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History
This is a very difficult section to present, firstly because jungle, it's history, and it's relationship with ragga are very large topics and very difficult to breakdown into sections. this is Ras Azad's interpretation of the "jungle ting", I've tried to keep a non biased view on things here. PS-I'm not the A+ English Student.
Well, Here It Goes:
USA
1960/70's: In the States, there was a mad era of soul and funk music. Musicians like James Brown and the Winstons were making soul music. This wasn't ordinary soul music, this kind had mad Breakbeats. James Brown's Drummer Clive has provided Junglists with numerous Breakbeats. Sadly this genre of soul was taken over by the more commercial "Disco Music", the new funk.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs/Breakbeats of this Time/Genre:
People-James Brown, Lynn Collins, The Winstons, the Mad Bongo Band, Tina Turner.
Songs-Hot Pants, Think about it, Amen Brother, Aphace, Funky Mule.
1970/80's: The Hip-Hop sound was Kicking off. What is Hip-Hop? it is really a more electronic version of Soul music, with Rapping over the top. Yes, indeed pioneers of the new sound, GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five were scratching, mixing up 7" 12" records, sorry no dubplates. These records were, yes you guessed it, these where created by James Brown. Anything that was vinyl would have been touched by GM Flash. Therefore its is no surprise to see many ghetto youth from New York and LA followed.
How was this Music Presented?
Blues, Jazz and Soul music were at first primarily presented at live nights, so that was how Hip-Hop/Rap music was usually presented, on stage with turntables, the mixer came in a bit later. The DJ would be mixing with turntables, a rapper/MC/Emcee would be preforming alongside the DJ. His/Her task would be to hype up the show and express his/her lyrical talent. In those Days the DJ was the one that would get more recognition than the MC.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, the Jungle Brothers, NWA, Dr Dre.
Songs-The Message, Rappers Delight, beat street, jam on it, freakazoids.
1990s: Hip-Hop took a more aggressive approach to society, this was becoming a more violent form of music for Afro-Caribbean youth to express themselves. More and more people were joining in. More explicit lyrics were coming in. Topics on the MIC were about ghetto life, drug-dealing, spending time in prison, living a high life as a criminal, having it all, money, women, etc. Many rappers would claim that they were just preaching a mere reflection of ghetto life. More money had become involved, people were not doing it as a passion, for teaching Love or having a friendly "I'm the best rapper battle" on the microphone. However there were rap groups such has Public Enemy their Leader Chuck D, the Wu-Tang Clan their Leader RZA and their ever growing followers were sending off a more political message. Many joined forces with the (in)famous Nation of Islam. Sound-wise more advanced technology was coming, the Roland Tr-808 was enabling "beatz" to hit the street.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Snoop Dogg, 2pac RIP, Biggie Smalls RIP, KRS-1, Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy
Songs-What's my Name, California Love, Fight the Power, CREAM, there are just too many mention, and as I'm not really a big Hip-Hop fanatic I do not really know which Songs shaped the scene.
Jamaica
1960/70s:
This was the time of SKA an early form of Reggae which I'm not too familiar with however you will see it on the next update. But this is an important time because, Dancehall culture was used as a means for record shop owners to promote records to increase sales, and it also gave the people a good time out on the town.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Rudeboys, Prince Buster, the Upsetters, the Skatalites, Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Songs-my cup, No woman, no Cry, freedom, man in the street, version like the rain.
1980/90s:
This is really the time ragga (a more aggressive form of reggae) started to come in, and also the early 80s saw JA's infamous soundclashs " calling, all Junglists, soundbwoy crown ya self king ah de champion sound, jump-pon de bandwagon" etc. A lot of these sound-clashes and songs were sampled in early ragga jungle. There was also a rise in Dub an electronic/instrumental form of reggae, Jamaican producers were making the best of what they had in a third world country remember.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Cutty Ranks, Peter Tosh, Cocoa Tea, Barrington Levy, Dub Nation, bounty killer, shabba ranks.
Songs-Limb by Limb, Here I come, whirlagirl
1994:
At this point many Ragga artists were doing jungle, one could say jumping on our bandwagon. However we must not forget they did shape the ragga scene.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Beenie Man, Frankie Paul, Bounty Killa, General Levy
Songs-No No No, My Sound, 2 Sounds Jungle, Incredible
1995:
More ragga artists were leaving the jungle, and Dancehall saw a more Hardcore gunman stylee. Pioneers of preaching loving reggae which placed JA on the map like Sly and Robbie, say that they blame this hardcore style on American Gangsta Rappers, influencing the ghetto youth of JA to kill themselves. Murders were up and "every body wanted to be in the baddest gang , a yardie, a rudebwoy, seen".
