Newcleus - Jam On It

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From the 1984 Album: "Jam On Revenge"...(Click "show more" for artist info)..

Newcleus is an American electro and old school hip hop group that gained popularity in the early 1980s. The group is primarily known for its 12-inch single "Jam-On's Revenge" (re-released as "Jam on Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)" (1983)) and "Jam on It" (1984).

A precursor to the group, known as Jam-On Productions, was formed in 1977 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, and included teenagers Ben "Cozmo D" Cenac and his cousins Monique and Pierre "Pete" Angevin. 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). The coming together of families inspired the name change to Newcleus.

Newcleus recorded "Jam-On Revenge," a block-party favorite featuring vocals that were sped up. The track impressed record producer Joe Webb, and it became the group's first single in 1983 on Mayhew Records. Retitled as "Jam On Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)", the track reached the Top 40 on the U.S. R&B chart. The group eventually signed with Sunnyview Records, which was later acquired by Rhino Records in the 1990s.

The follow-up, "Jam on It," did well on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #56. "Computer Age (Push the Button)" reached the R&B Top 40. The Cenacs and the Craftons continued to record until 1989.

Neither Newcleus albums, Jam on Revenge and Space Is the Place, sold well. The deleted Jam on Revenge album is now regarded as a classic, not only because of the well-known singles, but also because of album cuts such as "Destination Earth."

"Newcleus" released several albums in the following years, but these were the creations of producers putting out material under the Newcleus name. Some of these featured classic Newcleus tracks touted as live versions (but simply added crowd noise atop the original tracks).

In 2005, Cozmo D released an album, Destination Earth: The Definitive Newcleus Recordings, a collection of hip-hop tracks from the group's entire catalog. This collection supersedes the Rhino/Atlantic Records compilation Jam On This! The Best Of Newcleus. The majority of the songs on this release were 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 illustrations 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 titled Returned to Earth, a companion volume to Destination Earth, which will collect all of its electro works onto one disc, restored and remastered from the original tapes. The album will also include two new songs.

Although both 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 was removed 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.

Newcleus' songs have been used in several video games. "Computer Age" appears in Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX, and "Jam On It" appears in both Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 and DJ Hero 2, the latter featuring a newly re-recorded version of the song.

Chilly B died at age 47 of a stroke on February 23, 2010.

[frankhunter]

One of the most historical bass lines ever

[WAYRIL]

FOR YALL YOUNGSTERS, THESE ARE THE ROOTS TO THE TREE OF HIP

[reybattaglia]

One of the best tracks ever created! Thankyou Roland 808

[GenXstacker]

Uh...old school hip hop was the greatest. This is what we were break dancing to in the mid-80s and for my money it's still better than 99.9% of the rap music that came out in the last 40 years. This song still gets my old body out of a chair and dancing in 2024.

[Verde_Valley_AZ]

Wish this type of music would make a comeback.

[atkman]

If you have a timeless masterpiece like this jam, it doesn't matter what year it is, it is still ahead of its time!

[jomohector]

Who’s with me the 80’s is the GOAT period!!

[adjr]

This is why NYC is the Mecca of hip-hop!!

[peterinfante]

Who's still jamming this in 2025? F#$king classic

[quintenpressley]

40 years later this record still sounds amazing

[joanhornsby]

They don't make this kind of good music anymore. This still

[rayhanes]

All races of ppl in the crowd in perfect harmony

[moonwatche]

I was 15 in 1983. It was a tumultuous time for me, I was put in foster care, and kind of lost in life. I had a friend, Bettina, and her and I had a piece of cardboard, her huge boombox, and we went to all the local breakdance contests, we would lay our cardboard everywhere we went, do windmills and spins and pop locks, and it was the one thing that helped me through those really tough years. The 80's memories stir strange feelings for me, but this reminds me of what was good back then. I wish kids did this these days instead of ipads, lol ☺️ im so happy to have found this. 🌎

[ERINYES]

One of THE greatest bass hooks EVER! I remember this was played on a boom box at the back of the school bus every day for a month.

[AsapWave]

Bruh I’m 34 yrs old this a lil ahead of my time lol but this is so tough this beat is ridiculous 🤦🏾‍♂️🔥🔥🔥

[marioroca]

Hands down the anthem in Brooklyn, NY in the mid 80's. I was under 15 years old and remember the cardboard stage. Never happened again since. At least I got a few ghetto blasters from those days in my collection. Thank you Jam On Production Crew. RIP Chilly B.

[domrampello]

Yes in case u ask, its now2025 and i am indeed still listenin to this beauty. First heard this in 84/85 on electro 3.( still have the tape). Almost immediatly learnt the lyrics.... "when i was a liitle baby boy" etc..and still kno them today. I play this jam when im feeling low.. .happens a lot nowadays... rememberin those seemingly endless summer days hangin out with mates down the park... lads doin front hops on their raleigh burners... others thinkin they were good at body poppin.. always a beatbox playin these tunes. Pumpkin an the profile all stars.... dj cheese an m.c word of mouth to name but two... i wonder where all those people r now... i wonder if they remember those days like i 53yrs old now an the sun doesnt shine so bright for me as it once did... the trials of life an all that... so every now n then i come back to this an remenisce(check spelling). When WE were kings my friends.. when we were kings.... Take care everybody...keep movin forward.

[sevinatenine]

I KNOW IF YOU EVEN CLOSE TO MY AGE OF 60 NOW, YOU 2 MISS WHEN MUSIC LIKE THIS.BUT AT LEAST WE GOT YOUTUBE TO RELIVE WHAT ERA OF MUSIC WE WANT 2 OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

[jeremytrzeciak]

I wasn't into breakdancing, but this song always brings me back to the old roller skating rink as a kid. Jam On It!

[JohnnyArchuleta-qm]

Dam turned 50 yesterday still love this jam