Tha Pride #2

tha PRIDE Bryan. Gee & Jumping Jack Frost also in this issue: Special K Skibadee A-Sides ISSUE #2 Free

DownBeat grooves and gear Vinyl of several different styles Jungle & Hip Hop, Skateboards & Accessories, & phattest urban threads available this far south, such as Caffeine, KingPin, Pimp Gear, Bug Girl, Fine & THC, and also DJ equipment & supplies. Down Beat Grooves & Gear 205 West Capitol Jackson Ms 39202 tel: 601.944.0010 fax: 601.944.0083

Pushing the Limits of Freedom, Individuality and Positivity GOTTA MOVE PRODUCTIONZ the underground support group http://www.gottamoveproductionz.com Contact: Houston: 713.867.9028 San Fran: 415.541.5672 New York: 212.465.2673 GOTTA MOVE PRODUCTIONZ Coming Soon: The return of Aphrodite alongside the Legendary Mickey Finn more T.B.A. also don't miss Live & Direct from Amsterdam X-trac's #1 production team D.J. Misjah and D.J. Tim proudly representing D.J.s MAIDAI & S.K. for booking inquiries contact Tina K: [email protected]

STEP UP SUPPLING HOUSTON'S UNDERGROUND WITH PHAT B-BOY GEAR OILS JEWELRY INCENSE FLIP SIDE RECORDS JUNGLE HIP HOP TRIP HOP FLIP SIDE RECORDS 2525 DRISCOLL @ WESTHEIMER 713.521.4510 FAX 713.521.4710 MAIL ORDERS WELCOMED

Note from the Editor... Thanks for the response on the premiere issue of Tha Pride. I think you will enjoy this one as well, packed with interviews, record reviews, scene reports and much more. Giving everyone a chance to represent their city, crew, or scene. It's time for Junglists everywhere to come together and push this thing we love to a new level. Nineteen Ninety-Eight is the year for this. With new stylz comin and new producers, there's no holding us down. Now when you read this zine you will find many wayz to help promote the scene (i.e. contact numbers, events, and promoters.) Take advantage of this information. Big-ups to everyone who has helped support and shown interest in this zine. (The Sound is the Music and the Music is the Feature.) [email protected] 713.866.6243 credits Editor: BMC Layout & Design: DVS1 Additional Design: Coppatop Contributing Writers: Honey Bee, Vishnu, Snuggles, Andy 2 Tuff, Hossam, Firewheel, Simone Scarena, Curly, Reakt, Timestretch Shoutz: Tha Purrin Lion Soudflex Crew, Dvs1, Reakt, Roll dj, Jetboy, Big Wes, Vishnu, Price, Zakoas, Audio 3, Vitamin A, Mc Gremlin, Han Solo, Vitn 23, Honey b, Nicky, Senth, Alisa, cris10, Marisa, Dan (Rawkus), Wendell (Sound Sphere), A-Sides, Special K, Skibadee, Becky (Full Cycle Crew), Anton(Mainsource), Freaky, Bryan Gee, Jumpin Jack Frost, Five 0, Gamall, DJ Ron, Monty, Ash, Marvin, SS & Warren G, Dynamite(flex), Paul(proh), Freedom, Micheala (Ruffneck ting crew), Gavin, Dj Red, Clayton, Dara, Joey, Casper, Method one, Snuggles,Agent 99. Flux, Curious, Rudy, Mac, Lion, Scotty, Crispee, Jeffee, Ruffneck, 3D, Protoculture, Slant (2Tuff), Twist1, Gracie, Seedless, Anderson & Dre (Matrix Crew), Chris & Grace (Kinetic), Austin Massive, Knuggs, Free Bass, GMP, Bizz atomic crew, JVC, TX Rvs crew, Oklahoma junglists,, Curly, Siren, Katy, Kathy, and every one else who's bumpin DRUM AND BASS. table of contents Well to tell you the truth the pages aren't exactly numbered so I'm just gonna run down what's in this issue... UPFRONT (Up to date info on what's going on in the scene) LADY JUNGLISTS (Reaching out to all ladies crew) THE SPOTZ (Clubs events and radio shows that you should be aware of) A-SIDES (Interview dealing with his plans for his new label) SPECIAL K (Interview with this burgeoning young star) SKIBADEE (Interview with one of KOOL fm's finest MCs) APHRODITE (Party review of his stop off in Houston) BRYAN GEE & JUMPING JACK FROST (The legends need I say more) TOP 10's (Top 10's from US and UK DJs) 97 REWIND (A look back into 97 with Djs charting the most influential tracks) RECORD REVIEWS (It's like the name says) MIX TAPE REVIEWS (Refer to above comment) SCENE REPORTS (Reports form DC, Chicago, Pittsburg & Houston) PARTY REVIEWS (Mainly reviews of New Year's Eve parties from 97)

Junglists, get ready as ninety eight starts a new year and a new sound. Kicking off this sound is the RENEGADE HARDWARE LP with the massive "System rmx" by Optical and Fierce which is due out at the end of Feb. EASTSIDE RECS. will be bringing you a remix album in May featuring all your favorite E-side tracks remixed by UK's top producers. FULL CYCLE drops "Mankind/Music First", a new Die+Suv 12", in late March. PROHIBITION starts the new year off with a new web site at www.homeeusers.prestel.co.uk/prohibition/ so you got to peep that. Bringing a new act to their label, Ice Minus rolls out TECH ITCH'S first release for the year- "Frostbite/Monkfish" to be released mid Feb. DOPE DRAGON gets ready to drop their long anticipated EP featuring "Dictation rmx/Mad Professor/Sgt. General/Blow the Fuse", wicked as always. Matrix debut on PROTOTYPE will be Mute '97/Convoy watch out for this one. V- RECORDINGS will release another Classic box set at the end of May. In domestic news FORTE drops their new track featuring US battle champion DJ SWAMP "Three Wheel Motion" out Jan. 30th. THRIVE Recs. in LA is releasing a new compilation "The Law of the Land" featuring all domestic artists like 3D, Pish Posh, Raw, and R Nortorious J. Also, hold tight for the Music Conference in Miami in mid March, with many stateside artists and promoters, along with UK labels and artists representin'. V has set up an American label through Concrete Jungle and will be releasing Dave Angel's mix of "Maintain" early Feb and part II of the V Classics domestic release on March 24th 98. Also, there are a few tours coming up. If interested contact 713.866.6243. Special K and MC Skibadee are doing a few dates in the states Feb 7-21. HARDWARE Tour featuring Future Forces, DJ Red, and MC Rage will be stopping somewhere near you in mid March. Contact Tracy at 416.620.4039. Dream Team is also doing a tour the same time, so try to peep them as well. MC Freaky of Hyper Records will be touching down in April. Contact Lion at 201.384.4404. Optical will be touching down in the 98 around April. Reprazent will be doing some dates in the year as well. L Double is planning another tour due to the great success of last year's. Aphrodite and Mickey Finn will be touching down in H-town. So big ups to all the junglists worldwide that represent in your area.

Lady Junglists Respect Due Every Time. In the Houston and Austin scenes, there has been an uprising of female DJ's. In fact, some lady junglists in Austin have recently formed their own crew, named "Roller Redified". Granted, the female DJ is nothing new, but at least in our scene this is a welcome addition to the already rich pool of local talent. Crunk, in October 97, featured an all ladies line up in the outside area. This was a breakthrough for some lady junglist who made their debuts at this party. Houston has always had a strong female following in the jungle scene even brought in special UK guest such as DJ Rapp (Proper Talent), and Dj Dazze (Ruffneck Ting). Of course, any time women begin to infiltrate a male dominated field, drama is bound to follow. There have been complaints that female DJ's will always be limited to playing side rooms. In all fairness, DJ line ups should be chosen according to skills, not gender. So far, this has been the case in our scene where many of the ladies are new to Djing. Another item of discussion is the feeling I have heard expressed that in a jungle room you can "feel the testosterone level rising". Some find this unappealing and believe an all ladies crew may help to balance things out. Although I am all for women making their mark in the scene, I don't see jungle as giving off a male OR female vibe. The music builds and with it the excitement in the room escalates. If this is the element that some believe is testosterone charged, then please don't take it away! I think I speak for many of the lady junglists when I say - "we like it hard!" As I mentioned before, the Lady Junglist, DJ is a new phenomena in our scene, so we haven't seen how it's going to work out between DJ's and promoters yet. I hope that women don't automatically expect to be slammed into the same "glass ceiling" we run into in the corporate world. Respect is earned, and in time the Lady Junglist DJ will be seen as a commodity instead of an oddity. In the meantime, I hope to hear fewer comments like, "this DJ is pretty good ... for a girl". One of the best things about being involved in the scene is freedom from stereotypes, discrimination, and the other evils of the real world. The music is and has always been the element that brings us together. Let's focus on making our scene grow and try not to get distracted by the things that will inevitably tear us apart. by Honey Bee

