Jungle is a type of electronic music that began in the 1990s in the UK rave scene and Jamaican sound system culture. It came from breakbeat hardcore and is known for fast breakbeats, complex rhythmic patterns, and repeated musical phrases. These are combined with deep basslines, melodies, and vocal samples from dub, reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, and funk music. Many musicians used parts of the "Amen break" or other rhythmic sections from funk and jazz songs. Jungle music directly led to the development of the drum and bass genre in the mid-1990s.
Origins
In the early 1990s, the breakbeat hardcore music scene began to change by 1992 and 1993. Different musical influences that were once common in tracks started to appear separately. The use of piano and uplifting vocals in breakbeat hardcore helped create a new style called 4-beat/happy hardcore. At the same time, tracks with dark-themed samples and industrial-style sounds, which began in late 1992, became known as darkcore. Reggae samples and reggae-influenced music had been part of breakbeat hardcore since 1990, especially from producers like Shut Up and Dance. However, Paul Ibiza and Rebel MC were the first to strongly include sound system influences in their music. The track "We Are I.E." by Lennie De Ice is often credited with starting the development of jungle music through its use of a ragga bassline.
During 1992 and 1993, the terms "jungle techno" and "hardcore jungle" were used to describe the shift from breakbeat hardcore to jungle. This new sound was promoted at clubs like AWOL, Roast, and Telepathy by DJs such as DJ Ron, DJ Hype, DJ Randall, Fabio & Grooverider, Mickey Finn, DJ Rap, and Kenny Ken. Record labels like Moving Shadow, V Recordings, Suburban Base, and Renk supported the music, as did pirate radio stations such as Kool FM (which played a major role in jungle’s growth), Don FM, Rush, and Rude FM.
Tracks during this time combined different breakbeat styles. Notable releases included "Darkage" by DJ Solo, "Valley of the Shadows" by Origin Unknown, "Set Me Free" by Potential Bad Boy, "28 Gun Bad Boy" by A Guy Called Gerald, "Crackman" by DJ Ron, "A London Sumtin" by Code 071, "Learning from My Brother" by Family of Intelligence, "Lion of Judah" by X Project, and "Be Free" by Noise Factory.
Jungle music was influenced by many artists, each contributing unique elements. According to Simon Reynolds, jungle was "Britain's very own equivalent to US hip-hop," but it could also be seen as a fast-paced, digital version of Jamaican reggae. Its production style, heavy bass, and use of extreme sound effects made it a powerful version of dub music. Reynolds noted that jungle brought together different musical traditions from the Black Atlantic. He also observed that the audience for jungle music changed over time, moving from young white teenagers to older Black individuals with different styles and behaviors. Jungle became a place where different ideas about Black identity were expressed and debated.
Rise and popularity
Jungle music became very popular between 1994 and 1995. During this time, the genre had many successful songs on the UK top 40 charts, such as "Incredible" by M-Beat featuring General Levy. It also led to the release of music collections like Jungle Mania and Jungle Hits. A controversy happened when General Levy said in the media that he was "running jungle" at the time. Although he claimed his words were misunderstood, some DJs formed a group called the "Jungle Committee" and stopped supporting the song. Record companies like Ibiza, 3rd Party, and Kemet released many jungle music tracks.
Before 1994, jungle music was mostly played on pirate radio stations. In 1994, legal radio stations began to play jungle music. London's Kiss 100 started a show called Givin' It Up and invited DJs like Kenny Ken, Jumpin Jack Frost, and Fabio to perform. A year later, the BBC Radio 1 began featuring jungle music on its One in the Jungle show.
Major companies like Sony and BMG signed deals with jungle artists, including A Guy Called Gerald, Kemet, and DJ Ron. Roni Size and 4hero became well-known as drum and bass artists, but they also continued making underground jungle music. Some artists, like 4hero, used different names, such as Tom & Jerry, to release music. A famous underground track called "Burial" by Leviticus was later released by FFRR Records.
Jungle music faced challenges in deciding whether to join the mainstream or stay independent. Small record labels helped artists have more control over their music, while pirate radio stations and clubs spread jungle music underground. The media sometimes shared jungle music's success but also spread false ideas that the scene was violent. A 1994 documentary called A London Some 'Ting Dis showed the growing jungle scene and included interviews with artists and fans to challenge these stereotypes.
By 1996 and 1997, jungle music changed to a darker, more intense sound with influences from hip-hop and jazz. Artists like Dillinja, Roni Size, and Krust helped shift jungle into drum and bass. By the end of 1998, the music had changed significantly from its earlier style.
Ragga jungle is a type of music that mixes jungle with reggae. It became popular in 1994 and 1995 with songs like "Incredible" by M-Beat featuring General Levy and "Original Nuttah" by UK Apachi and Shy FX.
In 1995, a subgenre called jump-up emerged from hardstep music. It used strong bass lines and other experimental sounds. Popular songs included "Dred Bass" by Dead Dred and "Super Sharp Shooter" by DJ Zinc. Jump-up music became popular again in the early 2000s with new artists like Shimon & Andy C and Pendulum.