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Merciless, Bounty Killa, Ninja Man, Spraga Benz
Songs-My Experience
1997:
Reggae reverted back to its roots of more peaceful genres that the god father Bob Marley, A More Jump-up style or the more Rastafarian roots and culture.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Beenie Man, Sizzla, Mr Vegas, Merciless
Songs-Mr Whodini, Keys to the Bima, Heads High, Black Woman
Germany
1970/80s:
Kraftwork, were making a start in electronic music.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Kraftwork
Songs-
England
Save the best til Last, I say. After all we did find jungle. All praises be to London town etc.
1960s:
Notting Hill carnival saw the birth of sound system culture in Britain, this is where the culture of rewinds, lighters, MC's, etc. came from.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Count Suckle, Duke Finn
1980s:
Due to availability of samplers and electronic music equipment. Acid house had taking over London, big field raves etc.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-
Songs-
1980/90s:
A man called Jumpin Jack Frost from Brixton started to play those "Breakbeats" at 45 rpm instead 33 rpm and mixing it all with House music and broadcasting it on Brixton's legendary pirate station Passion. This was something completely different, so therefore it is no surprise that many others followed on.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Jumpin Jack Frost, DJ SS, Bryan Gee, Grooverider,
Songs-
1992/93:
This is the best bit, where early ragga influences came, Jungle-Tekno was big in London.
The term Jungle was coined from a sample Rebel MC used- though I don't know when- he got it off some imported tape from Jamaica of a Soundclash or something, where the Deejay is calling out to "all Junglists..."- referring to the local posses of Tivoli Gardens, known as "the Jungle"- I think it's the same sample used on Code Red and Hang Dem High by DJ Sparks.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Project 1, SL2, Rebel MC and DJ Ron, DJ Krome and Mr Time
Songs-On a ragga tip, Come my Selecta, Six million ways, The Slammer
1994:
Do I need to say any more? this is when Jungle got its first look into commercialization. This was the beginning, but people decided it was just a passing phase and jungle soon disappeared from the mainstream. However there was a lot of good quality jungle floating around, however, there were may imitators that jumped on the bandwagon, eventually caning the style to death.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Beenie Man, Frankie Paul, Bounty Killa, General Levy, Tom & Jerry, Shy FX, Rebel MC, UK Aphaci, M-beat, DJ Krome and MR Time, Topp Catt, Kemet Krew
Songs-No No No, My Sound, 2 Sounds Jungle, Incredible, Brockwild, Champion of Champion, Worries in the Dance, champion DJ
1996:
Junglists had got themselves a pretty bad reputation, therefore the name DRUM AND BASS came into effect. This was really the decline of ragga jungle, however this was the year of quality jump-up.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Tru Playaz, DJ Ron,
Songs-Dred Bass RMX, Super Sharp Shooter, Special Dedication.
1997:
This was the year when SPEED GARAGE took over London, this is the sound which many OJs went after. However those of us that stayed had Jazz step to deal with. This was also the time when we entered the mainstream agian as d'n'b with Mr. Size winning the Mercury music prize for his new forms album.
Pioneers/Bands/Songs of this Time/Genre:
People-Roni Size
Songs-Brown Paper Bag, watching windows, western, etc.
If there is any incorrect information here please would you like to correct me, (credits will be given to every contributer.
Shouts out to: Rebel MC and all @ Conquering Lion Studios (Congo Natty Crew). More Rockers, Mulder, Roni Size, Krust, Die, Dynamite and all @Full Cycle Records, all the Bristol Crew Tribe Records Micky Finn, Darren Jay, Urban Takeover and family, King Pin and all the Brixton Badman, MC Navigator, Chris Goldfinger, Asha World, DJ Village, DJ Hype and all @ Tru-Playaz, Shop, Nus, Moy, UK Aphace, David Boomer, Ishmeal AKA Mad Isms, Donovan B.Boy Smith, Gary and the Gloucester Massive, Street Beats, Greensleeves, Taj, D-Mon, Kenny Ken and all @ Mix and Blend, STEVIE HYPER D RIP, my breddren, Nicky Black-market and all @ the shop, Ninja and all de Shatta Krew, Bounty Killa, Jason, Egg Head, Scope, Breakerjay, Bo!ne and the Flame Krew, tWiSt, Phil D, Ivan Hoe, Poison, Moose, Dextrous, Beenie Man, Stig, Natty, Shazu, Juhul, all the original junglist and everyone I forgot big-up.
Special Links:
Yes you Guessed it some special links to find out more on the origin of jungle music and all influencing genres.
What Is Jungle Music?-This is a brief mention of DnB styles by the man like DJ Risky
This section will in some time be re-done with corrections and with lots more information, I got a bit tired towards the end and forgot everything. But more importantly Real Audio and Pictures will be up. Just Join the Update List to find out what is happening.
All rights reserved Ragga Jungle Yard est. 1998
Last update 13 July 1999