check out tha spots Friday • Got Bass? This started last fall and brings together dj's from Purrin Lion and Protoculture. It's a nice underground event on the laid back tip with drink specials. Hosted by Gracie (Counter Culture/Public News) $2 cover. Dial 869.jane for line up. • Friday night mix show 91.7 FM 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. (713.527.4050) Hosted by the Plastic Division bringing you everything from hard techno to experimental trip hop. Also, special guests from Houston's finest jungle dj's. Been running 2 years strong on Rice University radio. For info contact 281.586.2116 • 107.1 fm - The Womb Friday nights, 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. South Beach Florida WOMB is netcast in RealAudio at www.thewomb.com. We also log in to Vrave during the show, so people can chat with us while they listen to the RA stream, give shoutouts, ask for rewinds, etc. • Club SOME 2700 Albany Houston's longest running underground dance club. Featuring 2 rooms of pure bass with DJ Leroy on the main floor spinning house and Purrin Lion's Zakoas playing drum and bass and trip hop. Call 713.529.3956 for more info. Saturday • Absolute Jungle This event happening twice a month with resident dj's BMC, Roll DJ, and UNT, as well as special H-town guests. Also, hold tight for special out of town guests. This one is for all the massive in the 281, 713, 409, 210, and 512. $5.00 for 21 and up, $7.00 for 18 & under. Located at the Waxx Musuem downtown Houston 1601 Leeland @ Crawford. Call 713.866.6243 for more info. Sunday • Phutteristic Bluez Residents: Casper, Timestretch, Al Fougy, G-White, Static, & Mike Spearz. Every Sunday @ The Spot - 1270 Boylston Street, Boston 18+ with proper ID - Admission: $8 - Doors open @ 10 p.m. MAIN INFO: 617.728.1446 or [email protected] Monday • Konkrete Jungle New York City's first and best night of drum & bass. Top DJs and special guests. Now at Mantra every Monday. Tuesday • NEXT STEP Philadelphia's only weekly jungle party. Every Tuesday at Club Skyline, 12th & Arch Sts., Philadelphia PA 10 p.m. - 3 a.m., $5 before midnight, $7 after, 18 to enter 21 to drink. Residents: Method One, Kaos, J-Smooth & special weekly guests. For updated lineups and information:

(215)552.8815 or www.jersey.net/~method1/nextstep.html Thursday Beat Camp Aural Adventures for the jungle enthusiast Every Thursday night @ 615 Washington Ave. - South Beach Florida. DJs: Dai, Marco, Tea Farmer, grrl13. Mic pilots: Innervolt and Wavelength. 18 & over, $5 cover One offs Aqua Boogie '98 Brought to you by Groove Nation Productions on Febuary 28th @ Garabaldi's (Houston, Tx.) Featuring in the jungle zone: Dizzy (Protoculture), Roll DJ (Purrin Lion), Bass Agent (seedless), BMC (Purrin Lion), Zakaos (Purrin Lion), SDF3 (Protoculture), and Siren (Rollaz Redefined), Bad Boy Bill (ESP Recs.), AJ, Chris Anderson (Crackhouse Recs.), and special tag team sets by Steve Sheffield/Turbo Tim, Kung Fu Pimp/R-sin, Empress Groove/Shaun D. Deja Vu Brought to you by the bad bwoy Gotta Move Productions crew. Houston, are you ready? This time around it's Mickey Finn and Aphrodite a.k.a. Urban Shakedown, more to be announced. Zulu 4 For four years straight, Freebass Society has brought you the biggest Mardi Gras parties, jam packed with the biggest names in the scene. This year features Phantom 45 (Subbase USA), Dieselboy (611 Records), Casper (Strictly Jungle), 3D (Forte), Raymond Roker (Urb), Kise (Massive), alongside Purrin Lion Soundflex Crew DJ's DVS1, Reakt, Roll DJ, and BMC in the jungle area. Tekno wise you have the ones like Rabbit in the Moon, Green Velvet, Derrick May, Derrick Carter, Jeno, Carlos, Witch Dochta, and Stryfe. With a total of 5 environments (you know it's going to be phat) located at the State Palace Theater, 1108 Canal St. New Orleans Mardi Gras (2.21.98) for more info call 504.840.4112 PLASTIC DIDIVISION A FULL SPECTRUM OF EVENTS FOR CONTACT INFO 281.586.2116 BRISTLE VIC VEGAS MESTIZO PHLID FREQUENCY MODULATION 91.7 F.M. FRIDAY NIGHT MIX SHOW 2200-0100

inside the a-sides A-side has been into producing for over ten years. With 200 releases under his belt, he continues to push drum and bass to new limits. His label Eastside records was started in early 97 and already has twenty releases. With a new Eastside LP coming out in May A-sides is also getting ready to do a tour in the states in April. Stopping off in Atlanta, Houston, and then off to the east coast to give Americans his style of UK drum and bass. So sit back and learn about how he progressed with the scene and what to expect from the Eastside stables in the nine eight. How long have you been producing drum and bass? • I've been producing drum and bass for 10 years. Actually, been doing stuff on vinyl since about 92. Were you into dj'ing first or production? • Djing, yea I'm an ol' skool hip-hop head. Where was the first place you spun? • Nowhere famous. We used to do these house parties and stuff. The first club I played was The Berrick Mana and that's like they used to have Frankie Bones and Lenny D, back in those days. How did you get into production? • I used to play the drums at school, and then I was introduced to production by my uncle. He's actually a reggae artist called Jah Free. He had his own studio, so I would go down there and he taught me a few things. And I just took it from there. What's your favorite piece of equipment in the studio? • At the moment it's got to be the E-MU and I also just got a digital mixing desk as well, Yamaha. How did you hook up with Metalheadz? • That was from Randall. Yea coz I work with Randall a lot and we didn't intend to do the track for Metalheadz. What it was is someone told me Goldie was setting up this label and it was going to be for drum and bass from all the world. Because the other guy I do the sci clone stuff with is from New Zealand. So I thought yea we got a little angle there, so I passed it on to Randall and said can you play it for Goldie and he went hype when he heard it. That was "OD" actually, so we did "Melt" after that. Is there a certain tune you did that you like more than the others? • I would have to say no to that. What labels have you worked for so far? • Well, obviously Eastside, Fuze, Mac2 (which is Randall's label), Genetic Stress, Splash, Metalheadz The Underground, Reel to Reel, IE rec. Strictly Underground, I used to do a label called Boom Blastic Plastic another label called Rollin rec but we only put one release on it. Quite a lot of labels there, huh? Do you have a criteria for what tunes come out on what label? • I did … Well, if I do an intelligent tune it goes to Gentic stress or Bear Nessesties. The jump up stuff goes on Eastsides and some hard ones as well. And the extremely hard ones go on Fuze. The more deeper ones not only hard stuff I still like the hard intelligent, you know what I mean, anything that's out there I want to but on fuze but the run of the mill jump up goes on Eastsides. (ed. What's this kid on about?!?) But at the moment there's not a lot of people doing jump up. I'm trying to find a new direction for Eastside, you know. It will be like.. you like say V you know it will be on that tip. I still want the beats the hip hop vibe but not as cheesy as it used to be. Not that we had any big cheeser. What labels do you plan to work for in the future? • We are doing something for Metalheadz, a release for Mercury, a Sci Clone release for V, a jazz rolla, Mac2, Eastside, and Fuze. Also, I'm trying to sign an album deal this year. There is also a remix album for Eastside dropping in May. Twelve new remixes from undercover agent, Facs, the guys from Beeswax, Randall, Kenny Ken, all doing remixes of tracks we've put out. What artist are you working with in the 98? • Elements Of Noise just gave 4 new tunes, fot embee, Dcruze, Special K

trying to get Optical or Matrix to do a remix for Fuze. What do you look for in a tune as a dj? • Nice production. I like all kinds of tracks. I like things that are good to mix through and rollaz as well. Everyone always says the rollaz are the best, but I like the really deep stuff and I like technique programming as well. But I tend to think that stuff is not really to go off to in the club or mixing. But some is! Things you can remember a track by production the main one I look for. Do you go into the studio with a certain sound or idea of what you are going to do? • No, it's just freestyle. Yea everything just comes to the top of the head. What do you think of mc's? • They're good in small doses. They're good live club and all that. On the radio it can be a bit overpowering sometimes. But then again there are good mcs and bad mcs. Good mcs are always good and they know when to talk and when not to talk. But when you get other mcs that just go on all of the tracks. You know what I mean. You go out to hear the music, don't you? It's all about the music. Any particular mc you like working with? • Yea, Fatts. Other mcs I rate are GQ, Stevie Hyper... anyone who knows when to shut up really. Have you ever played outside of the UK? • Yea, I played in Norway, France, New Zealand, and I'm working on going to Germany. You are doing a little tour in April in the states. Are you looking forward to it? • Very much so. Everyone's been telling me it's going off, yea? Got about 6 confirmed bookings and still working on some. Also Canada as well. It's going to be done separately so I can get my visa. What should the kidz in America expect to hear from you? • I'm yet to know what people are into out there. I'm gonna come with like not a lot of jump up. A lot of beatz, I'll be bringing beatz. When I play anywhere you know I bring jump up intelligent. I play across the board at the end of the day. Have you heard anything out of the states you like? • Haven't heard much. Everyone keeps telling me about Kingsize and R Notorious 1. Actually the only thing I heard was the SS and 3D thing, but I'm up to hearing some stuff. Shoutz All your crew, MK2, Viv and Evan in San Fran, Bigfoot in DC, Ian in Boston, all the eastside artists and fuze artists the lady like Lou and 48 sonic pressa and the New Zealand drum and bass, anyone who's making tunes.