Ambient jungle, also called intelligent jungle or atmospheric drum and bass, focuses on melodic and atmospheric sounds instead of fast, complex beats. It started in the early 1990s as part of the breakbeat hardcore scene. LTJ Bukem is often credited with creating this style, and his label, Good Looking Records, released many famous tracks in the 1990s. Important artists in this subgenre include LTJ Bukem, Wax Doctor, and Peshay.
Sociocultural context
In the early 1990s, many young people in the United Kingdom, especially those from lower-income backgrounds in London, felt disconnected from society, which seemed to be breaking down. Jungle music reflected these feelings because it was darker and less joyful compared to other popular rave music styles. It was especially popular among Black British youth, even though it borrowed influences from other genres like techno and American rave music.
Jungle music was described as "England's answer to hip-hop," as it aimed to unite people across racial lines by blending different cultural influences and bringing together diverse groups at raves. Its focus on rhythm over melody challenged traditional Western music styles, making it stand out as a bold and unique form of expression.
The availability of more affordable sampling tools allowed young people to create music at home using their own sounds and experiences, without needing expensive recording studios.
Characterized by fast, complex beats and layered rhythms, Jungle music attracted not only British b-boys involved in the rave scene but also fans of reggae, dancehall, electro, and rap. Some people, like music writer Simon Reynolds, said Jungle music was so intense that it frightened some ravers and was "too funky to dance" to. However, the club scene still embraced it enthusiastically.
Etymology
The origin of the word "jungle" is a topic of debate. Rebel MC is often credited with making the term popular. In Simon Reynolds' book Energy Flash, MC Navigator is quoted as giving credit to Rebel MC for the term. According to MC Navigator, "jungle" comes from "junglist," and the word was first heard in 1991 as a sample used by Rebel MC. He said Rebel MC got the chant from a sound-system mix-tape imported from Jamaica. When Rebel MC used the sample, people began to call the music "jungle." Others, such as MC Five-O, give credit to MC Moose, while Rob Playford (of Moving Shadow) gives credit to MC Mad P (of Top Buzz). Some people believe the term was empowering, showing the connection to Black culture and its subculture, and changing the meaning of the previously racist term "jungle music."
Notable releases
Notable releases include: "Burial" by Leviticus, "Dangerous" by DJ Ron, "Lover to Lover / Maximum Style" by Tom & Jerry, "Original Nuttah" by Shy FX, "All the Crew Big Up" by Roni Size & DJ Die, "Incredible / Sweet Love" by M-Beat, "The Helicopter Tune" by Deep Blue, "Super Sharp Shooter" by DJ Zinc, "Sovereign Melody / Lion Heart" by Dillinja, "Everyman" by Kenny Ken, "The Victory / Lovable" by DJ Dextrous, "Bad Ass" by Aphrodite, "The Lighter" by DJ SS, and "Tiger Style" by DJ Hype.
Crossover with drum and bass
The word "jungle" is sometimes used as another name for drum and bass, especially in the United States. More often, jungle is seen as the starting point for drum and bass. In the late 1990s, artists changed the music in ways that created a new style, which became known as drum and bass. Some artists who helped this change include Trace & Ed Rush, LTJ Bukem, Photek, Total Science, Goldie, and Optical. During this time, people incorrectly believed that drum and bass and jungle were completely different, with drum and bass linked to white ravers and jungle linked to black ravers. Drum and bass became faster, more industrial, and less easy to dance to, but it was considered more "accessible and commercial" than jungle. This idea was mentioned in an article by The Observer in 1996.
In Black Music in Britain in the 21st Century, written by Julia Toppin in 2023, she explains that changing the name of jungle was a way to distance it from black people and the negative stories in the media that connected jungle music to race, drugs, and violence. Jungle was often shown in a bad light because of its connection to the rave scene and the black people who were part of it.
Jungle events sometimes had problems with security and drugs, which led to more police attention than other electronic dance music (EDM) events. However, similar issues also happened at raves with mostly white audiences. As drum and bass became more popular in mainstream media, the unfair opinions about jungle worsened. Toppin writes that in the late 1990s, black jungle ravers were often not allowed into nightclubs, and DJs were prevented from playing jungle music at venues without being noticed. This caused jungle to move back underground by the end of the decade.
Re-emergent jungle scene
A group of people who make and create music in the style of the 1990s has grown stronger. Some drum and bass producers, who also make original music, have noticed this renewed interest in the older style. For example, Shy FX started the Digital Soundboy label in 2005 to release more jungle music. The UK still has a strong jungle music scene. Regular jungle events at Corsica Studios have helped keep the genre popular. New producers like Forest Drive West, Tim Reaper, Dead Man's Chest, and Sully have also joined the scene.
During the early to mid-2000s, jungle music experienced a revival in the drum-funk subgenre. Labels such as Scientific Wax, Bassbin Records, and Paradox Music supported a style focused on rhythmic beats. Events like Technicality and Bassbin in London helped bring back traditional jungle music elements.
Congo Natty, one of the people who started the jungle scene, continued making jungle music throughout the 2000s. This effort ended with the 2013 album Jungle Revolution.
In 2018, Chase & Status created an album that explored jungle sounds, titled RTRN II JUNGLE.
In the 2020s, popular jungle music labels include Future Retro London, 3AM Eternal, and Sub Code Records.