V. I. P.

After stepping out with like-minded, laid-back hip-hop comrades De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest in the late ’80s, the Jungle Brothers weathered the gangsta backlash and took a sharp left turn, toward even more experimental waters. Their sonic adventure continues with V.I.P., a mind-altering mix of funky old-school grooves, ass-thumping electronic beats, and dazzling turntable wizardry. Imagine Will Smith hijacked by a gang of acid-fueled ravers and left for dead on some gritty downtown sidewalk and you’ll start to get the picture.