M.Press #1

M.Press

an introduction to M.Press Editors: Melanie Elkins, Chris Anecelle Staff: Snuggles, DVS1, Wes, Mello, Wisc, Lord Vishnu Event Reviewers: CHA, Sascha Linn, Merrick Brown, Mello, Celestial Keller Feature Writers: Mike Battaglia, Mello, Jason\Method1, Wisc What is M.Press? M.Press is a very informal zine designed to introduce and update people about hardcore music and the scene in general. Every issue is free to you because M.Press is in no way a profit making venue. It's simply a means of updating and creating junglists and drum and bass addicts. In each issue you will find DJ top 10s, event reviews from all over the USA (sometimes all over the world), feature articles with London's top DJs and recording artists, interviews with Houston's hardcore DJs, feature articles from rave enthusiasts all over the world, and upcoming sounds/events. As the editor of M.Press, I strongly encourage you to use M.Press as a means of voicing your opinions/thoughts about relevant topics. If you don't like something said in the zine, or if you'd like to contribute anything relevant, feel free to send it to one of the contacts on the back page. This is your zine too. A57 where are you?!?!?!

Table of Contents Introduction. 1 Houston DJs 3 Tape Reviews 4 "Media Ravers...What The?!?!?!" 5 DJ Top 10s 6 London Scene 7 A Note about Houston 8 "Raving Internet Style" 9 "Houston's Original Bad Bwoys: DVS1 & Wisc Tell All" 10 "London's King of the Jungle: An Interview with Rude Boy Keith" 12 Bomar News 15 Evernt Reviews 11.26.94 16 "From Coast to Coast" 18 "I Wanna Be a Toys 'r' Us Kid" 20 London Radio Stations 22 M.Press Contact Info 24

Houston Hardcore DJs & More DVSI (Ryan Boland): DVSI's love for dancehall and hardcore has evolved into a diverse collection of jungle toons. You may not hear much of him in public because he prefers to spend his time dancing to the music, rather than mixing. However, you may catch him on the mic anytime a dj drops a wicked jungle toon. He's the man responsible for the Current series; stepping up when a57 stepped down. If you'd like to contact DVSI about booking, promoting, etc. you can reach him at 713.709.3681. Jetboy (Jeff McLaughlin): Formerly of Infinite Sunrise, Jetboy used to spin ambient exclusively. Now, Jetboy drops the drum and bass selection. Most of his tracks are of a more ambient nature, but look out for some wicked mashed up beats now and then. Jetboy currently has a mix tape available called 'The Futurist''. Pick up a copy of the tape through M.Press or call him at 713.521.3122. Lord Vishnu (Shawn Jimenez): Sending shouts out to his peeps is what he's about. Vishnu does the hip-hop show on KPFT 90.1 every Wednesday night from 12am-1am, and helps out the hardcore scene in his spare time. Wicked tracks along with his freakin of the decks make Vishnu's sets total bliss. Look for Vishnu spinning at Exodus II and Current III (he does drop jungle as well). Tapes for Vishnu are available through M.Press. You can page him at 713.698.4981. Mr. Yuck (Chris Anderson): Formerly of the Matrix Crew, Mr. Yuck has mixed up almost every kind of music out there. His current interest in tribal house brought you Rhythm Method at PowerTools and nights at Blowfish (until it burned down). However, you can catch Mr. Yuck playing his old school breakbeat on the patio at PowerTools with the Bomar Massive. And if you're looking for a tape, he's always ready to sell you a few. Rotterdan (Daniel Taylor): Bringing you the mind-melting gabber is Rotterdan's specialty. When dancing to his set, prepare to bounce around at an average of 180 BPM (Bounces Per Minute that is). You won't ever hear him riding a beat, but look out for some interesting slams. Rotterdan utilizes a variety of special effects tracks to add extra ambience, and just plain wierdness to his set. Check the tape reviews for info about how to get a copy of his latest tape. You can contact him at 713.762.3074. Wisc (Chris Anecelle): This is the DJ that gets DVSI off! If you're looking for jungle, here it is. Formerly of Spin Cycle, Wisc's specialty is hard to find jungle tracks mixed together with rude boy MCing. You can find him at any Current or Exodus event, Powertools on Fridays, and 26 Red every other Saturday. Also, check the "Treats for Da Ears" section for tape information. You can contact him at 713.942.8031. X-It (Chris Treadway): A one-time die-hard hardcore player, X-It has taken a walk on the wild side. He now mixes progressive house, trip-hop, etc. at the afterhours club, Therapy. Check the tape reviews for info about his latest tape. BOOGIE TIMES STOCKISTS OF LATEST HARDCORE, HIP HOP & HOUSE PLUS EXCLUSIVE UPFRONT PROMOS OF SUBURBAN BASE VINYL & MERCHANDISE PLUS VARIED DJ MIX TAPES · 3 OLD MILL PARADE · VICTORIA RD · ROMFORD · RM1 2HU · TEL: 0708 727029

DJ Jeffee "Ruff Breax 4" (90 minutes) - For those of you who like a variety of flavas, Jeffee mixes up ragga, jungle, and happy hardcore tunes. This tape is true to Jeffee's style found in "Ruff Breax 1-3", so expect the same style, but with new slammin tracks. Watch for "Ruff Breax 5" coming out within the next few weeks. (available through Dub Shack or through Junglized Zine (407) 277-7635) JJ Jellybean "The Lion King" (60 minutes) - Chicago Hardcore Authority's top jungle DJ mixes up some powerful jungle juice. This tape is for jungle ears only! Be prepared to jump up cuz this tape is the perfect taste for those who crave jungle flava. (available through Dub Shack - see ad for address) Snuggles "Lord of the Dance" (60 minutes) - This tape is the follow up to "I'm Sugar Free"; it features the newest hardcore drum & bass direct from London. The smooth mixing of hard/impossible to find tracks makes this tape a must have. (available through Dub Shack) Snuggles & Wisc "da Bomb" (60 minutes) - Two totally tearin DJs take turns on the tables. Wisc mixes up jungle tracks that makes your mama sweat, while Snuggles wheels up some of his finest toons. This tape is a perfect mix for those who enjoy all forms of hardcore. (available through m.press) Tech137 "For the Softies" (90 minutes) - Rotterdam worshipers must check this out. But be prepared to sweat your ass off to 190+ bpm gabber and then chill to the other side. Tech137 gives you 45 minutes of hard-ass-in-your-face-gabber, then mellows you out with some truly devine ambient. (available through m.press) Wisc "Spontaneous Combustion" (60 minutes) - For those of you who want the finest in happy hardcore old school this is absolutely the tape for you. Wisc smoothly! mixes up your favorites. (available through m.press) Wisc "Bass Fusion" (60 minutes) - Prepare for your jaw to hit the ground. Wisc mixes up the best of the impossible to find jungle tracks. A definite treat for your jungle deprived ears. (available through m.press) X-It "Untitled" (60 minutes) - This is for the "A-1" and E crowd! X-It's love for Hyper-On Experience is obvious in his tune selection, which is sure to make you move. The mixing is so smooth it's undetectable at times and the flow is perfect. (available through m.press) **If you'd like your tape in the "Treats for da Ears" section, send it to m.press, along with information so that buyers can reach you.

