1989 saw the release of several albums by members of "The Native Tongues", a loose-knit, New York-based collective of artists who saw themselves (and their music) as a necessary alternative to the violence and negativity associated with many of their rap contemporaries. Interested in promoting tolerance, respect, fun and harmony, Native Tongues groups De La Soul, Jungle Brothers and Queen Latifah all debuted in 1989. This same year, West Coast rapper Tone-Loc scored big with "Wild Thing", Young MC won the very first Grammy for Best Rap Performance, and the Beastie Boys released Paul's Boutique.



De La Soul

De La Soul's Three Feet High and Rising provided a refreshing, upbeat sonic alternative to hardcore rap' domination of the airwaves. Dubbed neo-hippies, De La Soul were different not only because of their "peace, love and harmony" vibe, but also because of their complex, strikingly electical musical style (courtesy of influential producer Prince Paul). The album incorporated elements of jazz, reaggae, funk, soul and pop, along with wacky vocal samples skits. Compared to the previous years releases by hardcore artists such as Public Enemy and N.W.A., Three Feet High and Rising, with tracks like "Me, Myself and I" was a new different breed.

"Wild Thing"

California-based rapper Tone-Looc scored big in 1989 with the hits "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina", both of which appeared on his full-length debut, Loc-ed After Dark. Combining catchy samples with clever lyrics and humorous rhymes, the album's pop sensibility further cemented rap's mainstream appeal and quickly rose to the top of the pop charts.

"Paul's Boutique"

Despite the rather lukewarm reception at the time of its release in 1989, Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys was eventually hailed as a landmark record. Sporting innovative production by the Dust Brothers, a mind-bending blend of styles, and a sonically sophisticated, art-rap vibe, the album was clear departure form the Beastie's previous release Licensed to III. AS evidenced by the track "Hey Ladies", the Dust Brothers and the Beastie Boys pioneered an artful, ingenious and avant-garde use of sampling, creating an album that was very exciting and very different form the other releases of the time.



Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah released her debut, All Hail the Queen, in 1989. Strong and intelligent, Queen Latifah brought a feminist consciousness to the male-dominated world of hip-hop. Like her fellow Native Tongues members, Latifah offered an alternative to the straight up, hardcore - rap of the time. Tracks like "Wrath of My Madness" and "Ladies First", (a tribute to womanhood) found many fans among the hip hop community.