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Amazing BBC 2 jungle documentary from 1994

25 January 2010

Whilst wasting yet more time on Youtube we found an amazing documentary on jungle from 1994. It’s a fascinating insight into the early jungle movement – soon after it had splintered from hardcore.

Back then it represented a fusion of rave music and black sound system culture – speeding up the kinds of breakbeats found in hardcore records and fusing them with exaggerated dub basslines. It’s incredible to see the sheer pride these jungle pioneers feel for their new found music. It reminds me of the way fans and djs would speak about dubstep when it first emerged.

This program features interviews and live performances from the incredibly young Shy FX, UK Apache, Fabio, LTJ Bukem, Rhyme Time, Trace and DJ Rap amongst many others. Oh and a very unpopular General Levy!

So make yourself a cup of tea, kick back and prepare for a junglist history lesson. Make sure you check out the haircuts and silly clothes – classic!

Part one – introduction to jungle, interviews with LTJ Bukem & Fabio, and a quality studio session with a baby faced Shy FX

Part 2 – we meet DJ Rap for an explanation of dubplate culture, make a trip to Trinity Studios for Shy’s recording of the seminal “Gangster 2”, get the lowdown on pirate radio airplay by Kool FM and meet the one and only UK Apache.

Part 3 – Shy FX, UK Apache and MC Gunsmoke  play quite possibly th most rinsing set EVER at a small club in Wolverhampton. Also General Levy in a baffling Top of the Pops performance. Biggest laugh came from the reporter’s announcement that “some jungle djs can charge up to £300 an hour for their sets”. How times have changed . . .