mayhew Records.[1] It was re-released later that year on Sunnyview Records as "Jam On Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)", and it made the Top 40 on the U.S. R&B chart.[1][3]
The follow-up, "Jam on It", did well on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #56.[1][3] "Computer Age (Push the Button)" was a more mature single with accomplished rapping and better synthesizer effects, and it also hit the R&B Top 40.[1] Though the Cenacs and the Craftons continued to record sporadically until 1989, they did not hit the R&B charts after 1986.[1]
The first Newcleus album, Jam on Revenge, was not a great sales success on its release, and their second album, Space Is the Place, did even more poorly upon release in 1984.[1] The out of print Jam on Revenge album is now regarded as a classic, not only because of the well-known singles, but also because of album cuts like "Destination Earth".
In 2005, Cozmo D released an album, Destination Earth: The Definitive Newcleus Recordings, a collection of hip-hop tracks from their entire catalog. This collection supersedes the Rhino Records compilation, Jam On This! The Best Of Newcleus. The majority of the songs on this release have been restored and remastered from the original master tapes. The 'definitive versions' of the songs "Destination Earth" and "Why" taken from this CD were also released on 12 inch vinyl on the German record label, Dominance Electricity. Together with remixes by Sbassship and Reeno, the cover illustration are by Bill Wray (known for his work on the 1990s cult TV cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show).
Newcleus is working on a second collection entitled Returned to Earth, a companion volume to Destination Earth, which will collect all of their electro works onto one disc, restored and remastered from the original tapes. Returned to Earth will also include two new songs.
Although both of Newcleus' albums Jam on Revenge and Space Is the Place have been remastered and reissued on CD, the song "Where's the Beat" from Jam on Revenge has been deleted from the track listing. These albums were previously available in the United States only on vinyl and audio cassette. However both albums, original track listing and cover art were also available on CD, manufactured and distributed by Bellaphon Germany through Sunnyview Records in 1988.