The Headhunters' 1975 debut without Herbie Hancock, Survival of the Fittest, is an explosively rhythmic masterclass in raw, deep-pocket jazz-funk and Afro-centric fusion. Anchored by the thunderous, syncopated rhythm section of drummer Mike Clark and bassist Paul Jackson, the album trades Hancock's synth-heavy jazz solos for gritty, infectious grooves laced with Bill Summers' earthy, tribal percussion and handclaps. Bennie Maupin’s searing reeds and Blackbyrd McKnight’s rock-infused electric guitar add layers of psych-funk heat, weaving tight horn charts and improvised jams into complex, polyrhythmic arrangements. The sound is kinetic, heavy on the bass, and unapologetically danceable—a prime artifact of mid-70s street-level funk where virtuosic jazz musicianship meets pure, earthy groove.