This twenty two year old Dj/producer gets the crowd rolling every time with his crowd friendly tunes and bubblin bass lines. Special K has done tracks for Proper Talent, Lowkey, Back to Basics, Thunder, Trouble on Vinyl, SUS, and Terrin Vinyl in the last three years. He has been with Dj Rap's PROPER TALENT label for the past three years and is now branching off to do his own thing. He has teamed up with D-Cruze from Sub Base and they plan to drop a new label in late March. Since working with JOKER on the "Switch rmx" he has been doing engineering work with Joker labels (Switch/Da Lick). Owner of Vinyl Conflict , one of London's best rated record shops, and producing all the time he still finds time to come over to the states to do a few dates. Houston, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York crews are going to witness Special K alongside MC Skibadee. So let the pressure roll when Special K's in da house. (Oh my god) DANGER! How did you get into the drum and bass game? • I've Been into the music since 1990. I decided to take it further so I opened my shop (Vinyl Conflict) in 1994 and it has progress from there. Were you into dj'ing first or production? • Dj'ing Where was the first place you spun? • At the Crest club in Leysdown for promoters called Phaze 3. How did you get into production? • A friend of mine was already working in a studio, he invited me down to see what went on. We made a couple of tracks togther (Special K and Ruffcut). Then I purchased my own studio 2 years ago. What's your favorite piece of equipment in the studio? • My chair (Fuckin standing up!), No really it's the akai sampler. What parties have you played? • Desire, Hysteria, Heat, Atomics, Steppaz, Oscars, plus many more I can't remember. Any plans for your own label? • Yes, myself and D-Cruze (Subbase) are planning to set up our own label in March. How did you and D-Cruze hook up? • To be honest I can't remember, but we have been friends for about 4 years now. What is your next release? • A tune called "Destruxion" on True Playaz. What labels have you worked for so far? • Proper Talent, Lowkey, Thunder, Trouble on Vinyl, Back 2 Basics, and Tearin Vinyl. What labels do you plan to work for in the future? • My new label, True Playaz, and Urban Takeover. Are you still going to do work for Proper Talent? • No Why did you decide to leave proper talent? • I felt it was time to move on. What do you think of mc's? • I like Mc's who work for the crowd, not for themselves. Any particular mc you like working with? • Yea, I really like working with MC Rage and Skibadee. Have you ever played outside of the UK? • Yes, Germany, several places. What do you have planned for the future? • To make lots of money and be successful in what I'm doing.

mr skibadee One of Kool FM's finest. Skibadee has been in the game since late '94. One of the first places he played was Jumpstart (Electrybe). "This was at the Glass Club". He got his inspiration to go public with his skillz " after seeing other teenagers just like me smashing it on the mic...made me think I can do that too (even better)". Before he was into Jungle he fancied Hip-Hop, Ragga, Soul, and Rare Groove. Now you know where he got his lyrics and his style. He feels Kool FM is where he got his break where he chatted alongside Dj's Wildchild, Ash, Brockie, and the rest of the Kool FM crew. Skibadee likes working with other mc's that have a similar style to his. Some of his favorites are Stevie Hyper D and Det. Some of the production projects he has done are "The Fever" cd where he and MC Det tore it up with Brockie on the decks. Dream Team has even scooped him up for the tune "Deal with the Matter" released on the Joker label. He is getting booked for every major event in London and is planning to go back to America. He has a stateside tour coming up with Special K in February '98. They will be stopping off in Houston, San Fransico, Pittsburg, LA, and NYC. His advice to aspiring bedroom Mc's would be, "don't give up, keep your style original, don't try to be somebody else and remember patience is the key". Skibadee would like to send shouts out to everyone he knows. WARNING! ALL JUNGLE MIXTAPEZ DJ FLUX BREAKBEAT DEMOLITION UFO TETRAHEDRON PACIFIC MADDNESS R.A.W., CRS?, MACHETE, FLUX, RINSE, STAREYES EXCLUSIVE TITLEZ ALSO IN STOCK: DJ 3-D, JASON MOUSE. WE ALSO STOCK IMPORTED TAPEZ FROM THE UK-- MANY MORE ON THE WAY, SO CALL FOR REGULAR UPDATEZ. WHOLESALE & MAILORDER INQUIRIEZ TO PH: 415.332.5800 XT 515 FAX: 415.553.3916/431.7967 EMAIL: [email protected] red tape

Night of the Living Bass Heads Gotta Move Productions Houston TX 3rd of January 1998 This one was massive! 900 people piled into the Waxx Museum for a night of pure bass. The sound was pumped to the maximum in both areas. The techno tent went off with Mike Dearborn (Chicago), Houston's Chris Anderson, Bryson, Fusion, and Steve Sheffield. Inside the main room, D-panic started off the night playing some nice breaks. By the time Purrin Lion dj's Audio 3 and Zakaos took the stage the crowd was thick and hype. For two hours straight Audio 3 and Zakaos played on four turntables, giving you the many scratching techniques of the soundflex. With 3 mics hooked up, you had mc's Swift, BMC, Vishnu, Nimo, Tygrenno and out-of-town guests Bill2 and MC Duh dropping mad lyrics. As the crowd thickened, the steppa'z kept it hype while waiting for Aprhodite. Unfortunately, the crowd was too big and the fire marshal was called in. Everyone had to leave the building to be recounted. Surprisingly, it didn't take too long and the powers that be let us keep going - much respect. So then it was time for Urban Takeover's Aprhodite, who dropped some fresh plates and kept it extra hype. His first tune of the night was "Bad Ass rmx" and from that point on the crowd went crazy. Massive screaming from the rewind hornz crew, whistle crew, everyone was moving. Aprhodite's style is one for the dance floor, and the massive never let him down. Two hours of pure dub plate pressure dropping the "Five on it"rmx and Flip Squad's "Dangerous rmx". It was time for Purrin Lion's, the don himself, DVS 1, ran the dance taking it way back with Mickey Finn's rmx. of Summer Breeze from 93 then rollin it out with Pulp Fiction. MC Duh provided the lyrical flavor. All in all, it was a good party! Big up Houston for representin!! 4FRONT The freshest supply of UK Drum 'n Bass in the US Complete selection of white labels, promos and new releases every week! MAIL ORDER TODAY 1-888-79-DANCE 617-236-0335 4Front Records 279, Newbury Street Boston, MA02116 HTTP://www.4frontrecords.com

MUROA FOR HIRE tha purrin lion sound flex crew for booking info contact: 281.546.9745 http://www.t1.com/purrinlion djs: • Audio 3 • BMC • DVS1 • Jetboy • Joel Alamo • Lord Vishnu • MC Gremlin • Price • Reakt • Roll DJ • Vitamin A remixers: • Coppatop • DVS1 • Jetboy