Media Ravers... What tha?!?!?! Mello Ok, by now I'm sure the everyone has seen the oh-so-hip 90210 teeny boppers move and groove at Dillian's nightclub's weekly rave. The songs I heard last week were Eon's "Spice" and Apotheosis' "O Fortuna", and the Beverly Hills crowd was just a groovin' along. Whistle possee unite! Well, if you think this is stupid, check this out. This was sent to me via email. Thanks to Ron and Method1 for this, here goes.... "I guess nobody else caught this this weekend (or didn't want to say anything about it). There's a show on Fox here Saturday afternoons called "Renegade" starring some big hunky long-haired biker type 'accused of a crime he didn't committ' who evidently rides his Harley around running from crooked cops and righting wrongs." "This weeks wrong was raves! I stopped on this while channel surfing because the "rave scene" grabbed my attention. A large group of 20 somethings whom all looked sorta like biker types (women with *BIG* hair, wearing ripped-up acid washed jeans with black spandex underneath; men all muscly and tall, wearing jeans, boots and no shirts all with long hair, several with mustaches or eyepatches) jumping up and down, most ungracefully, to pseudo-techno music in a nice suburban house with the words 'rave on' spraypainted in black on the wall. One of the women didn't realize that the PUNCH WAS SPIKED WITH XTC and overdosed, having a brain hemorrhage and going into a coma. (Her symptoms when she was "high" strangely resembled those of someone whom drank too much)." "Skipping the unrelated plot elements, Rico Roughneck or whatever his name is (the renegade) had to stop these rave thingies, so he hangs out at a local heavy metal club leering at the woman passing until one of them stops to talk to him. He pumps her for directions to a place he can 'dance all night', so she tells him where tonights mappoint is. The rave is at the same house it was at before, but when the renegade gets there the seedy promoters don't like the way he looks so they ATTACK HIM WITH BASEBALL BATS AND STICK HIS UNCONSCIOUS BODY IN THE CLOSET. He doesn't wake up until the party is way over and walks around the cleaned house in the morning rubbing his head." "But in the end, the renegade captures Mr. Seedy promoter, but seedy promoter's dad turns out to be the crooked cop kingpin. So he gets away and the show ends, as it should, in a prolonged car/bike chase with lots of flying bullets." Well gang, I say that we all get Mr. Seedy promoter's phone number and get him to promote events in our town. God knows I've been dying to have the words "rave on" painted on my walls! Oh, and watch out for the punch. *burp*

DJ Top 10s dieselBoy Northeast Hardcore 1. metalheads - inner city (roni size rmx) 2. dillinja and mystery - moods 3. red one - alive and kicking (rmx) 4. dillinja - you don't know 5. after dark - truly one (dj rap rmx) 6. the gimp e.p. 7. formula 7 and easy bass - essence 8. chimeira - deeper life 9. dj peshay - psychosis 10. zulu records 1 - living in style Snuggles Chicago Hardcore Authority 1. the gimp (proper talent) 2. harmony and xtreme (section 5 promo) 3. adam f - the bible (section 5) 4. ganja vol. 4 (ganja) 5. krome and time - ganja man (tearin test) 6. mb (splash white) 7. dillinja - you don't know (white) 8. doc scott - champion sound rmx (legend) 9. skanna - greatest thing rmx (skanna) 10. jj and 3d - flex (cha plate) Wisc Houston Roughneck Scout 1. dj rusde tox - with a 'k' (subliminal) 2. good love (white label) 3. sound bwoy (pin high recordings) 4. red rmx. - dj matt & dr. p (kjl) 5. honey love (white label) 6. music is the key - foul play vol. 4 (moving shadow) 7. g spot (white label) 8. heavyweight 2 & 3 9. taking over me - mystic (ktl) Tech137 Houston - Gabber/Ambient 1. acidopolis - acidopolis (killit) 2. lenny dee vs. dj paul - anti-procastination (rotterdam records) 3. chosen few - party! (mokum) 4. cybernators - funky tales (ruffneck) 5. ech heftag! - uit je dakkie (rave records) 6. wedlock - terradome (ruffneck) 7. rege - euforia (john doe) 8. ech heftag! - de haag hakke! (rave records) 9. signs of chaos - -killout- (dataflow) 10. cyanide - relatic (mokum) Casper BBC/Boston Hardcore 1. jimmy j and cru-l-t - take me away 2. ravers choice 2 3. seduction and dougal - better day 4. future primitive - lift me up 5. storm syndicut - hold me in your arms 6. extatic 1 - paradise 7. djs unknown vol. 4 8. ramos and supreme - knight raver 9. mercurial - feel the energy 10. dj seduction - sample mania Chris A./Mr. Yuck Houston - Tribal/Anthem King 1. freaky chakra - peace fixation (funk mix) 2. eon - a kind of living (the minimal man rmx pt2) 3. havanna - outland 4. the dub club - threat 5. planet of drums 1 6. candy rippers - (dj efx mix) 7. tom tombi - bad house music 8. tales from the woodshed vol. 1 - m.v.o.b III 9. cristian vogal - audio morph 10. tick tock - get on up\paradise

