The album marked the beginning of the Native Tongues collective, which later featured popular artists such as De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Black Sheep.

The single "I'll House You", added to the album in late-1988 reissues, is known as the first non-Chicago hip-house record to be a sufficiently big club hit.

[citation needed] The Los Angeles Times noted that, "From romance to racism, the JB's tell it like it is with a charismatic and suave funkiness.

"[12] Trouser Press concluded that "despite strong entries like 'Because I Got It Like That' and 'Sounds of the Safari', several duff tracks diminish the album, while the vestigial old-school beats and rapping style leave the rest sounding dated.

"[13] In 1998, Straight out the Jungle was selected as one of The Source's "100 Best Albums".