Jungle

Putting The Science Into Music

Jungle developed in Britain during the early 1990s from Breakbeat Hardcore, Reggae, Dub, Dancehall, Hip Hop and sound-system culture. Producers accelerated and rearranged sampled drum breaks while combining them with deep sub-bass, Jamaican vocal samples and electronic production built for raves and powerful speaker systems.

The style emerged as Breakbeat Hardcore grew darker, faster and more rhythmically complex during 1992 and 1993. Chopped breaks such as the Amen, Think and Apache were layered with basslines, ragga vocals and dub effects, giving the sound strong roots in Black British and Caribbean club culture.

Pirate radio, record shops, dubplates and independent labels helped Jungle develop outside the mainstream music industry. Labels including Reinforced, Moving Shadow, Suburban Base, Metalheadz and V Recordings supported different sides of the music, from rough dance-floor tracks to atmospheric and experimental productions.

Artists including Goldie, LTJ Bukem, Shy FX, Congo Natty, Remarc, DJ Rap, Roni Size and 4hero helped establish Jungle during its formative years. DJs, MCs and producers frequently moved between Hardcore, Jungle and the emerging Drum and Bass scene as the terminology and production methods shifted.

By the mid-1990s, Drum and Bass became a widely used name for music with increasingly detailed percussion and electronic bass design. Jungle kept its own identity through its breakbeat intensity, reggae influence, sampled vocals and direct connection to sound-system culture.

The genre is still produced by contemporary artists and independent labels, rather than existing only as an early-1990s style. Danny Styles, owner of 24 Karat Records, started in 1994 and continues releasing new music rooted in classic Jungle breaks, bass pressure and underground production.

Jungle now includes original rave-era recordings, modern productions and hybrid music that overlaps with Drum and Bass, Breakbeat and Bass Music. Its defining features are rapidly edited breakbeats, powerful low frequencies and the influence of Britain's Jamaican sound-system heritage.

At Scientific Sound Asia, jungle is a defining feature of The Deeper Shades, with further appearances on Control Tower and Basement Soul, with an occasional appearance from DJ Mista C's dedicated show.