Bryan Gee started off in a reggae sound system and promoted for "Rhythm Kings" when he met Frost. When Bryan hooked up with Roni Size, he was introduced to Krust and both Gee and Frost were into what Krust was doing. So Jumpin Jack Frost and Bryan Gee co-founded V-recordings back in '93 and have continued to bring drum and bass to new levels. With 26 releases so far on V, they even started up Philly Blunt and Chronic, bringing the sounds straight from the streets. In 1996 V brought home the Best Label Award at the VIP awards, a huge accomplishment for both Gee and Frost. And don't forget the Mercury Award for Artist of the Year was given to Roni Size, someone they helped bring up. Leviticus "The Burial" was an anthem in '94 on Philly Blunt and was produced by Frost who is currently working on a solo album for '98. Bryan Gee continues to DJ every week at the Movement, one of London's hottest weekly events, and all over the world droppin the most up front tunes in drum and bass. Getting ready to release the second part of V-classics in America Bryan Gee and Jumpin Jack Frost take time out to tell the masses what they're about. What things were you into before you got involved in the music? • I've been into music ever since I was 14, you know what I mean? From house back in the day to acid to hip-hop, rare groove . . . I like all! How did you and Frost hook up? • Just being from London you know, we kind of hung out with the same people from day one. We grew up together and that's that. What made you want to start your own label? • Roni and Krust used to bring us tapes and we were really into it, so we decided the time was right and we went with it. I believe that was 91-92 something like that. What was your first label? • V from day one, it was always V. What was the first release? • Roni Size ep "Made to Fit" and a Krust ep. How do you decide what tunes to release on what label? • Well with V you know it's a V record by the vibe you get from it, know what I mean? Philly Blunt is more from the streets you know, Hip-Hop sample, Ragga, Soul what ever is from the streets at the time. Whatever is running pure quality on both labels. Any plans to start any new labels? • No all our concentration will be going towards V. But we will do something on Philly which has been absent for about a year now. What is the name of your American label and how did that come about? • Well Philip from Ultra contacted me and I liked what he was saying and we came to a deal from that. The V album was released in America but we split it into 2 parts. The first set has been released and V Classic 2 will be released in March, with new tunes by Scorpio, Krust, and Ed Rush + Optical. Whose idea was it to get Dave Angel to remix "Maintain"? • Well, he was around back in the day and we still keep in touch. He's a really nice guy and we always felt he would be a good person to remix one of our tunes but the time was never right until now. Any plans on using any American producers? • Sure, if I heard something I was into. What new artist will the V camp have this year? • Well, more tunes from the original V crew. Also, Ed Rush and Optical, Ray Keith, Andy C will be doing something for us soon. We are concentrating on the next V album Planet V. What is the name of your club night in London? • Movement at Bar Rhumba, on Thursdays where you will hear it all man. Not too many promoters try and mix it up so that what we do

we represent all styles of drum and bass. Who has played there? • Grooverider, Ray Keith, everyone. The thing I try to do with the club is have every kind of drum and bass represented. You know, you have kids who say I'm into hardstep, techstep, dark, jump up, you know. It's silly really to label things like that, because you can have some boring jazzy stuff or some shit that makes you feel like you're in heaven, or some evil dark stuff that no one will dance to. But then you can have a tune with a dark feel to it and it's pure energy. You know what I mean. So I try to have it across the board at the club. Bryan, you recently did One in the Jungle on radio 1. Do you like doing radio? • I love radio, man. I have been doing pirates for about 13 years now. Every Sunday I do Kool FM, one of London's top pirate stations. How would you describe your dj'ing style? Are there certain things you look for in a tune? • Anything that makes the women move. You know what I mean? Pure dance floor bizness. Also, when you see Bryan Gee you know it means exclusive, pure 10 inch press. What's the average time you keep a tune on plate? • No amount really. Just depends on what's going on with it, trying to decide what label to put it on or things like that. When did you meet Krust and Die Suv? • I met Roni and Krust first. Die and everyone was there, just hanging out in Bristol back 91 I think it was. At the time, how was the Bristol scene different from London's scene? • London is a town, where Bristol is more country. It's slower, but at the same time Bristol has a scene going on. The only difference is that they were a bit slower. Where have you played outside of the UK? • Everywhere, man. Did Japan last month, America, Canada, all over Europe. I tell you what - I'm going to Russia in a few month's time, St Petersburg, Moscow. To me that's like I have to scratch my head on that one, and think has the music really reached there? Australia, Singapore, it's everywhere. Reprazentz is coming over in '98. Any plans of coming with them? • Yea, we will do the Planet V tour with them in March. That kicks off on the West Coast after the convention. Have you heard any tracks from the states that you've liked? • Not yet. I haven't heard much yet. Somebody said they were going to give me some tunes last night, but I didn't get them. I got a few last time I was here, but I didn't hear nothing on them. But everyone's working anyway. For some it's only a matter of time, isn't it? The only tune I will rinse from someone I don't know is by this guy named Fulsh from Germany and I've been rinsing them, man. Where have you played in the states and what did you think about it? • Everywhere been good, man. We been West Coast, East Coast, DC was phat, Boston, did Science in LA, San Fran. Philip was alright. Toronto has always been phat! What do you have in store for 98? • Keep rollin, man. Planet V album that is going take up most of the year, bring back Philly Blunt, you know we are going to spend so much time on the road as well. You know I am coming here once a month doing this Twilo thing. Big ups to everyone out there in the US, man. You guys got it going on, yea. Watch out - we'll be back every month, man. Too many people to mention but yea respect to Ultra and Formula.

Future Forces Inc. (Hardware Records) 1. Genoforce/ "The Germ" /Renegade Hardware LP 2. Future Forces & Nico/ "The Chase" /Saigon LP 3. State Logik/ "Funk 100" /State of the Art 4. Future Forces & Kane/ "Morpheus" /Renegade Hardware LP 5. Ed & Optical/ "Funktion" /V Recs 6. Kane/ "System" (Optical Remix)/Renegade Hardware LP 7. Future Forces/ Strontium Jazz (Dillinja Remix)"/Renegade Hardware LP 8. Shogun/ "Together" (John B Remix)/Renegade Hardware LP 9. Future Forces/ "Riot in Lagos" (remix)/Language 10. Dylan & Danny Breaks/untitled/Droppin Science IQ Collective (Trouble on Vinyl) 1. Genoforce/ "The Germ" /Renegade Hardware LP 2. Goldie/ "Temper Temper" (Grooverider remix)/London 3. DJ Red/ "Enta da Dragon" (remix)/TOV 4. Andy C & Shimon/ "Terraform" EP/Ram 5. Mastermind/ "Shaft" /Renegade Recordings 6. Future Forces/ "Strontium Jazz" (Dillinja remix)/Renegade Hardware LP 7. Dylan/ "Kombat" /Unknown 8. Krust/untitled/unknown 9. Ed & Optical/ "Alien Girl" /Prototype 10. IQ Collective/ "Velocity" /TOV 3D Forte Recz (Chicago) 1. Herbie Hancock/ "Rock It" (Grooverider remix)/dub 2. 3D and Snuggles/ "Template" /dub 3. Nasty Habits/ "4 da Cause"/Reinforced Sampler 4. Krust/ "Warhead" /V Recordings 5. MA4/ "Bull Terrier" /Formation 6. 3D and Snuggles/ "Clones" /Forte 7. Flow/ "Smoking Section" /Ghetto Safari 8. Cybotron/ "Light Years" /Prototype 9. Fierce Remix/ "Quadrant 6"/Audio Couture 10. Q System/ "Three Wheel Motion" (Kid Entropy vocal mix)/Forte dub DJ Snuggles (Forte) 1. Faith No More/ "Ashes to Ashes" (Dillinja Remix)" /Slash 2. Doc Scott/ "Swarm" /Metalheadz 3. 3D & Snuggles/ "Clones" /Forte 002 4. John B/ "Slamfunk" (Remix)/New Identity dubplate 5. Ed Rush/ "Sabotage" /Metalheadz 6. Andy C & Shimon/ "Terraform" EP/ Ram 7. 3D & Snuggles/ "Template" /Advance 001 dubplate 8. Nico feat. Makai/ "Omen" (Remix)/No U-Turn 9. 3D/ "Cairo" (Snuggles Remix)/Stepwise 004 dubplate 10. Doc Scott/ "4 Da Cause" /Reinforced Bill Riley (Protocol) 1. DJ Die/ "Autumn" /Philly Blunt plate 2. DNA/ "Mechanix" /Dope Dragon plate 3. Bill Riley/ "Stick to ya Guns" /Protocol plate 4. 3 The Hard Way/ "Come On" /Dope Dragon plate 5. "Mean Streets" /Protocol plate 6. DJ Krust/ "Dumbbell" /dubplate 7. J Raq/ "Waiting for the Bass" /Full Cycle plate 8. Gus/ "Head" /dubplate 9. "The Edge" /Protocol EP 10. Secret Weapon/ "Fast Forward"/ Protocol 07 Ruffneck (Ruffneck Recs) 1. Kingsize/ "War Games" /Runninz 2. Ed Rush & Optical/ "Funkster" /V Rec. 3. Splash/ "Babylon 98" /Juice 4. Doc Scott/ "4 Da Cause" /Reinforced 5. Jeffee/ "Like Dis" 6. Kingsize/ "Surge" /Runninz 7. Future Forces/ "Dead By Dawn (Remix)" /Hardware 8. Undercover Agent/ "Oh Gosh 98'(Mampi Swift Remix)" /Juice 9. DJ Red/ "Enta Da Dragon (VIP Remix)" /TOV 10. Timestretch/ "Kollaps (VIP)" /Advance Starchild (Substance Crew) 1. Tribe of Issachar/ "His Imperial Majesty feat. Top Cat" /Congo Natty 2. Acetate/ "Spirit" /Labello Blanco 3. DJ Nut Nut/ "Take Control (ANKH Mix)" /True Playaz 4. DJ Red/ "Enta Da Dragon (Tekken Remix)" /Trouble on Vinyl 5. Mampi Swift/ "The Sna" /Charged 6. Jungle Brothers/ "Jungle Brother (Urban Takeover Mix)" /Gee Street 7. DJ Ron/ "Something" /Picasso 8. Coaxial/ "Freebassin" /Rinse Out 9. Slice /"Razor" /Lowkey 10. Unknown Artist /(Collusion Promo 15) Matrix (Metro Records) 1. Ed Rush/Untitled/Metro 2. Matrix/ "Gap the Mind" /Metro 3. Optical & Ed Rush/ "Alien Girl" /Prototype 4. Grooverider/ "The Crow" /Higher Ground 5. Optical/Untitled/Virus 6. Flytronix/Untitled/Moving Shadow 7. Ed Rush & Fierce/ "Locust remix" /Prototype 8. Convoy - Matrix/ "Mute 12" version/Prototype 9. Herbie Hancock/ "Rock It" (Grooverider remix) 10. Goldie/ "Mother" /London Records DJ Lurch (Five Times Music, Ruffneck ting rec) 1. Various Artists/ "Breakbeat Sampler, Vol. 1" /Breakbeat Culture 2. Ice Minus/ "Frostbite/Monk-Fish" /Tech Itch Recordings 3. Substance/ "Own Way/Get Down" /Ruffneck Ting Recordings 4. Ed Rush & Optical/ "Funktion/Naked Lunch" /V Recs 5. Ambisonics/ "Nyquest" /Flex 6. Prisoners of Technology/ "Tha Boogie" /Fresh Kutt 7. Technical Itch/ "Virus Remix" /Audio Couture 8. Secret Methods Vol. 1/ "Domain/Raw Data" /Tech Itch Recordings 9. Click N' Cycle/ "Things are Changin'" /S.O.S. Com 10. Various Artists/ "Inside Out" LP/Hard Leaders DJ Freedom (Ram) 1. Origin Unknown/ "Sound in Motion" /Ram dubplate 2. Shimon & Andy C/ "Terraform" EP/Ram 3. Peshay/ "Miles From Home" /Mo Wax 4. Ed Rush & Optical/ "Funktion" /V recs 5. DJ Freedom/ "The Zone" /Ram dubplate 6. Doc Scott/ "Swarm" /Metalheadz 7. Optical/ "Bounce" /31 8. Undercover Agent/ "Slaughter" /Juice dubplate 9. Optical/ "Shape the Future" (remix)/Metalheadz 10. Decoder/ "Vapour Dub" /Hardleaders

