Jam On It

Recorded in 1984 after Sunnyview asked Newcleus for a rap record; Ben “Cozmo-D” Cenac built the beat in about 45 minutes on a Roland TR-808, with Bob Crafton and Chilly B contributing vocals. The record was produced by Joe Webb and Frank Fair, with Jonathan Fearing handling the edit/mix work. The single turned Newcleus into a crossover electro act, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of the era’s defining hip-hop-electro records. It also captured the computerized sound that was then reshaping dance music. The track became a long-running club and pop-culture staple, appearing in films and games such as Beat Street and Dance Dance Revolution. It has remained influential for later dance, electro, and pop artists because of its tight 808-driven production and futuristic vocal effects.