mike G (junG le BroTHers) inTervieW

by JaSON aRMITaGE (DR. J)

Jason Armitage (Dr.J) is the founder of the Roots Forward Records label in Canada. The label ran successfully from 2011 - 2019 and put out rare and unreleased 80’s and 90’s rap music on vinyl and cassette. The label’s discography included music from legends Marley Marl, Schoolly D, Krown Rulers and countless others. Jason is an avid collector of funk, disco, and house music and has been deejaying actively since 1991. He also hosts the “Expansions” radio show - one of Canada’s longest running programs devoted to classic rap and funk music. Jason recently caught up with the legendary Mike G

1. Describe the process of putting “Straight Out The Jungle” together.

The process for recording the music was pretty organic where Baby Bam would blend particular breakbeats back to back and we would figure out verse parts, break downs and the chorus. Verses, we would write during school, on the train to the studio, in the studio or anytime we got inspired. It was overall fun all the time, the studio was the last stop on the D train if remember right and like a 20 30 min walk. For me it was like almost a 2 hour trek but well worth it.

album and we were trying to loosen up and work on ideas, Baby Bam and Red were working on a blend and I started clowning around talking about Jimbrowski. Good ole Oswald who was the engineer at time and for just about the whole LP always recorded everything. When he played it back we were all laughing our heads off and then quickly elaborated to keep the vibe. 2 hours later Jimbrowski had been introduced to the world. RIP to my uncle Ernest “The Ness” Morris who came up with the saying.

3.This album is deemed a “classic” in rap circles. Why did it resonate so strongly with rap fans?

I believe at the time, Hip Hop musically was moving into its next phase, where up to that point there were still concepts and styles that hadn’t been recorded. I think the looseness of our vibe came through clearly on the record along with our concepts and sample selections. We were able to stamp our place in time because we were all so young.

4.How did the success of the album impact you personally?

2.Share a memorable moment in the making of the album.

For me one of the most memorable moments was when we first started on the

The travel aspect of it impacted me the most, getting to see the world and how people all across the globe are connected through music really blew my mind. And to some point still does to this day, especially with how fast music comes out nowadays. Somebody in India can just about hear a dope tune come out just about the same time as someone in Ny and be talking about it that night.

Crazy!!!

5.What are your 3 personal favourite songs off the album?

Straight out the Jungle drew them over along with background, and the airbrush style hit it right on the head.

7.Reflecting on the album as an artistic work, would you have done anything differently?

Maybe just added more songs, for me as we were trying to wrap it up I felt other concepts coming through to add on, but who knows, as they say “less is more”.

Behind the Bush On the Run

I think these songs capture our personalities the most and the time when we recorded them. Honestly my 3 may change when I listen again, so many good memories.

6.I love the cover imagery on this LP. Talk briefly about the album artwork and how that came together.

We just stuck to the concept, the pictures of us actually came from our first promo pics, the artist got a hold of them and