26 RD HOUSTON GALLERIA III 5175 WESTHEIMER #3350 • HOUSTON, TEXAS • 77056 (713) 623-4150 ::article taken from the 'face the music' section of 'request magazine' p. 16, November 1994:: British dance culture is changing again. With techno tracks regularly entering the U.K. charts, it's hardly surprising that a tougher, more urban dance music has sprung up to take techno's place as cutting-edge. Enter jungle. A harder offshoot of rave and ragga that's often viewed as Britian's sociological and musical equivalent to American hip-hop, jungle exists in a subterranean network of clubs and pirate radio stations. Although ravers such as the Prodigy and Orbital and ragga artists like General Levy are quick to acknowledge the presence of jungle rhythms and breakbeats in their music, true jungle is heard in seedy clubs in economically distressed urban areas of Britain rather than in the fields preferred by middle-class rave kids. Like early ravers, people who go to jungle clubs are there for the music, the soft drugs, and little else. There's no posing, and the multicultural working-class audience parties well after sunrise. Although the numbers of male and female club goers are relatively equal, the girls (dressed in clingy lycra-'n'-lace outfits) prefer to stay in the chill out room where cheery 'handbag house' pop plays, the boys make straight for the main room where DJs like Grooverider and DJ Rap spin test pressings of records they might have made that afternoon. "It's the quickest way to see if a track is going to work," says Rap. The jungle experience does not rely on the DJ alone. In clubs, DJs' sets are punctuated by the shouts and exhortations of MCs who, like those in ragga clubs, toast to the records and lavish praise when DJs do well. A good MC maintains the flow without interrupting the DJs' set. It's also the MC whose contribution is most responsible for the comparisons between jungle and hip-hop. Five-O, a well-known MC also heard on pirate radio station Kool, uses his time to talk about 'the peace, love, and unity of jungle.' Right now, this is as close as jungle comes to being political. Although jungle is popular as well as populist, don't expect it to hit the mainstream for a while. Pressings of jungle records are usually made for club play only, and the ambiance of the scene is difficult to imagine without the lights, MCs, and circling trails of smoke. In remaining independent and resolutely underground, jungle's vibrancy is assured, and it's reputation for fun and frenzy is unsullied. It's a scene where club goers adhere to the words of the MCs: 'love it!' --Susan Corrigan

For those of you who haven't found Jungle in Houston yet.....it's here! Thanks to Lord Vishnu and KPFT, Wisc got to play one track over Houston's airwaves. I was afraid that Vishnu would get massive bad vibes from his hip-hop audience, but it turned out great. About one minute into Code Red, people were calling the station asking, "What is this shit? It's total flava!" and "Where can I get this? The samples are mad!". The phone lines were lighting up, and to my surprise it wasn't all complaints. See, Wisc DJed between set ups for Killing Joke, and the crowd didn't like it at all (surprised?). The drummer and guitarist in Killing Joke love Jungle and specifically asked for a Jungle DJ to spin between sets--but the crowd freaked. It makes perfect sense though, considering that Killing Joke is Industrial and Jungle is just the opposite. It just wasn't the crowd's taste; but for some reason, Wisc loved it. Before that, Wisc DJed at an underground club on Thursdays called Laveaux's. The crowd was used to hearing hip-hop, ambient, trance, acid jazz, and old skool, so when Wisc dropped Gangsta, EVERYONE turned and stared at him. I didn't care that I was only one of three dancing my ass off though. We got bad vibes there, so Wisc decided to stop after a few weeks. But I think that we introduced several people to the sound, and got a few recruits. In fact, I know we got several recruits, because our weekly spot at Powertools on Fridays went from about 15 people the first weeks to an easy 50 just a few weeks later, and it's steadily growing. I think the mix of DJs Jetboy, Mr. Yuck, Wisc, and X-It draws a diverse crowd that loves the mix of flavas. So if you're yearning to hear some total in-your-face hardcore, this is where it is now. We have set up camp at Powertools on Fridays, so come out and hear the latest in London sounds. --Mello

Raving Internet Style Mello For all of you who are interested in r*** scenes all over the country, and even in other parts of the world, there is a chat line devoted to this information. People from all over the USA, Australia, England, Canada, and Asia log into hyperreal.com 7283 in order to talk about different aspects of the scene. Some may log in to find out about upcoming events, and others may want to promote or review events in their area. Overall, this chat line offers information about music, events, DJs, and anything that your heart desires to know about the scene all over the world. As you will find out after logging into hyperreal only a few times, daily topics may jump from record reviews, clothing gear, music making equipment, people reminiscing about the good ole days (like 1992). Most of the time, like every other chat line out there, it's a buncha hilarious people chatting about anything, everything and nothing. But it is very easy to find someone to talk about any topic you may have about the scene. If you are interested in just talking to other DJs, look for Dieselboy, Wisc, Snuggles, Nigel Richards, Tech137, Laura, Ian, and many many more. If you are interested in finding others who make music, look for Method1, Wesbert, Redshift, Bit, Kingsize, Joe1.8.7, and once again, many many more. If you are looking for love, please spare all of us vravers and hang at a local bar or something. But without fail, you will always be able to find someone that shares your interest in hardcore music or whatever fits your fancy. One warning to new comers. Channel one is rightfully called "the madhouse". At certain times of the day, as many as 35 people can be on one channel. One wonderful feature built into hyperreal is the ability to create your own channel and join others that share your interests. So if you want to connect with others, and gain knowledge about the scene all over, pick your channel, name it something that exemplifies your interest, and see who jumps on with you. A big thanks to Brian, Laura, Kurt, and Andrew for that option! For those of you who can't stand chat lines, you may also obtain information about the scene by FTPing or gophering to hyperreal.com. At these sites, you will find several directories including zines, images, discographies, and even .wav files so that you can listen to excerpts of music. The zines include articles, not just about hardcore, but also about trance, gabber, and acid house. The zines may also contain rave philosophy, reviews of events, notices of upcoming events, and in general, all aspects of the rave culture all over the world. These zines may be published on-line or may be zines you fine in print (like this one), so happy reading. The site also has many images of both vravers and art done by various vravers. Images often include shots from events all over the world. One interesting find on the ftp site is the .wav file put up by Bit of Induction. This file has excerpts from Induction's new tracks "Electrostatic" and "Attempt". Check them out! (hint): to log into the ftp site do "ftp hyperreal.com" then login anonymous. From the main directory you should be able to switch to the desired directory. Another option is to gopher to hyperreal.com, then use the mail menu to find your flavor. Both sites are very user friendly to make your net surfing easier. So surf around, and enjoy! Hardcore Net-style Snuggles Reprinted with permission from CHA #4 Finally the hardcore and jungle lovers on the Internet have their own forum, thanks to Dom. To subscribe, send an e-mail letter to "[email protected]" with the words "subscribe breaks" in the body of the message. Although the list has its share of idiocy, there is quite a bit of useful information (usually from the British users). American hardcore DJs on the list include DJ Wisc from Houston, Round Eye from South Bend, Snuggles from Chicago, and Dieselboy from Pittsburgh. The talk of course usually centers on the new tunes, and there are plenty of reviews to satisfy anyone who may be in the dark, so to speak. So give it a try if you want to get plugged into the future.

