Artist:Newcleus
Song:Jam On It
Album:Destination: Earth: The Definitive Newcleus Recordings
The electro funk rap group Newcleus had brief success in the R&B charts in the mid 80s. The 1984 single Jam On It crossed over to pop. Newcleus was known for having breakdancers as part of their act and that made them popular with kids at the time. They only recorded two albums. When they formed in Brooklyn, NY in 1977, they were known as Jam-On Productions. The leader was Ben "Cozmo D" Cenac along with cousins Monique and Pierre "Pete" Angevin. They played Brooklyn block parties. Yvette "Lady E" Cook and Bob "Chilly B" Ctafton joined in 1979 and the group name was changed to Newcleus. Cenac and Crafton rapped. Cenac married Yvette and Crafton married Monique. They recorded the single Jam-On Revenge in 1982 which featured sped up vocals like The Chipmunks. Producer Joe Webb liked it enough to release it on his own label. And that led to a deal with Sunnyview Records owned by notorious Roulette Records owner Morris Levy which he started when he bought TK Records from Henry Stone. Jam-On Revenge was a top 40 R&B hit. Jam On It crossed over to pop and reached #56 on the Billboard Hot 100. Newcleus released two albums and several singles. But nothing else caught on and then Levy sold Sunnyview to Rhino Records in 1987. Newcleus released a few more singles until they split up in 1989. Cenac released this Newcleus comp CD in 2005 and he continues to work on Newcleus catalogue reissues. He still appears live in Brooklyn clubs. Crafton died from a stroke on Feb. 23, 2010 at age 47. Here's the video for Jam On It by Newcleus.
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