Combined Tha Alkaholiks and The Beatnuts have collaborated with acts like Xzbit, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Ice-T, the Neptunes, Common, Pete Nice and Chi-Ali, and now the two hip hop groups are coming together forming Liknuts.
Juju and Psycho Les from Queens met in the late 1980s.
Psycho Les had begun producing beats and DJing at 15 years old and was introduced to fellow producer Juju by a friend.
While searching for new samples, Juju and Psycho Les – who became Beatnuts – met hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, who introduced them to Native Tongues members De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers.
By the early 1990s the duo was producing tracks for a variety of MCs and rappers and become known as remix specialists by remixing songs for acts like Da Lench Mob and Naughty by Nature.
Their debut album Intoxicated Demons was released in 1993 and was met by rave reviews by Allmusic, The Source and Entertainment Weekly.
The Beatnuts have continued to produce albums through out the ’90s and into the 2000s including the release of their album with Tha Alkaholiks this year.
The other half of Liknuts, Tha Alkaholiks found their beginning in Los Angeles.
Since the early 1990s they have produced funky, upbeat, hedonism-themed party music with a hardcore hip hop edge powered by the beats of DJ and producer E-Swift, and the lively comedic rhymes of J-Ro and Tash.
After receiving recognition in 1992 following their appearance on Tee’s Tha Triflin Album, Tha Alkaholiks found themselves with supporting act slots for KRS-One, Ice Cube and Too Short.
Their debut album 21 and Over hit record store shelves in 1993 and has been called “perhaps the quintessential West Coast party album,” by Allmusic’s Nathan Rabin.
The Alkaholiks went on to produce four more albums but it was announced that their 2006 album Firewater would be their last.
Firewater was followed by their farewell live tour.
Liknuts will take the stage at Spiritbar on Saturday at Spirtbar. Doors open at 10 p.m.
