Welcome to the first in a series of four mixes tapping into the past and present of the UK Jungle sound. For this first instalment I'm going back to 1989 to touch on the breakbeat-rap foundations upon which the subsequent emergent prototype Jungle sound of 1990 and 1991 was built on. Absolute time of culture creation.
Look out for Pt 2 1992 selection, Pt 3 will be the golden age of 1993-94, and Pt 4 will take it up the new wave of jungle producers putting out tunes today. Really hope you enjoy the series.
Junglism Pt.1 - Proto Jungle 1989-1991
120-130bpm
1989 - The Breakbeat Rap Roots
1. Most Wanted - Calm Down (Instrumental) - 1989
A classic breakbeat rap instrumental that got pitched up and played in house sets by the likes of Fabio and Grooverider. As a nod to the era I've doubled and cut this one up a bit - if I could scratch I'd have scratched on it too! Hip-Hop DJ skills crossed over with dance djing in these days in a way that has sadly been lost.
2. Success-N-Effect - Roll it up (Bass Kickin Beats) - 1989
Another hot US breakbeat-instrumental import. Frankie Bones tells this story: "December 13th 1989 ... Carl Cox had us over his house to show us his new recording studio. Lenny Dee & I had got Carl a copy of Success-N-Effect on 12" which by that point was the most sort after 12" from me caning it every show. Carl was ready to start producing but joked about how he needed to get his head around all the gear he purchased. This is when I told him, "all you got to do is take this record, Success-N-Effect, ride a couple of new sounds over it and press white labels! Stamp your name on it." That tune become Carl's 1990 rave classic Let The Bass Kick.
3. Public Enemy - Welcome To The Terrordome (Terrormental) - 1989
The musical influence of Public Enemy cannot be understated, particularly the production skills of Hank Shocklee and the Bomb Squad. The two LPs Nation of Millions and Fear of a Black Planet contain probably the most innovative, militant, firing, breakbeat-centred use of a sampler up to that point. Public Enemy tracks themselves were endlessly resampled by UK producers too. This instrumental a classic example of the power of the Bomb Squad.
4. Silver Bullet - Bring Forth The Guillotine [DJ Beats Mix] - 1989
The 80s explosion in US rap inspired many a UK act, who often gravitated to rhyming over a faster beat than US artists. There's a parallel here with the UK fast-chat dancehall style of the likes of Tippa Irie, Daddy Freddy and Smiley Culture - itself another big influence on Jungle. Silver Bullet was one of the best of the UK fast-rap acts, and this track along with 20 Seconds To Comply made its way into many dance sets, played here in the instrumental cut.
1990 - Into The Proto Jungle
5. Rebel MC and Tenor Fly Comin' On Strong (Ruff Neck Mix) - 1990
For my money this might just be the most complete, first ever jungle tune. Up to '89 Michael West aka Rebel MC was finding his sound in a more straight rap fashion, but in 1990 he pushed the boundaries that much further and created some crucial foundational jungle sounding tunes, first with this cut and then the all mighty Wickedest Sound, followed in '91 with the anthemic breakbeat rave reworking of Barrington Levy's Here I Come as Tribal Base.
This ingenuity didn't come out of nowhere - I've uploaded here a clip of stalwart rave deejay Billy Daniel Bunter introducing a clip from an 1987 Acton All-Dayer party hosted by Rebel MC in which both Rebel and the mighty DJ Ron (who would go on by 1994 to claim the title of Jungle Don) were bringing together the cultures of US breakbeat rap, electronic dance music and Jamaican dancehall live on stage and in the mix. Amazing historical clip - do give it a listen.
6. Language - Renegade (The Cryptic Mix) - 1990
A killer slice of underground bleepy breakbeat dance with a touch of ragga from Mark Simon, who would go on to produce the classic 1992 anthem Just 4 U London and personal favourites Eyes On The Horizon and The Strength.
7. Satin Storm - Satin Storm - 1990
Not really words to say how much this track meant back in the day, played this on a loop. Clearly drawing on dub for the bassline, and cleverly using the riff from The Revolutionaries classic Kunte Kinte, but bringing a whole lot more depth and magic beyond that. A true classic, and check also the track Can't Take No More from the same EP for another slice of raw proto-jungle. Salute Satin Storm.
