Done by the Forces of Nature
Encyclopedia
Done by the Forces of Nature is the second studio album
by American hip hop
group Jungle Brothers
, released November 9, 1989 on Warner Bros. Records
. Recording sessions for the album took place in 1989 at Calliope Studios in New York City
, and production was handled by the Jungle Brothers. It was mixed
at Apollo Studios by Kool DJ Red Alert
and the Jungle Brothers. The album's title may refer to a line from the Bhagavad Gita
, a Hindu
scripture, wherein Krishna
says "Those who are deluded by the illusive power (Maya
) of Nature become attached to the work done by the forces of nature," 3:28.
Done by the Forces of Nature peaked at number 46 on Billboard
s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. It also received rave reviews from music critics who praised its Afrocentric themes, clever lyrics, house
-influenced production, and eclectic sampling
of music genres such as jazz
, R&B, funk
, and African music. Done by the Forces of Nature has been considered a golden age hip hop
classic, as well as one of the greatest and influential hip hop albums of all time. In 1998, The Source
magazine selected the album as one of its 100 Best Rap Albums.
s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. It received general acclaim from music critic
s, who praised its Afrocentric themes, witty lyrics, funk
-based sampling
, and house
-influenced production. The album received maximum ratings from both the Chicago Tribune
and Los Angeles Times
publications. The former publication's Robert Tanzilo cited it as "one of the brightest records of the year". The latter's Duff Marlowe praised the album's diverse sound and lyrical themes, including social consciousness and individual self-realization. He wrote that the Jungle Brothers "present a vision of urbanized naturalism, a subversive and funky anti-intellectualism". The Boston Globe
called the album "some seriously intense music that makes the commercial raps of Tone-Loc and DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince sound like a child's play". The New York Times
noted its lyrical allusions to hip hop and African-American culture that are "enriching an always solid dance beat".
Rolling Stone
writer Michael Azerrad gave the album four out of five stars and praised its lyrical substance, stating "the Jungle Brothers' positive, spiritual vibe (a direct descendant of Earth, Wind and Fire's) is as hip as their music". Yahoo! Music
's Brett Anderson described it as the Jungle Brothers' "stab at edutainment
". Steve Huey of Allmusic praised the album's eclectic sound and sampling of music genres such as jazz
, R&B, and African music. In comparing the album to the Jungle Brothers' landmark debut album, Straight Out the Jungle
(1988), Huey wrote that Done by the Forces of Nature "feels more realized in many respects, and is arguably the more satisfying listen". French newspaper Le Monde
called the album "brilliant", and The Village Voice
s Robert Christgau
gave it an A rating, indicating "a great record both of whose sides offer enduring pleasure and surprise. You should own it". Christgau praised its musical and lyrical quality and elaborated on its significance, stating:
The album has been considered a classic of hip hop's golden age
and one of the most influential albums in hip hop. It has also been described by critics as an "underrated classic". The Chicago Tribunes Rick Reger called it a "masterpiece ... one of hip-hop's most imaginative, engaging records". In retrospect, Rolling Stones Nathan Brackett wrote "At their prime in the late '80s, the Jungle Brothers reflected all of hip-hop's potential – their second album, 1989's spiritual, street-wise Done by the Forces of Nature, was as conscious as it was funky and stands out as one of the most overlooked rap albums of that decade." The Rolling Stone Album Guide comments that the "Jungle Brothers were ahead of their time" with the album and cites the track "Doin' Our Own Dang" as "the definitive Native Tongues
posse cut". Rolling Stone placed it thirty-seventh on its list of the 50 Coolest Records of All Time. In 1998, Done by the Forces of Nature was selected as one of The Source
s 100 Best Rap Albums.
(*)The European version has "Doin' Our Own Dang (Do It To The JB's Mix)" as track 1 and "What U Waitin' 4? (Jungle Fever Mix)" as track 5, replacing the versions of those songs on the other release.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Jungle Brothers
Jungle Brothers
The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip-hop group to use a house-music producer. The group began performing in the mid-1980s and released its first album, Straight Out the Jungle, in July 1988...
, released November 9, 1989 on Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. Recording sessions for the album took place in 1989 at Calliope Studios in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and production was handled by the Jungle Brothers. It was mixed
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
at Apollo Studios by Kool DJ Red Alert
DJ Red Alert
DJ Red Alert is a disc jockey on 98.7 Kiss-FM, N.Y.C., and has been recognized as a hip hop pioneer...
and the Jungle Brothers. The album's title may refer to a line from the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
, a Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
scripture, wherein Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
says "Those who are deluded by the illusive power (Maya
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
) of Nature become attached to the work done by the forces of nature," 3:28.
Done by the Forces of Nature peaked at number 46 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. It also received rave reviews from music critics who praised its Afrocentric themes, clever lyrics, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
-influenced production, and eclectic sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of music genres such as jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, R&B, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and African music. Done by the Forces of Nature has been considered a golden age hip hop
Golden age hip hop
Hip hop's "golden age" is a name given to a period in mainstream hip hop—usually cited as being a period varying in time frames during the 1980s and 1990s said to be characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence. There were strong themes of Afrocentricity and political...
classic, as well as one of the greatest and influential hip hop albums of all time. In 1998, The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
magazine selected the album as one of its 100 Best Rap Albums.