Houston's Original Bad Bwoys DVS1 & Wisc Tell All A warning to my readers. When interviewing Wisc, he was mixing the whole time. So if his answers seem choppy, concise, or arrogant, it's because he was only 50% with me, and 50% in jungle land. Also, when reading DVS1's answers, you may need a jungle to English dictionary. Please don't give up deciphering the words. Afterall, he IS an original bad bwoy junglist that deserves to be heard. MELLO: Just to make things clear to the readers, give me your definition of jungle. WISC: "Orgasmic (giggling), no don't put that in there please. Provoking. Can you skip to an easier question please? okokok Wikkid, jazzy, phunky sound for those who can truly appreciate music. It takes the body and mind to another dimension." DVS1: "Shit dat soundz like it's going so fast, yet so slow. Dem beats are crazee madd cut up wid percussions hittin in at unconventional times. The beats hit den dey seem to stop only to start again, while tha whole time tha bassline is drivin ya along. Dere is definately a lot ov attitude in it. My sista calls it "punk raggae". M: Both of you followed the same path from happy hardcore to jungle. Is this a coincidence? Or do you think that happy hardcore had changed or developed into jungle? W: "I wouldn't say that it developed from happy hardcore. I guess it's coincidence. It's more a fact that I heard something that I liked and connected with it. That's what's important for a DJ, to connect with the music, not to ONLY play what the crowd likes. A DJ has to enjoy what he/she's doing." D: "hmmmmmm....Happy to jungle, how bout jungle to happy wid a little bit ov jungle mixed in when I could find it jungle. I mean it all started in dat direction wid Project 1 (roughneck, cheeba, and a buncha othas), Krome & Time (manic stampede), Phuture Assasins (phuture sounds...I think), plus tonz ov whites frum back in da day...The correlation between da two would have ta come from tha sheer fun ov tha two. Tha producers made it as dance music in order to create a rush for those drugged out punkers, as well as tha straight lot. The change for me came bout from...the fact that the music kept gettin fasta and the only way ta make it sound slower was to use half beats and b-lines. It's alwayz been dere, it just seemz now it's comin full circle. Jus look at Rebel MC, he was out dere in tha beginnin an BAMM, his nappy head pops up once again. M: How do you feel that jungle is similar, or different from drum & bass? W: "It's pretty much the same cuz they use the same basic beat patterns. But the ragga samples truly make jungle stand out." D: "That one's hard cuz what I consider to be drum and bass is alot more than just drumz and bass, where in jungle dat's bout all ya got. Drum and bass iz very multi-faceted and includes jungle. One of da differences iz jungle cuts up da beats alot more, which causes

more machine gun scatters (if ya know what we mean). Alotta drum and bass is like spaghetti, damn strings all over da place. One more ting, jungle bass lines robs dem ragga b-lines, while most drum and bass has almost a hip hoppy b-line." M: What do you say to those who say that jungle is just a buncha rastafari buiyaka shit? W: "Fuck yourself...well, wait...lemme explain. That statement goes out to those who don't give ANY hardcore a chance. Those people need to open their minds and experience something new. To those that are interested in hardcore and say that, I say respect the music and the DJ, even if you don't like it." D: "I say, what's wrong wid dem dreds chattin away? Only problem I can see is with da rude bwoys poppin, but its justan attitude represented inna bad bwoy phantasy...it's all good. Buiyaka ain't no ting violent, it's a sign ov respect...a gun salute, much like ta hold ya lighta in de air...it's a sign dat yo system rams tha dance....a symbolizm of mad props." M: What's your prediction about the future of jungle in the United States? W: "I see the popularity of the music increasing. More artists will start making jungle inspired tracks. For example, I DJed for Soul Rebel (a hip hop/soul/funk inspired Houston band), and they definately wanted to hook up and make a jungle track. Look at Dee-Lite too. See, it's gunna hit more mainstream markets--maybe not now, but in the long run." D: "Da phuture of jungle, well I tink jungle and drum and bass iz gunna split. Drum and bass will be engulfed inta da ''rave'' scene, as deir answer to bring dis 'new craze of dance music called jungle' into deir culture. Jungl'll be partly engulfed by da jamaican sound bwoys runnin on deir systemz mixed in wid dancehall sets. It'll again go underground, this time da junglistic ballistics will get even mo hardcore and extreme." M: Any last comments or notes to the readers? W: "I wanna give shout outs to the CHA, to man like Roundeye, M-Press, DJ Dextrous and Rude Boy Keith, DJ Demo, Hyper Recordings, Shirley in London, Dub Shack, Killing Joke, Bomar Massive, to the man like Lord Vishnu and to all the hardcore junglists all over the planet." D: "Now what I wanna know is wid all da 'jungle' press, how come nuttin ever is said bout jungle? It's all focused on drum and bass or some interview wid general levy...da latter being almos da same as havin an interview wid a simple CD. Also, labels to watch out fo: 3rd party, kemet, ibiza, sour, greensleeves, tearin, and of course all dem slammin whites and one off presses floatin round everywhere." ATTENTION PROMOTERS & HARDCORE ENTHUSIASTS: If you'd like information about booking DVS1 or Wisc, or obtaining their tapes, please contact Mello at M.Press. Reviews of Wisc's two newest tapes "Spontaneous Combustion" and "Bass Fusion" are available near the back of the zine, with additional contact information. Introduce yourself to Houston hardcore.