BMC(Purrin Lion Soundflex/Tha Pride) 1.Andy C & Shimon/"Terraforms EP/ RAM 2.Mampi Swift/"The One"/ Charge rec 3.Ed Rush + Optical/"Funktion"/V Recs 4.Optical+Fierce/"Systems rmx"/Renegade Hardware test press 5.Netherlands/"Amsterdam"/Country Series 6.Krust/"Warhead"/V recs 7.Nasty Habits/"4 Da Cause"/Reinforced 8.Genotype/"Tech Jazz"/Renegade Hardware 9.Tekniq/"One Style"/Formation 10.Genotype/"The Germ"/Renagade Hardware Dj kola: Seedless (top 10) 1) Mr. Freeze/Bustabus (Joker) 2) Jungle Brothers vs. Aphrodite: Jungle Brother ( Gee Street) 3) Roni Size: Brown Paper Bag full rap (Talkin Loud) 4) Da Dogz: Dog Style 97 (Smokers Inc.) 5) Berlin Connection: Safari "800 Days" (Smokers Inc.) 6) Substance: Own Way (Ruffneck Ting) 7) Decoder: PGM 5 (Tech Itch) 8) Substance: Get Down (Ruffneck Ting) 9) Click'n Cycle: The Chamber (emotif) 10) Eskovah: Night&Day (Colour Stone) Code Blue (JVC Minneapolis) 1.System rmx/Optical+Fierce/Hardware 2.Funktion/Ed Rush+Optical/V rec 3.Five tones/Undercover Agent/Juice 4.Terraform/Shimon Andy C/Ram 5.Another Classic/Trend+TNT/Live rec 6.2 degrees rmx/Trend/Live rec 7.Anthem rmx/Trend/Live 8.The Don/Foundation 9.Basic Rules/The Return/Kemet 10.The Cutz/Cool Hand Flex/ 2 note rec Unknown Soilder (Vinyl Syndicate) 1. DJ Die/ "United Future Organization The Planet Plan" (remix)/Talkin' Loud 2. DJ Slip/ "Change of Fate" /Vinyl Syndicate 3. The Vagrant/ "Time" /Fuse Recordings 4. DJ Krust/ "Warhead" (steppa mix)/V Recordings 5. Code of Silence/ "Omerta" /Vinyl Syndicate 6. Roni Size/ "Brown Paper Bag" (vocal mix)/Talkin' Loud 7. Unknown Soljah/ "The Shocker" /Vinyl Syndicate 8. Ed Rush & Optical/ "Funktion" /V Recordings 9. Klark Kent/ "Man of Steel" /Vinyl Syndicate dub 10. Hype/??/Tru Playaz DVS1: (Tha Purrin Lion Sound Flex Crew) 1) "The Germ" Genotype / Renegade Hardware LP 2) "Strontium Jazz" Future Forces (Dillinja RMX) / Renegade Hardware LP 3) "Music on my Mind" Adam F (Krust Rmx) / F Jams 4) "Funktion" Ed Rush & Optical / V Recordings 5) "Terraform EP" Andy C & Shimon / RAM 6) "The One" Mampi Swift / Charge 7) "Untitled" D&C (DVS1 & Coppatop) dub 8) "Who Can Draw" Pascal / True Playaz 9) "4 da Cause" Nasty Habits / Reinforced Sampler 10) "What Does Your Soul Look Like?" DJ Shadow (Peshay RMX) / Mo'wax The Coppatop (Tha Purrin Lion Sound Flex Crew) Essential Listenin in no order. 01. G. Money - falling down (Integral Records) 02. Dance Conspiracy - dub war (XL recordings) 03. Kemet Crew - vibe out (RCA records) 04. One True Parker - Bubble Gum (Ray Keith rmx) (??) 05. Coppatop - Amber/Rake (remix no.2 dubplate) 06. Rude and Deadly - Mash Dem Down (smokey jo VIP remix) (rude and deadly) 07. Criminal Minds - Baptised by Dub (White House) 08. Induction - Electrostatic (Orbitrecords) 09. Secret Squirell and AJ Flex - Come Rudebwoy rmx (Bogwoppa Records) 10. Drum Driver - Skyy (Unity Records) 11. DVS1 and Coppatop - Michaels Choon (soon to be remixed) Curious (Tonz of Drumz/Herbn' Music, LA) 1. Tech Itch/ "Virus"/ Moving Shadow 2. DJ Shadow/ "What Does Your Soul Look Like?"/ Mo'wax 3. Kapricorn/ "Comin Down"/ Urban Flava Promo 4. Dom+Matrix/ "The Vandal"/ Moving Shadow 5. Az'Real/ "Bubblin' Irie"/Gyration 6. Cyborgz/ "Feet First"/Smooth Promo 7. Crs?/ "Away with the Rain"/ Herbn' Music (Plate) 8. More Rockers/ "Bongo Music"/ More Rockers 9. Crs?/ "To live and Never Die"/ Tonz of Drumz (Plate) DJ Die (Full Cycle) 1. unknown/ "Solar"/Philly Blunt 2. Swabe/ "Liquid Air"/Dope Dragon 3. Andy C/ "Dub Plate" Ram 4. J Raq & Panni/ "Wait for the Bass"/ uknown 5. Scorpio/ "Progress"/Unknown 6. 3 Way/ "Come on"/Dope Dragon 7. Krust/ "Jam"/ dubplate 8. Mask feat. Bigga Star/ "Splurt"/ Dope Dragon 9. Roni Size/ "Bruce Lee"/ Unknown dubplate 10. Scorpio feat. Leonnie/ "Underneath the Moon"/ Unknown dubplate

ninety-seven rewind After the commercial success of '96, the jungle industry took tings to a new level in da nine seven! Producers took jungle to new realms by putting more music into drum and bass and giving it more than a hip-hop sample with some played out jump up beats. It was time for a change, so using ads in all the magazines to tell everyone their future was dark, '97 took off. The leaders were still the same; just a new game using tekno sounds and taking the bass as low as you can get. This opened the minds for many in America, but in London speed garage was blowin up all through the year. Overall, '97 was a good year for junglists everywhere. More units were being sold per records and the respect was being dropped to the fullest. Mid year Roni Size went home with the Mercury Artist of the Year award. This was a huge step forward with more people accepting drum and bass all over the world. Established labels dropped new ones like Fuze, Break Beat Culture, Country Series, Under Fire rec, and Pain to name a few. Still many great tracks were released throughout the whole year and loads of albums. To kick off '97, Ram gave you the "Speed of Sound", pushing the boundaries with production featuring tunes such as "Lunar Bass" and "Orange Sunshine". Then the guys who ran shit in '97, V, dropped the V Classics album with favorites like "It's Jazzy" and "War and Peace". And who can forget the Unified Colours of Drum and Bass by DJ SS with the whole Formation Crew representin. Ganja Crew came correct with their New Frontiers E.P. Teebone launched his Strictly Business compilation featuring artists like Randall and DJ Rap. In the fall it was time for the long anticipated TOV lp with the likes of Kane, Future Forces, and Special K givin' it to ya' in true TOV fashion. Metal Headz dropped their Platinum Breakz 2 with the Blue note crew in affect. Reinforced gave you "The Beginning of the End" with a nice Nasty Habits tune. Decoder came with the distorted soundz on the Decoded EP. Penny Black also dropped their first full length. So I guess you can say 97 was the year for everyone to drop lp's. What do you think 98 will bring? Instead of going into all of the singles that came out in 1997 we are going to take a look at a few dj's top picks for the year.

