Native Tongues
The Native Tongues took their name from a line in the song African Cry by Motown-offshoot funk group New Birth. That lyric reads took away our native tongues and became the banner for a new collective of hip hop artists. This crew formed in New York City during the late 1980s as like-minded musicians sought to build something different from the mainstream scene. De La Soul's Trugoy the Dove recalled how they linked up after sharing a show together in Boston. He explained that it was not business and not about money but simply trading ideas and having fun. The connection felt natural because everyone shared a love for the art form and for each other.
Principal groups within the movement included the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest alongside honorary members such as Queen Latifah. By 1989 the core had expanded to include Monie Love from the United Kingdom and soon Black Sheep and Chi-Ali joined the fold. Fostered by Kool DJ Red Alert, the success of the Jungle Brothers paved the way for De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest remembered calling Afrika Baby Bam at two in the morning to say these kids were just alike. He described meeting them as fuckin' love at first sight and noted that their unity challenged the individualism common in hip hop. A 2020 Vulture article later listed official crew members including Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, Black Sheep, and Chi-Ali.
The collective pioneered the use of eclectic sampling and jazz-influenced beats while delivering positive-minded good-natured Afrocentric lyrics. Drawing influences from artists like Gil Scott-Heron, the Last Poets, and Grandmaster Flash, they crafted a sound distinct from their peers. Their approach fostered a spirit similar to that of Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation. Rolling Stone cited the track Doin Our Own Dang as the definitive Native Tongues posse cut because it embodied this unique blend. The music encouraged listeners to see how people could come together through shared creativity rather than competition. This style became a blueprint for future alternative hip-hop artists who would follow in their footsteps.
Despite featuring an extensive discography, the collaborations of the Native Tongues have been fairly limited under that specific name. The collective never recorded anything officially under the Native Tongues banner and notable crew cuts can be counted on one hand. While individual groups released many albums, official joint efforts remained rare and intentional. Rolling Stone highlighted Doin Our Own Dang as the defining example of their collaborative power. These few tracks demonstrated what was possible when diverse voices merged into a single creative force. The scarcity of these recordings made each one stand out as a significant cultural moment within the genre.
The various groups grew distant with time and by 1993 De La Soul's Trugoy the Dove proclaimed That native shit is dead. Their journey began in the late 1980s and continued through 1989 before eventually fading apart. Despite early unity and mutual support, the members pursued separate paths as their careers advanced. The declaration marked the end of an era but did not erase the impact they had already made. This dissolution reflected the natural evolution of artistic partnerships rather than any conflict or failure. The movement itself transitioned from active collaboration to historical influence over the following years.
The Native Tongues movement inspired later alternative hip-hop artists such as Outkast, the Roots, Lupe Fiasco, Little Brother, Black Eyed Peas, Dead Prez, Camp Lo, Jean Grae, Nappy Roots, Digable Planets, Common, Black Star, J Dilla, Lauryn Hill, MF Doom, and Pharrell Williams. In 2019 the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., launched an annual Native Tongues Festival to celebrate the musical legacy of the group. These artists carried forward the spirit of positive lyrics and jazz-influenced beats into new generations. The collective's approach to community and creativity became a model for future innovators in the genre. Their influence extended beyond music into broader cultural conversations about identity and representation within hip hop.
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Common questions
What is the origin of the name Native Tongues?
The Native Tongues took their name from a line in the song African Cry by Motown-offshoot funk group New Birth. That lyric reads took away our native tongues and became the banner for a new collective of hip hop artists.
Who were the principal groups within the Native Tongues movement?
Principal groups within the movement included the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest alongside honorary members such as Queen Latifah. By 1989 the core had expanded to include Monie Love from the United Kingdom and soon Black Sheep and Chi-Ali joined the fold.
When did the Native Tongues collective form and when did it dissolve?
This crew formed in New York City during the late 1980s before eventually fading apart by 1993. De La Soul's Trugoy the Dove proclaimed that native shit is dead in 1993 marking the end of an era but not erasing the impact they had already made.
Why was the track Doin Our Own Dang significant to the Native Tongues?
Rolling Stone cited the track Doin Our Own Dang as the definitive Native Tongues posse cut because it embodied this unique blend. Rolling Stone highlighted Doin Our Own Dang as the defining example of their collaborative power showing what was possible when diverse voices merged into a single creative force.
Which artists have been inspired by the Native Tongues movement?
The Native Tongues movement inspired later alternative hip-hop artists such as Outkast, the Roots, Lupe Fiasco, Little Brother, Black Eyed Peas, Dead Prez, Camp Lo, Jean Grae, Nappy Roots, Digable Planets, Common, Black Star, J Dilla, Lauryn Hill, MF Doom, and Pharrell Williams. In 2019 the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., launched an annual Native Tongues Festival to celebrate the musical legacy of the group.