London's King Among the top artists in London, you will undoubtedly hear about DJ Dextrous and MC Rude Boy Keith. Collectively known as Kings of the Jungle, this duo has taken the jungle scene by storm. Originally signing with Suburban Base, the Kings of the Jungle have started their own label appropriately named King of the Jungle. Recent releases such as "Loveable Pt. 2" and "The Horn EP" are characteristic of the sound you'll hear from these original rude bwoys. I recently rang up MC Rude Boy Keith at their studio to chat about tings in general. By no means is this a formal interview; it's simply two junglists exchanging stories and in general shooting the breeze. I had a great time on the phone with him, and decided to share these interesting stories, comments, whatevers with you. --Wisc According to rumor, your Kings of the Jungle label may be signing with Sony. Is this true? (laugh) I'm not sure where that rumor got started, but it's definitely not true. Right now we are happy with where KOTJ is situated. We would prefer to keep the records underground. How do you decide which tunes will be on Suburban Base vs. Kings of the Jungle? Well, with Suburban Base it was basically a three record deal. If we have tunes to put out, we would much rather do it ourselves. We have lots of things in the works right now. In fact, Dextrous (well, we) has a new label called Subliminal Records. Be on the lookout for tracks there. Are you currently out doing PA's? Locally, we will be at the big KoolFM birthday party and other places around the way. We're always out and about. Internationally, we're heading to Holland in a couple of weeks. We're also working on playing in Chicago sometime in the near future. Dextrous and I both want to get to the States more often. We would like to be able to come on a fairly regular basis. We want to bring some of the excitement we bring to crowds here in London to other places. That's what it's all about. Who do you rate as DJs and MCs? Right now, I would have to say Randall. He's doin' the hard-step, soft-step that really gets me goin. Hype is also mixing things up these days. But every DJ trying to keep it alive gets 100% respect from me. As for MCs - GQ. He's the only one who does it for me. What style of hardcore do you prefer? How about Dextrous? I like the tunes with heavy drum--treble rollin, breakbeat rollin. People like Metalheads,

4Hero, etc. Dextrous likes the jungle tunes. But we both like it all. We respect the music. In fact, of the 100 or more labels, no one is putting out tunes I think are shit. But there can only be one king of the jungle (laugh). What do you think about the ragga artists putting out 'jungle mixes' alongside their raggae tracks? Well, when we first started doin' it (making jungle tracks), they (ragga artists) all thought it was devil music. They didn't want to have anything to do with it. Now that they see an opportunity with it, they are jumping on the bandwagon. I don't want to talk bad about anyone because the records they put out are good. However, like I said before, I give respect to those who are trying to keep it alive. How do you feel about people asking you for information, like this interview for instance? I love it. I don't mind talking to people. People often think I like to talk a lot anyway since I'm an MC. I'm always willing to talk about the music, the scene, or just shoot the breeze with anyone. You see, when Dextrous and I started out no one wanted to give us a chance, or a second listen, so I empathize. Before KOTJ, I used to distribute with Rank, and when we decided to make our move, it was a help sorta thing. We got help from a few loyal friends. And ever since then, we've been trying to do the same for others. Where did you get the name Rude Boy? From Flint E of the Ragga Twins back in 1987. Back then, I had a lot of women. More than 7 for the week. So, he crowned me Rude Boy and the name has stuck ever since. What about samples and their copyrights? We try to clear samples most of the time. Sometimes there's just not enough time and we need to get the record out. Also, some people can be asses about it. For instance, we press 1000 copies of a record and they want 1000 pounds. That's shit. But I understand that the artist wants to grant permission. Like our mix tapes for example. I hear about people gettin copies of our tape and then turning around and selling them. Of course we wish they would ask for permission or something, but oh well. What's next for Kings of the Jungle? Right now, we're trying to put the finishing touches on some new tracks. I'll be in the studio tomorrow working on em. From the Horn EP, check out the remix of Salute the Kings due out shortly. One side is for the drum and bass crowd, while the flip is jungle with my vocals. Also, as a followup to Red, look for another wicked track from DJ Matt and Doctor P called Legend. (I heard these one over the phone and let me say, oh gosh--absolutely wicked!)

Available now: "Loveable Pt.2" - DJ Dextrous & Rude Boy Keith (KJL 03) "Red" - DJ Matt & Dr. P. (KJL 04) In the pipeline: "Salute the Kings (rmx)" - scheduled for release sometime before Christmas 1994. "Legend" - written and produced by the new-comers DJ Matt & Dr. P KING OF THE JUNGLE Also, hold tight for the first release in 1995 from the DJ Dextrous & Rude Boy Keith. It will be a track entitled "P.O.L.I.T.C.S." (Say no more!) For all your queries, letters of support and other information, write King of the Jungle at: c/o King of the Jungle 28 Avnue RD Tottenham London N15 Contact M.Press for stateside booking info. CALLING ALL JUNGLIST! DUB SHACK P.O. BOX 8106 WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091 USA