Jumping Jack Frost (V Recordings) "It's Alright" Nu Yorican Soul / Talkin Loud "Warhead" Dj Krust / V Recordings "Jazz" Reprazent / Talkin Loud "Hi Potent" Represent/Talkin Loud "It's Jazzy" Roni Size/V-Recording "Funktion" Ed Rush+Optical/V Recording "Soul in Motion" Krust/V Recording "Miles from Home" Peshay/Mowax "Impressions" Fused Up/Catch recordings "Brown Paper Bag" Represent?Talking Loud BMC (Tha Purrin Lion Soundflex, Tha Pride) "Danger" Special K TQV recs "Tha Funk" Mystic Rinse Out recs "Kennedy" Majestic 12 5HQ recs "Silver" DJ SS Color series "Acid Track" Dillinja Pain recs "175 volume1+2" "Saturday Flex" L Double Labello Blanco recs "Unlock the Secrets" Concept 2 Ram recs "Plague that Never Ends" Ganja Kru Parousia "Warhead" Dj Krust V-recs "Signal-Activate" Phat Traxx "It's jazzy" Roni Size/V rec "Electrics" Roni Size/Talking Loud Starchild (Substance Crew) Roni Size "It's Jazzy" (V) Adam-F "Circles" (Andy C Mix) (F-Jam) DJ Krust "Warhead" (Steppaz Mix) (V) Reprazent "New Forms" LP (Talkin Loud) Dr. S. Gachet "Remember the Roller" Remixes (AMR) L Double "The Saturday Night Flex 97" (Labello Blanco) DJ Hype feat. MC Fats "Peace, Love, & Unity" Remix (True Playaz) DJ Sappo "Ding Dong Bass" Remix (Rinse Out) Swoosh "Ya Rockin" (Back2Basics) Ellis Dee feat. MC Fats "97 Style" (Collusion) Vitamin A (Tha Purrin' Lion) Pascal n Phantasy/Terradaktil (Future Forces rmx.)/Frontline recs. (DJ Hype mix)/Just For You London/London Some'ting Scorpio/Troubles/V recs. test Tribe of Issachar/Wardance/Congo Natty Decoder/pgm5/Tech. Itch Substance/LF Ant/Ruffneck Ting Recs. Majestic 12/Kennedy/5hq Majestic 12/Resonant Evil/5hq Unknown/Rumble/White Havok/Cyclone/24k Ruffneck (Ruffneck recs) Tech Itch - Circuit Breaker(Peshay Remix) - Tech Itch Krust - Warhead - V Rec. Ny Connectz - Drum Hit - Area51/Paragon Roni Size - Brown Paper Bag - Talkin' Loud Substance - Lf Ant - Ruffneck Ting Roni Size - Share the Fall(Grooverider Jeep Mix) - Talkin Loud Dillinja "Acid Trax" Pain AndyC "Recharge" Ram Krust "Soul In Motion" Full Cycle Hype "Plauge That Never Ends" Parousia/True Playa'z Method One (synthetics productions, next step, philly) E-Z ROLLERS "retro" (moving shadow) DJ CRYSTL "mind games" (good looking) ATLANTIQ "midnight ride" (dubplate) INTENSE "eastern promise" (diverse recordings) SEBA & LOTEK "universal music" (good looking) CARLITO "cascade" (moving shadow) METHOD ONE "distance" (plate) ATLANTIQ "perceptions" (plate) PHD & MC CONRAD "presence/reminiscent rhythms" (ascendant grooves) PSY-CLONE "melt" (metalheadz) Reakt (Tha Purrin Lion Soundflex Crew) Krust "Warhead" V rec Grooverider rmx "Share the fall" Talkin loud IQ collective "Mode 1"+remix TQV Dj Kane "System"+rmx Hardware Optical "Shape the future"+remix Metal headz Mampi Swift "The1" Charge rec Roni Size "Brown paper bag"+remixes talking loud Ed Rush+Optical "Funktion" V rec Various "V classic" V rec Hype "Plague that never ends" Pariousa Concept 2 "No Mistake" Ram Special K "Pressure Roll" Proper Talent Dj Kane "Definition/Yeah Yall" TQV Scoprio "Trouble" V rec Origin Unknown "Circles" '97/F-jams Nasty Habits "Shadowboxin" 31 rec Lemon D-Dillinja "Acid Track" Pain

record reviews • Substance "Own Way/Get Down" (RUFFNECK TING RECS #11) "Own Way" brings you some ol' funk shit. It strums in with a nice guitar lick, then explodes with a swirling bass line. Markee drops a solo project on the flip. Get down to the laid back saxophone with the illest bass line. • MA4 "Step Into Our World/Bull Terrier" (FORMATION RECS #12075) Something for the hardstep crew with nice steppa beatz and twisted bass lines. Rinsing out dance floors everywhere with the step into our world sample. In keeping with MA series, the dog barks and the bass drops with some crazy b-line bizness. • DJ SS "Symphonic/Lost in New York"(NEW IDENTITY RECS#6) These are the first tracks in 2 years SS has released under his name. Both come on strong with some evil strings and dark building sub-bass. This one's for the headstrong crew! • Prisoner of Technology "Tha Boogie/Breakdance" (FRESH KUTT RECS #5) "Boogie" starts with some recycled beatz all the way up to the first drop "When it comes down to it, what is there to be scared of?", then some crazy analog bass. "Breakdance" is a nice rolla. Both tunes go a little sample crazy. This one is for the hardcore jump up crew. • Kemet Krew "Dangerous/MC Tune" (KEMET #16) "Dangerous" uses a nice female vocal and a nice distorted bass line. MC Tune gives you the steppa bass, then a nice angry bass line that's pure energy. A good release for the ol' skool crew. • Level 3 "Contamination/Living Machine" (LIFTIN SPIRITS RECS #19) Using the well known bass of the Ram stables, "Contamination" uses strong vocals straight up to the bass. "Living Machine" is the one for me with it's evil strings and rolling bass - pure energy. • Netherlands "Amsterdam/Closer to Your Dreams" (COUNTRY SERIES #4) Formation Crew does it again with this nice jump up tune. "Amsterdam" uses a nice half beat all the way up to the drop, then pure bass line bizness. "Closer to Your Dream" is one for the rolling crew with reverse bass lines and some pretty strings to get you moving. • Eps & 2 Hype "Funkdafied/Keepin' It Real" (URBAN TAKEOVER) One more notch under this label's belt. You know tha formula - straight up dance floor bizness. "Funkdafied" just builds up the vibe and rolls out with chopped up breaks and vocals complete with the trademark drum rrroooolll before its acidy b-line kicks in. Anyone who came out to see Aphrodite in Houston (January '98) should recognize this one. "Keepin' it Real", which is my favorite of the two, comes in with a rollin' intro and more of a tearing style b-line. 1, 2, check it out. Also, be on the lookout for "Five on It", forthcoming on the Aphrodite label. It's sure to become an H-town anthem! Reakt • DJ Hype "Legalize" dubplate This one's a pure rolla for the rollers, if you know what I mean. Smooth rollin' beats with a nasty, dirty, but very funky live slap bass sounding b-line, and some very refreshing cymbal crashes. The legalize sample sets the theme, and although I'm not quite into that, I still have to say it's dope, no pun intended .. Reakt • Tekniq "One Style/911" (FORMATION 12076) We been waiting on this one for about a year now. "One Style" starts with some nice steppa beatz with a cut up sample provided by Krs-1. It has some nice twisted bass to keep you jumpin'. • Ed Rush/Optical "Funktion" (V RECS #26) This is Ed Rush and Optical's debut release on V Recordings. This one creeps in on an eerie vibe with a funky little guitar riff that continues to echo throughout the tune as the beats then proceed to set the pace and the monster bass comes in to take it away. Destined to become a favorite cuz that riff is sure to get stuck in your head. Reakt • Technical Itch "Watchout/Virus" (MOVING SHADOW - AUDIO CULTURE #101) "Watchout" is one of Moving Shadows' best tunes in 97, remixed by Danny Breaks. It comes on deep with some nice production all throughout the track and a bass line that will knock you on your back. "Virus" is where it's at though. Definitely on the lines of the original, but with an acidic bass line. This one's for the headstrong. • DJ Red "Dynamics/Enta da Dragon" (tekken rmx) (TOV #12030) How long have you been seeing things about Dynamics? Well, here it is with some building beats, then some slammin bass to get the massive movin. "Enta da Dragon" rmx is on the same lines of the Atomic Music Vinyl, Cds, & Mix Tapes FEATURING Jungle Trip-Hop House 3207 Montrose Houston, TX. 713.529.2269 FAX 522.2633 We also carry a wide selection of turntables, mixers and DJ accessories including Record Bags, Slip Mats, Turntable Coffins, as well as Cartridges and Needles.