Reception
Done by the Forces of Nature peaked at number 46 on BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. It received general acclaim from music critic
Music criticism
See also Music journalism for reporting on classical and popular music in the media.The Oxford Companion to Music defines music criticism as 'the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres'. In this...
s, who praised its Afrocentric themes, witty lyrics, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
-based sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, and house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
-influenced production. The album received maximum ratings from both the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
and Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
publications. The former publication's Robert Tanzilo cited it as "one of the brightest records of the year". The latter's Duff Marlowe praised the album's diverse sound and lyrical themes, including social consciousness and individual self-realization. He wrote that the Jungle Brothers "present a vision of urbanized naturalism, a subversive and funky anti-intellectualism". The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
called the album "some seriously intense music that makes the commercial raps of Tone-Loc and DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince sound like a child's play". The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
noted its lyrical allusions to hip hop and African-American culture that are "enriching an always solid dance beat".
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
writer Michael Azerrad gave the album four out of five stars and praised its lyrical substance, stating "the Jungle Brothers' positive, spiritual vibe (a direct descendant of Earth, Wind and Fire's) is as hip as their music". Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
's Brett Anderson described it as the Jungle Brothers' "stab at edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
". Steve Huey of Allmusic praised the album's eclectic sound and sampling of music genres such as jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, R&B, and African music. In comparing the album to the Jungle Brothers' landmark debut album, Straight Out the Jungle
Straight Out the Jungle
Straight out the Jungle is the debut album from hip hop group Jungle Brothers. The album marked the beginning of the Native Tongues collective, later featuring popular artists like De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep....
(1988), Huey wrote that Done by the Forces of Nature "feels more realized in many respects, and is arguably the more satisfying listen". French newspaper Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
called the album "brilliant", and The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
s Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave it an A rating, indicating "a great record both of whose sides offer enduring pleasure and surprise. You should own it". Christgau praised its musical and lyrical quality and elaborated on its significance, stating:
The album has been considered a classic of hip hop's golden age
Golden age hip hop
Hip hop's "golden age" is a name given to a period in mainstream hip hop—usually cited as being a period varying in time frames during the 1980s and 1990s said to be characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence. There were strong themes of Afrocentricity and political...
and one of the most influential albums in hip hop. It has also been described by critics as an "underrated classic". The Chicago Tribunes Rick Reger called it a "masterpiece ... one of hip-hop's most imaginative, engaging records". In retrospect, Rolling Stones Nathan Brackett wrote "At their prime in the late '80s, the Jungle Brothers reflected all of hip-hop's potential – their second album, 1989's spiritual, street-wise Done by the Forces of Nature, was as conscious as it was funky and stands out as one of the most overlooked rap albums of that decade." The Rolling Stone Album Guide comments that the "Jungle Brothers were ahead of their time" with the album and cites the track "Doin' Our Own Dang" as "the definitive Native Tongues
Native tongues
Native Tongues is a book by the linguist Charles Berlitz.It is a list of words in different languages, etymology and questions with speculations far and wide about words....
posse cut". Rolling Stone placed it thirty-seventh on its list of the 50 Coolest Records of All Time. In 1998, Done by the Forces of Nature was selected as one of The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
s 100 Best Rap Albums.
Track listing
All songs composed by the Jungle Brothers, except "Doin' Our Own Dang", which was composed by De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers, Q-Tip, and Sister Monie.- "Beyond This World" – 4:08
- "Feelin' Alright" – 3:35
- "Sunshine" – 3:44
- "What U Waitin' 4?" – 4:02
- "U Make Me Sweat" – 3:59
- "Acknowledge Your Own History" (with Vinia MojicaVinia MojicaVinia Mojica is a singer from Queens, New York, best known for her collaborations with the Native Tongues collective and other hip hop artists....
) – 3:38 - "Belly Dancin' Dina" – 3:41
- "Good Newz Comin'" – 4:37
- "Done by the Forces of Nature" (with Jungle DJ Towha TowhaTowa Teiis a DJ, artist and record producer in Yokahoma, Japan.Tōwa debuted as a member of Deee-Lite, from the U.S. label Elektra Records in 1990, and shot to fame via their international hit single, "Groove Is In the Heart"...
) – 3:47 - "Beeds on a String" – 3:32
- "Tribe Vibes" – 3:53
- "J. Beez Comin' Through" – 3:32
- "Black Woman" (with Caron Wheeler) – 3:54
- "In Dayz 2 Come" – 3:54
- "Doin' Our Own Dang" (with De La SoulDe La SoulDe La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, Queen LatifahQueen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
, Q-TipQ-Tip (rapper)Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
and Monie LoveMonie LoveSimone Riscoe , better known by her stage name Monie Love, is an English emcee and former radio personality in the United States...
) – 4:16 - "Kool Accordin' "2" a Jungle Brother" – 1:55
(*)The European version has "Doin' Our Own Dang (Do It To The JB's Mix)" as track 1 and "What U Waitin' 4? (Jungle Fever Mix)" as track 5, replacing the versions of those songs on the other release.
Chart history
| Year | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 46 |
Personnel
- Jungle Brothers - design, reproduction
- DJ Red Alert - executive producer, mixing
- A Tribe Called Quest - performer
- De La Soul - performer
- KRS-One - performer
- Monie Love - performer
- Gregg Mann - engineer
- Greg Curry - engineer
- Dr. Shane Faber - keyboards, engineer
- Abdullah Rahman - artwork
- DJ Towa - design
- DJ Towa Towa - performer
- Caron Wheeler - performer
External links
- Done by the Forces of Nature at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Masterpiece: Done by the Forces of Nature — By dkpresents
- Rap's Trip to a New and Surreal Territory — By The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...