8. Meat Beat Manifesto - Radio Babylon - 1990
Although not really involved with, or even making music for the rave scene, this classic dubby track from MBM was one that smashed the dancefloors in the UK, from illegal raves to the Hacienda, the echoing drums kind of capturing the rattle and reverb of a warehouse.
9. Energize - Like Dis (Full Dread Mix) - 1990
A killer slice of breakbeat house with a dancehall flavour from the legendary Dave Lee aka Joey Negro, who has gone on to be such a key figure in the worlds of house and disco to this day. Top tune.
10 . 4 Hero - The Scorcher (Dance Mix) - 1990
4 Hero are in my opinion unsung heroes of British music, never mind just the rave scene. Total pioneers, and their label Reinforced pivotal for developing and pushing the limits of hardcore, jungle and DnB. And whilst this track is kinda bleepy, it slams with that jungle drum energy. Powerful on a system. 4 Hero also went on to smash the jungle sound under their Tom & Jerry alias. Crucial on every level.
1991 - Call It Jungle
11. V 4 Visions - Joy In The Jungle - 1991/1992
A personal favourite release on a white label EP called Jungle Bizznizz - raw production on this but a brilliant feel. By the end of 1991 the word Jungle was definitely being directly associated with this UK breakbeat rave sound. Worth checking the whole 4 track EP, Return of the Funki Dreads another proto-jungle nugget favourite of mine, with more of a house feel.
12. Dee Pattern - Who's The Bad Man (Sound System Mix) - 1991
Such an iconic and powerful track. One thing of interest to say about it is that not only is it one of the original proto jungle tracks, but the opening 24 bars are as far as I'm aware the first programming of a UKG/Funky drum pattern! Pure innovation.
13. G Double E - Fire When Ready - 1991
Brilliant slice of jump up b-boy proto jungle this. Involved in this track's production is Kris Ogden who was also pushing boundaries as part of Genaside II, whose proto cuts Sirens Of Acre Lane (1990) and Narra Mine (1991) could so easily have been included in this mix.
13. Demon Boyz - Dett (Speaker Feeder Mix) - 1992
Cheekly skipping up to 1992 for this one, but its got that 1991 energy and template. Demon Boyz bringing together fast-rap and fast-chat in a UK slang over a Rebel MC production. On the flip is an instrumental proto rave monster, Jungle Dett (Hardcore House Mix), but I wanted to feature the vocals on this mix as MC crews like Demon Boyz don't get the recognition in the UK rap world that led on to jungle MCing, and now to chart topping grime acts.
14. MI7 - Rockin' Down The House - 1991
A massive hit of a tune this one, anthem status, and has a crossover appeal that kind of pre-empts SL2's 1992 charting hits Way in My Brain and On A Ragga Tip.
15. Ragga Twins - Spliffhead - 1991
"Reggae beat taking over"....The mighty Spliffhead. PJ and Smiley aka Shut Up and Dance on production, two guys utterly pivotal in the formation of jungle, firmly fusing their earlier breakbeat rap production sensibilities into the new proto jungle sound, and bringing in fellow Hackney MCs Ragga Twins into the fold, who in turn helped bring in other dancehall soundsystem MCs over to the rave scene.
16. Code 0171 - A London Sumtin' - 1991/1992
Released on 4 Hero's Reinforced, can't express how much i loved and still love this one. Pure London Jungle attitude. Also on the flip is a secret B2 favourite Stand Together Yo Breakthrough Instrumental. Co-producer Biz can today be caught today on Nuwave Radio as part of the Cyberworks pair with Denz, playing broken beat, hip-hop, jazz, house and techno and the like, Reinforced fashion. Official release date on this is 1992 but have heard a tape of this being played at the very end of 1991 so presume it was ready then.
17. Lennie De Ice - We Are I.E. - 1991
Total classic. Lennie associated with the De Underground record shop crew of Forest Gate in East London - Mike, DJ Randall, Cool Hand Flex, Uncle 22, and MC Fats, who collectively did so much to carve out the jungle sound over the following years.
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