HUNAB KU Global Underground Music Wholesale Distribution Drum 'n Bass, Trippy Techno, Psychedelic Trance, Hard Trance, Eclectic 1028 Folsom St. San Fran. CA 94103 Voice: +1 415 431 0950 Fax: +1 415 431 7967 mailto:[email protected] http://www.hunab-ku.com resonance = information original but with more kung fu samples and some analog bass. Nice one from the TOV circle. • Tripwire "This Way/The Sting" (PROHIBITION RECS #7) Pure rolla bizness right here. "This Way" starts off with a wicked piano riff and then some sub sonic bass. "Sting" is more on the deeper side of things with filtered vocals and a bubblin bass line. • John B "Secrets Remix" (NEW IDENTITY dubplate) The original was one of my top tunes for a long time and the remix doesn't disappoint. It has the same hard beats as the original with the samples reorganized, a long dark intro, and some nice analogue bass filtered all over the place. It adds up to a stormer. Timestretch • John B "Starburst remix" (NEW IDENTITY dubplate) This is actually the 4th mix that John has done, a very techno-y tune with a catchy bass line that always hits the spot on the dance floor. A big favorite every time it's dropped. Timestretch • Krust + Roni Size "Maintain/It's Jazzy remixes" (Ultra rec #20) Well "Maintain" gets a new work out by Dave Angel deep on the jazzy side with nice strings and the vocal provided by Krust's girlfriend. "It's Jazzy" if you don't know by now has been rinsin for about a year and half now pure steppa tune with the pulp fiction bassline. Album and EP Reviews • DJ Suv "Free Beat" EP (FULL CYCLE) This is a four track EP served up in true Full Cycle style. Suv comes on the experimental tip with minimal beats and an excess amount of bass to keep the dance floor bubblin' nice. Track listings are "Output" (which was a big dance floor hit), "Free by Four", and my favorite "Standby on Stage", all with a sort of dubby sound. A strong release for his solo project debut. Reakt • Various "Quantum Mechanics" (RENEGADE HARDWARE LP) Just what you have come to expect from this label, top notch tunes on a 5 piece vinyl set. From Genotype's "Tech Jazz" all the way to John B's "Together rmx" each tune is produced to the max. Featuring other artists like Tech Itch, Future Forces, and Optical and Fierce do the "Systems" relick. This one's going to be massive. • Various Artists Metalheadz box set This is a five record set including tracks from Optical, Ed Rush, Digital, Hidden Agenda, Doc Scott, Photek, Lemon D, Dillinja, and Dollis Hill. Each artist, with the exceptions of Photek and Dillinja, has an up tempo and a down tempo track. Highlights include "Sabotage" by Ed Rush and the much anticipated "To Shape the Future" remix by Optical. All tracks are exclusive, and the first 10,000 sets are to be packaged in a special metal box. So all you collectors better hurry. The next lot will be in cardboard. Reakt • Enforcers LP sampler Nucleas & Paradox/Nasty Habits "Past Present & Future/4 Da Cause Rivet 555" Some innovative beats start off "Past Present & Future" as the distorted bass line gets the techsteppa movin. "4 Da Cause" comes on strong from the steppa beats intro straight to the acid b-line to get any dance floor hype. Then if that wasn't enough the amens come in to rinse it. • Terraform EP Andy C and Shimon "Terraform/Primal Fear/Mutation rmx/Climate Control" This is a nice release as usual from the Ram camp. It has been floating around on test press for a while, and now it's out in full release. "Mutation" rmx has been my favorite with a funk slap bass to get it rollin then the Ram bass, we have all come to enjoy so much comes driving in. All the tracks are tight on production and with a lot of strings and effects to keep the head rocker's rollin. • John B "Visions" (NEW IDENTITY RECS) This one came as a mixed cd and I must say this is the sound of the future. Giving you two different styles to choose from, disk one concentrates on the jazzy side of things, and disk two is dark and more on the analogue tip. The jazzy sessions are fresh and push the limits of drum and bass. But the darker stuff is really where it's at with energy and dance floor bizness. This is an excellent debut from one of London's top producers. • V-Classic 2 Lp Various Artist (Ultra rec.) Follow up to the domestic release of Classic volume 1 in America. The second volume has the remaining tunes from the uk box set and a few more exclusives. "Maintain" gets more jazzy overtones by Dave Angel. Dillinja's "Soul Control" is featured along with tracks by Scorpio, Ed Rush+Optical, Bill Riley and the massive tune "Warhead" by Krust. V will also be touring to kick this Album off so watch out. Send Vinyl for Review to: Tha Pride 1617 Fannin Apt. 2604 Houston Tx 77002 U.S.A.

mix tapes • UFO/TETRAHEDRON UFO comes straight from the Phunckateck crew with this one. He begins both sides of the tape with some smooth intelligent intros and the beats come rollin' in. Nice and aggressive drum and bass all throughout the tape with tracks like Scorpio's "Trouble", Dillinja's "Acid Track", and even breaks down to a nice KRS-1 accapela. That's when the b-boy style starts taking affect and the tricks begin. UFO flipz it for real. Link Ups 415.863.4237. • Timemestretch/Live in Session Coming from the original Boston crew, Timemestretch delivers the ruffneck sounds of 97 with mc's bill2, casper and mike d providing lyrical style to the mix. What can you say about the mix? Nice cutz from side to side and never too long on the ride. Dropping some great tunes such as "No Mistake" on Ram, Ganja Krew's "Plague that Never Ends", and Dj Red's "Energizer" VIP. There's also some dub plate pressure like "Enta Da Dragon" Vip, and Dynamics. Bullet Proof provided some innovative packaging with a recycled cardboard case. For more info contact 617.429.8664 or [email protected]. • Suiko/Dhyana Atlanta represents to the fullest with this one. Suiko gets very, very dark and ruff with this 60 minute session. It starts off with a nice filter build up straight to some angry bizness. Dropping tunes from Optical, Decoder, Dillinja, and Bill Riley, what else is there to say? Oh yea, did I mention this ruff and tuff tape is by one of the Southeast's finest Lady Junglists? All you guys better watch out! For more info contact 706.549.8636 • R.A.W., CRS?, MACHETE, FLUX, RINSE, STAREYES/Pacific Maddness In a nice 6 tape package this one comes straight from Cali and features both San Fransisco and Los Angeles dj's. Each tape has a diffrent style, diffrent tunes, and straight quality all the way through them. R.A.W. demostraights his scratching styles over some of jungles best tunes of 97. Matter fact every tape is runnin, rinsin out every where you better go find it. Contact Red Tape @415.332.5800 • Lion/Forever This one from Nyc's Lion (Nutty Recz) giving something for everyone to get in to. From Congo Natty to Division 1 by Scorpio it gives you pure energy. The mix is on time with great selections. Contact 718.875.3724 for more info. • Kathy Russell/Raw but Better From Austin's newest crew, Rolla'z Redefined, this one is nice and smooth. It's a 90 minute journey through rolling beats and female vocals. I'm not sure where the raw comes in, but it has a great laid back vibe to it. Be on the look out for this crew and big ups to all the Lady Junglists. For booking info contact 512.660.7731 • Krispee (Sharp as a Razor Krispee vol 7) Nice one with Oklahoma's hardsteppa at his best. Krispee rinses some of 97's tuffest tunes throughout the mix, dropping phat tracks like Concept 2 "No Mistakes", "Da Dogz" and Level 2's "Contamination". This tape is smooth on the mix with some nice b-boy style scratching. All in all I would have to say nice tape! No info on who to contact! • The Law of the Land (Excursions in Drum and Bass) Thrive records presents a phat domestic compilation featuring DJ 3d, Epsilon, Dune, and the Dog Eat Dog tune (with RZA). It's nice to see American producers starting to get their tunes out more. Giving you a variety of drum and bass from Westside Chemicals "Phibsborough", a nice jazzy track, to "The Entity" by 3D, a raw tech steppa. Contact Thrive records 7750 Sunset Blvd. LA, CA 90046. This compilation was sent to me in tape format. That's why it's being reviewed in this section. • Mestizo (UNO) This one comes from one of Houston's newest jungle dee jays from the Plastic Division. I must say a good tape from someone who has been spinning for only a year. He drops some nice tunes like "Jungle Brothers" (Aphrodite mix), "Piper" Grooverider mix, "Netherland" and "Warhead", just the way we like it. Jump up crew this one's for you, pure dance floor bizness. It also has some nice rollin tunes like "Summer Madness". Contact 281.586.2116 for more info. send tapes for review to: Tha Pride • 1617 Fannin Apt. 2604 • Houston, Tx 77002