Bomar News Current II October 29th, Bolivar Island Hardcore Assault Leaders: a57, dieselMan, jetboy, mr. yuck, rotterdan, wisc After many attempts to give Houston a hardcore event at our favorite spot (you know where it is), the Bomar massive decided to step out to Boliver Island. Although Abiel had ventured out to the beach before, we thought the Halloween weekend would bring in a good crowd. The setting was perfect--cool night, sounds of the waves crashing into the shore, and plenty of room to set up camp. The only problem with the site was finding it. If you had never been to Bolivar Island before, it was a trek. Then, once you got on the beach, avoiding the hazards caused by the recent floods was more than enough to send ya packin. Big up to all those that listened to a freezing, glowstick-holding Mello and ventured on. Now, if you had been to any of the previous Bomar events, you were in for a big surprise. First, we went all out with the sound system, draggin a heavy load down to the beach. It was the return of the bass bins to a Bomar event, and bwoy, the extra subs came in handy when Jetboy and myself dropped those wicked basslines. Plus, Current II saw the largest crowd for a Houston (well, sorta) event in quite a while. It was estimated that 400+ showed up at the beach. The crowd was definitely ready for good tunes, good vibes, and good drugs. I saw a lot of happy faces that night and believe me, the rest of the massive experienced it as well. Current II also managed to bring some r*vers down from Austin and Dallas, so it was a milestone for us. The only sad note of the event was the exit from the Bomar massive by a57. This was to be the last time he would spin out and about for the people. He turned in a wonderful set that really showed his diversity--throwing down progressive house to hardcore. Maximum respect Abiel! Current III January 1995, To Be Announced Seeing the wonderful success of Current II, the Bomar massive are excited to bring you the third installment of our Current series. However, for this to take place, we have to see the demand. Our weekly gig at Power Tools has given us some hope, but we need more. If you are interested in putting Houston on the map, call us at the info line (713.709.3681) or contact M.Press and let us know. For those of you who might be worried about the cold, don't. Plans are in place to obtain the use of an indoor venue for your listening, dancing, and frenzying pleasure. Also, remember that we brought you Current II free of charge. Our hopes are that we can do the same this time, but a small donation may be necessary to help cover the costs. Peace!

EVENT REVIEWS FOR 11.26.94 Universal Love - Chicago Universal Love was the bomb. infuckin'-credible. It had to be one of the best parties in 94. Pros: the vibe was absolutely amazing main room was breaks/jungle almost all of the night wasn't busted astroboy spun breaks(!?!!!??) everyone was home due to xgiving break. Cons: way, way, way too many people at one point-axfixiating, body squashing chaos. I got really pissed and started practically throwing people out of my way. The space was still very decent, I have no quams about it (well except for the fact that it looked like a tornado hit in the space between the breaks and the house rooms...) Snuggles and Sniper were on at the same time...what the fuck? I think that Onionz, Felix and Mindrive should have been in the house room and JJ, Snuggles, and Smack should have been in the breaks room. I think going from Phantom 45 to Onionz was too big of a transition for most to handle-most either left, walked around looking completely disconcerted, or sat down. All the cons are purely opinionated and i doubt if they were felt by most if not all others who attended...rather insignificant points, also. overall the party was tha Mott's. (This review was given to me by Snuggles. The actual author of the review is unknown) Fiasco - Detroit Poorboy Productions presented the sound of the detroit underground: live digital/analogue integration by columbus' chillmasters: A.mbience R.ecovery S.ystem. OK, actually the site ended up being changed to the Packard building (on Concord off of Mt. Elliot). The site was pretty bare and stripped down: 2 sets of TTs (one for the main room one for the small jazz/slo breaks room), minimal sound system, and only 5 or 6 lights. They had black visquine covering two of the walls but it didn't help much, the room was COLD! BrrRRrrRRrrr! The event was $10 at the door. The DJ line-up ended up as follows: DJ Shake Mike, Huckaby Heckle & Jeckle (bileebob & paris--tag team), & ~sines. There was also Jazz/Slo breakz in an adjacent, smaller room. If you went to Fiasco for all the extras that supposedly go along with raves (ie. smart bars, fancy decorations/lighting, etc.); then you were in the wrong place. We are talkin Detroit minimalism at its best. But if you showed up to dance to some great music spun by some awesome DJs, then you probably had a great time. All the DJs had good sets; especially considering the sub-arctic temps (every time I looked up they were rubbing their hands together to keep their fingers warm, one even had gloves). So, I would say that overall, the party went off well. It wasn't meant to be some huge production, and it wasn't. Instead, Poorboy Productions put together a great little Detroit (very) underground party. -prefers to remain anonymous

Exodus - Houston This event was supposed to have 6 DJs and 5 live bands performing on 2 stages, but plans changed at the last minute. How last minute was it? Well, even the DJs didn't know the new location until arriving at the first destination. With the new location came problems with time slots. The new location, a field behind a warehouse, didn't have 2 stages, or room to separate the sounds of the DJs and bands--but it did have mosquitoes. So what happened? Well, some of the DJs simply didn't get to spin. And if you're a junglist and went to this event, you know that the one junglist DJ, Wisc, was one of the DJs that had to pass on their time So, as a junglist, this event was a real disappointment. If you just wanted to hear the awesome sounds of Mr. Yuck, Lord Vishnu, Sun, or U.N.T they definately performed well, as well as the Planet Shock and Soul Rebel crew. This event could have gone off great if there wasn't a location change because the vibes were positive and spirits were high. Thanks to the promoters for including a junglist DJ, but I have to give it a thumbs down. Better luck next time guys. Asphyxia - Brooklyn Hardcore Powerforce presented Asphyxia at the Breakpoint Tennis club. The space, lights and sound were awesome. The DJ lineup was classic; Lenny Lee, Rob Gee, Frankie Bones, Deadly Buda, Stroboscopic, with other Djs such as Narotic, Iceman, Tense, Scott Forbush, Sensei Ayoki, and Gonzo. Also live performances by Temper Tantrum, Desciples of Annhihlation, Metatron, and Sinister. At 10:30 when I got there it appeared that this was the rave to end all raves...the kind you dream about. Well, I guess I should keep dreaming! It was a little weird I thought when I heard "6 Million Ways to Die" before 2 am. I found solace in Frankie Bones' set though. He just totally tore the place up. Then around 1 am Iceman came on. Dreams started to shattered. He was just way off over all. I got some water and went back down to the dance floor where I heard some Mc yelling "this is motherfucking hardcore" every ten minutes. I decided that I agree with Frankie Bones when he opened his set at Motion by saying that the people at Asphyxia "were just too hardcore for me". --Celestial Divine Intervention - El Paso Universal Alliance brought us Divine Intervention. The initial dj lineup included DJ Sho from Indiana, Trance and Ron D. Core from LA, and Inertia from Phoenix, but due to health and other conflicts it was shortened to only Sho and Trance, plus Intensity from Albequerque, NM who showed up last-minute to throw down a wikked set. Locals Gravity and Reddmann also spun. The party finally got started just after 10:00, and the line of freezing kids started to flood in. The lights were still on, because of laser malfunctions, but everything was smooth once the music started. The dance floor was packed for the entirety of these two sets, but Sho's entrance got -everybody-moving. Intensity came on next with a trancy opening which soon exploded into jungle, then slowed to a chill-out exit that mixed perfectly with the next dj...Gravity. This local spun a fitting set of ambient and trance that pushed the party until dawn. I was very happy with this party, and despite a few difficulties, I think the crowd of 5-600 was equally pleased. El Paso has needed a party like Divine Intervention for a long time. --Merrick

From Coast to Coast Words from The Left Coast Mike Battaglia (Mikebee) If there's one word that describes The San Francisco Rave Experience(tm), it's 'house'. Some might venture to say it's 'funky', but I think 'house' is more appropo. Being a newly-transplanted East Coaster, I was eager to taste of the legendary SF rave fruit. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Up here, there are basically two flavors to choose from, 'house' and 'techno'. 'House' comes in a multitude of different styles - acid, disco, tribal, electro; but most often you'll hear the SF trademark: funky, groove-oriented and trippy house. The foremost purveyors of this are the Wicked posse - Jeno, Garth, Thomas, Markie et al, and they rule the SF rave mainstream, spinning very often and at high-profile parties (usually their own). Wicked throws a bimonthly (approx) self-titled party and are heavily involved in a monthly one called Come/Unity. The former is a babe-and-jock fest, more mainstream and popular amongst the club set. I tend to avoid this not for the crowd, but because the music bores me to death. The latter is a more raver-oriented party, with a better vibe. But, because of the music, I just don't go. Speaking of Vibe, that may be another catchphrase of TSFRE(tm). Every party I've been to, from free renegades on the bayside (courtesy of Sunset) to Wicked, has got a vibe. People having a good time. People who think TSFRE is the best there is. People who believe in the SF House Nation Under a Groove. And that's great, believe me. It does alot to see so many happy smiling faces on the dancefloor. If only the music weren't so bloody BORING. Fortunately, there are times of relief. Most notably the Friends and Family collective who throw the best parties in the city (keep in mind I've only been to one, though it blew my mind). The mood is e-friendly and excited and the music is fast. It reminded me of home - acid, trance, hard house, hardcore, breaks - I felt like I was back in NYC or Baltimore. A great old-style rave, heavy on the substance with high style as well. This is the time where TSFRE truly works - good music, fantastic vibe, great dj's...it's all you need. If travelling to SF soon, keep an eye peeled for F&F. Excellent DJ's on the 'techno' tip include Graeme, DRC, Christophe and Dutch. They're worth seeing at all costs. Other notable promoters here include Pacific Soundsystem, Full Moon Massive(wicked's monthly fmr's), Tribal Funk, Funky Tekno Tribe, and Cool World. The last two are of the 'megarave' variety; throwing ultra-mega-massive 5000 person parties with 50 dj's, lasers, 3 rooms; the sort of thing that everyone likes but noone admits to. San Francisco's House Nation has already experienced the massive commercialization of their scene; 4 parties every weekend, thousands of people showing up to see what the fuss is about. Some of the natives I know here have told me that the scene is at a 'low point', and I hope that's true. [incidentally, if this really is the 'low point', I can only imagine what the high point is like. wow.] If house is your thing, TSFRE is easily your scene. But if faster, harder and (dare I say) more melodic pursuits are what you're into, be wary. The vibe is in the right place, but the man on the decks has his hands in the wrong crate. Maybe,with a little help, the once-legendary SF scene will rise again.

At Least It's Over Jason/Method1 Writing about the East Coast scene wouldn't be nearly as difficult if there was some concrete place to start - an area where jungle is finally getting the respect it deserves, where it is consistantly on the main floor instead of being pushed to the back room. In a perfect world, jungle would be big here and this story would write itself. But in reality, the East Coast is a giant stirring from a great house-induced slumber; parts of the beast are twitching, but aren't yet moving in sync with one another. But, thankfully there are signs of movement on the (l)east coast. Very small and gradual so far, but the movement is definatly there. And it's about time. About this time last year things were different, drastically different. A typical event in the mid-Atlantic area (Baltimore, Washington DC, and Richmond) would go something like this: set after set of numbing progressive house, with the occasional trance when people were feeling wild-and-crazy. As one of maybe three hardcore dj's in the entire state of Virginia, it was all to easy to be ignored. Time after time I had promoters shoot me down simply because of the music I spun: "It's too fast" "No one likes that breakbeat stuff" "We want to keep the house groove for this party". Yeah, whatever. So what happened? Out of nowhere, New York hit the jungle tip HARD, with such unlikely candidates as Dimitry (from Deee-Lite) and Frankie Bones as supporters. A recent event there, Maskarave III, even had an all-jungle room (a first for the east coast). And elsewhere? After months of being fairly unappreciated, Pittsburgh's dieselBoy finally started getting the recognition he deserved. No longer merely tolerated, he proceeded to blow the roof off at Ultraworld's "Glow"; seeing that many Baltimore kids ripping it up to a true set was a sight to behold - it was beautiful. For the first time, Baltimore was hearing the real deal, and they responded in kind. Almost every major city on the east has been cultivating a small but strong jungle scene, like seeds just breaking out of a hard winter's soil. Boston has been one of the standouts, with dj's such as Overload, Jason Mouse, Casper, and many others. "Plural", a party which featured Overload and dieselBoy as headliners, attracted 600 people - an impressive amount for a home-grown event that featured jungle so prominently in it's lineup. Further south is Philidelphia and Pittsburgh. Philidelphia supports such up and comers as Karl & Kaos, the tag team combo that seems to be living on a perpetual sugar rush. Don't let their age fool you (they're 17), because they definatly have the skills to back themselves up. The Philidelphia area is also home to Jamie Myerson aka JLM Productions, Reinforced recording artist from....New Jersey?? Yep, it's true. The strange thing is that all of us (myself, Jamie, K&K) are from the same area in the Jersey suburbs of Philly...it must be something in the water, I guess. In Pittsburgh you will find dieselBoy and 187, manic jungle producer/performer. The Baltimore/DC area is fairly lacking in dj's though the general raving public seems to be locking into jungle at a fairly fast rate. The main dj from the area is Greg Sargant, who has somehow managed to stick around the scene through the prog house era. There has even been talk of an all-jungle event in the middle of DC, something that would be inconceivable just a few months ago. And Fever, the huge bi-weekly Baltimore club, is planning a "Jungle Fever" theme night for the first time in history. Even here in Richmond, where "breakbeat" was a dirty word, jungle has been gaining more and more acceptance. And now there are *two* jungle dj's in Richmond: myself and the vastly underrated dj Slant. Before I take up too much space and run amok all through the pages of this 'zine, I would like to say that the East Coast is so immense in scope that trying to compress it all into one column is damn near impossible. But one thing is clear: the least coast is no longer. People All Over, Listen Up! I know that there is no commentary about the scenes in the Mid-West, or about all of the other parts of the U.S. (or the world); therefore, I would love for anyone interested in hyping their scene to write me. I don't mean just huge scenes either. Tell us about your growing scene, or how the scene is out of control...whatever. Let others know how big this is!

Toys 'R' Us is the world's largest and fastest growing children's specialty retail chain in terms of both sales and earnings. At January 29, 1994, the company operated 581 toy stores in the United States, 234 international toy stores and 217 Kids 'R' Us clothing stores. Their sales reached $7.9 billion this year, an 11% increase over the $7.2 billion reported the previous year. I Wanna Be a Toys 'r' Us Kid Mello All the kids that have ever been to an event have seen an array of glow sticks, candy, water guns, bubbles, etc. Promoters spend hundreds of dollars making sure that their event is chock full of goodies. And why? There is an obvious fondness for these baubles. Sure some of you are thinking that it's all stupid. You're sick of having a whistle blown nearby your ears and if another person shoots you with a water gun, you're gunna do some Bruce Lee shit on them. But face it, these tiny treasures are a provided at every big event. And if they aren't provided, goers know that the event is on a BYOB (bring your own bauble) system. These baubles aren't just noise makers or lighting toys either. You'd be surprised at what is in those backpack. Let's find out... Ok, gather around all. Let's see what's in Timmy's Cookie Monster back pack. Item one: light reflective glasses, item two: light up plastic sword, item three: kaleidoscope, item four: high bounce ball, item five: dinosaur spark gun, item six: bubble gun. By now, all of the people that know Timmy are giggling (I hope). We giggle because he's like a kid with his portable toy box. But wait a second guys, we can't really say he's acting like a kid can we? After all, we're all decorated with glow sticks and have blue lips from the blue razzberry Blow Pops. And I have shoe lights for no apparent reason. *shamefaced* Actually, I'm not ashamed, or whatever I should be. And why am I writing about such a goofy topic? Well, the idea came to me when I was at Powertools. This female at the bar said to her friend, "Look at those stupid kid lights." Then she threw up on herself I think. I really don't understand this. Why say something like that? Is it stupid or immature to enjoy neat toys when you're above the age of twelve? These aren't rhetorical questions either guys. I want your opinions about this. I just can't understand why someone would say that. Am I missing something? Please help me with this. I promise to address your letters in the next edition.

Technical 'Itch Recordings is here! Watch out for the first release due around the 9th of January, I'll let you know if it changes. It's a 3 track pretty dark drum n bass E.P. under the name of Psychokenisis - The Secret E.P. It's distributed by Mo's Music Machine. The main track features samples from the film, THE UNHOLY. The cat number is TI001. -- Mark L. Caro -- [email protected] Technical 'Itch Recording Studio Birmingham, United Kingdom PGP 2.x Key Available on Request SOUND PLUS LP/12" Vinyl Compact Discs Jungle Breakbeat Trance Progressive House Acid Jazz Ron and Jackie Stein, Owners 1403 Westheimer Road Houston, Texas 77006 713.520.7323

Community Radio List for London (November 1994) For those of you who want the latest in hardcore, give these stations a listen or ring them at the numbers listed below. A lot of these stations have top London DJs and MCs, so you're in for a treat. The shows are mixed up and broadcast live. I personally know that Kool, Dream, and Eruption send tapes to the U.S., so check em out. Freq Station Contact Tel. Comments, Times, DJs, etc. 87.95 Energy 0850-209-322 Trance/Techno/Progressive 88.4 Unity 0345-333-111 Hardcore (5pm-1am) 89.4 Defection 081-528-9001 Hardcore/Garage 90.0 Shockin 0836-216-921 Hardcore/Jungle 90.6 Pulse 0831-232-906 Hardcore 91.0 Lightning 0831-639-302 Hardcore/Ragga 91.5 Mutiny 0836-376-677 Hardcore/Jungle (weekends) 92.3 Weekend Rush 0831-108-204 Hardcore/Jungle 94.5 Kool 0860-395-262 Hardcore/Jungle 95.4 Function 0831-210-777 Hardcore 96.6 Influence 0850-408-826 Hardcore/Jungle 97.9 Bassline 0860-500-478 Hardcore/Ragga 98.1 Freedom 0831-178-675 Hardcore w/DJ Flex, Chaos crew 98.5 Elite 0831-400-554 Ragga/Soul/Jungle (weekends) 100.6 Zone 0860-779-835 Hardcore (weekends) 102.9 Chillin 0850-902-600 Hardcore/House w/DJ Ruff Stuff 103.6 Flex 0956-242-292 Jungle (0956-550-632, 0374-837-149) 104.2 Crystal 0956-340-677 104.4 Impact 0850-907-696 Jungle (0374-858-725, 0956-353-072) 106.1 Scandal 0374-874-744 Hardcore (all week) 107.0 Dream 0831-187-370 Jungle/House (0585-664-856) 107.3 Transmission1 0374-899-146

Watch for Current III January 1995 dem Bomar Massive

until next time Before I go out, I really need to thank all of those who gave me full support and encouragement with my first zine. Mass props to: Wisc, Scott @ Dub Shack, Snuggles, All Bomar Massive, Method1, Mikebee, All my event reviewers...a big thanks!, Mark of Brain Records and Technical Itch, and YOU! M.Press Info: 1814 Sunset Houston, TX 77005 USA phone: (713) 942.8031 fax: (713) 664.7442 email:[email protected]