ABSOLUTE City of Houston JUNGLE A bi monthly event at Waxx Musuem 1601 Leeland @ Crawford Resident DJ's BMC + Roll Dj Featuring special guest from Purrin Lion Sound Flex Crew Rebel Crew, Protoculture, Seedless, and Rolla Redefined Also holdtight for special uk guest touching down through out '98. Call 713.866.6243 for line up and dates 80 PROOF PRODUCED AND BACKED BY HOUSTON'S UNDERGROUND IMPORTED ABSOLUTLEY WICKED NUTTY DISTRIBUTION 114 KING STREET #1 BROOKLYN, NY 11231 TEL: 718.875.3724 FAX: 718.624.6632 AMERICA'S ONLY ALL JUNGLE AND DRUM & BASS DISTRIBUTOR CARRYING ALL THE TOP US & U LABELS, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIV US DISTRIBUTION FOR LABELS LIKE CONGO NATTY, INSTINCTIVE, REALITY TRUE VIBES, VIBZIN ETC.. WE ALSO CARRY A FULL ASSORTMENT OF MIX-TAPES BY ALL THE TOP DJ'S IN THE US & THE UK MAILORDER AVAILABLE THROUGH NUTTY RECORDS AT (201) 384-440 To advertise in tha PRIDE Contact BMC @ 713.866.6243 or email: [email protected] [email protected]

Scene Reports Chicago scene report By Snuggles 1997 was a banner year for drum & bass in Chicago. Several successful and on-going club nights emerged, as well as numerous one-offs. The established names in the scene reached legendary status around the country, while a whole new group of up-and-comers exploded onto the scene. Production wise, Chicago garnered status as home of some of the most innovative creators of drum & bass in the country. A visitor to Chicago can find something to do on almost any night of the week. The foremost club event for the mature (21+) crowd is Dubshack's mythical Brockout! nights at the Liar's Club, held monthly on the 3rd Thursday. The one-year anniversary of the Brockout! club night will be held Jan. 15th and will feature the resident Chicago heavyweights Phantom 45, 3D, Snuggles, Ry N, and Chamberweed. Over the previous year, Brockout! was the site of some of the greatest moments in Chicago's storied drum & bass history, including the old school Brockout 101 night in May, Dextrous's visit in April, the Moving Shadow tour in September, and the Kultbox release party in June. Dubshack's # is 847-604-1983. Another club night for the younger set (18+) is held every other Friday night at the Uptown Cultural Center, thrown by the originators of Chicago's drum & bass scene, Ripe Productions. Every event includes a stacked line-up of Chicago's up-and-comers as well as out-of-town guests. Residents include fresh talent such as Flow, Ry N, Phix, Glyde, and others. Ripe's # is 773-509-6453. For those who want a gentler atmosphere, check out Chrome at the Mad Bar on Monday nights, put together by Innovations, Inc. Expect a laid back atmosphere and mellow grooves laid down by residents Hunter AD and Justin Tewn. On Saturday nights, a new venue has opened its doors thrown by Ascii Productions. I haven't checked it out yet, but heard the vibe is running, so give Ascii a ring @ 312-432-0668. On the airwaves, the Strictly Jungle show continues to broadcast every Friday night from 11pm til midnight on 89.3 FM. The show, the longest running drum & bass program in US, first began in January of '95 and is still runnin' it red. Residents are Snuggles, Casper, 3D, and Ry N. Over the years, D&B luminaries such as Goldie, Zinc, Marvelous Cain, and Dextrous have manned the WNUR seat. Production wise, Chicago has exploded in the past year and a half, with tunes coming out from several camps. The most notable is 3D & Snuggles' FORTE label which features a stable of talented US artists including Flow, Kid Entropy, Wisc, Slak, Timestretch, and Kingsize. Watch for the January 98 release of their second 12", "Clones", which has already garnered critical praise from US djs caning it on plate. Also look for the TERMINAL BEATS full-length compilation from the Forte camp early March. KULTBOX emerged in 1997 as a force to be reckoned with, the now legendary "Empire" release that was featured in URB magazine as one of "15 tunes to live by." Hunter AD & Justin Town have released tracks on a seminal house label, Guidance Recordings. Chamberweed is in the process of starting up COSMIC BREAKZ, with the first release a stormer by Kid Entropy. Watch in the upcoming year, as the Chicago production scene blows up with new tracks from Danny the Wildchild and the Pistol Shock camp. D.C. Scene Report By Andy 2 Tuff The Drum & Bass scene here in DC is in its 4th year as being its own scene with its own DJ's, parties and crews; and it has come a long way! 1997 did not see tremendous growth like some of the previous years. Instead, it was a very stable and balanced year for the scene. Each and every UK touring artist/dj has made a stop in DC and there have been many parties to hear not only the UK's finest but also the best of the stateside selectors as well. There is not one event that stands out as a highlight of the year, although it was great to see so many new people and so many familiar heads turn out for.GOLDIE'S live P.A. at the Black Cat Club. And this year did see the Great Grooverider playing at the Capital Ballroom as well!! There are currently two weekly D&B parties happening here in DC. Every Monday night is DC's premier drum & bass party, URBAN SPACE. Hosted by the 2 Tuff Crew, it features residents SLANT, STRESS, SPECTRUM, MC MECHA & MC NES - all for only 3 bucks! It takes place at the rather laid back Crow Bar in NW DC. Recently, 2 Tuff held its special holiday party at URBAN SPACE with special guest DJ's DIESELBOY and KARL K, and a one time house & hip-hop room downstairs! URBAN SPACE was started in late summer and be sure to check it out in the new year as some great things are sure to happen there this year as well!!! And going on Tuesday nights is the more subdued vibes of Solid State with residents Scan & Paolo, taking place at State of the Union on U St. State of the Union is a great acid jazzy spot that also serves food and is a great place to check out some tunes. Taking place every Friday night is BUZZ, and while it is not drum & bass oriented, they do manage to book all the major UK Talent when on tour in the country. This was an impressive year for D&B at BUZZ, with ED RUSH, DOC SCOTT, J MAJIK, PESHAY, LTJ BUKEM, BLAME, RANDALL, JJ FROST, MC GO, DARREN JAY and many others stopping by as well. 2 Tuff also continues to book UK talent as well, with this year including ROB PLAYFORD, JMJ, TRACE, DOM & ROLAND, SLIPMASTER J... 2 TUFF'S most recent drum & bass party, MECHANISM featured the US DEBUT of Dom & Roland. Not only was DOM'S US tour sponsored by 2 Tuff, but so was the first ever Moving Shadow USA tour in September. Also in the news this year was the emergence of DC's newest asset and a big help to the scene overall. THE STEP SYNDICATE. T.S.S. comes correct with a proper blend of upfront drum & bass supported by solid promotions, including their top notch website. Be on the lookout for these guys in '98: FREEFALL, WRECK, BEN, JUKATA & RANSOM: T.S.S. = http://www.nicom.com/~edmund/tss. Also making a big help to the DC scene is the newly transplanted DJ OVERLOAD, who just moved to DC from Boston. He is an original head from back in the day, been kicking breakbeat/jungle/D&B since day one and he has already proven himself to be very valuable to the DC scene! Respect out to the OVERLOAD! Not to be forgotten was 2 Tuff's First Annual Drum & Bass DJ Contest!! It started in the summer and concluded on December 1st. DJ SPECTRUM battled out about 80 contestants from up and down the east coast to reign supreme as the top up and coming dj of the year! Spectrum now joins the

2 Tuff Crew as one of the residents at the weekly URBAN SPACE night. He is fast becoming one of DC's finest selectors. Currently it goes like this, as far as the best D&B djs in DC: SLANT, OVERLOAD, STRESS, FREEFALL & SPECTRUM. There is always more news and current info on the scene here in DC. Mad things are going on here these days!! For all the latest info, check both the T.S.S. site and the newly launched 2 Tuff website as well: http://bsomail.bso.com/2tuff Maximum respect out to all the real heads out there making things happen for so long here in DC!!! Keep it real DC Massive!! Pittsburgh Scene Report: by hossam (I can't be bothered to use the shift key) / sphinx, and mr. and mrs. derek (dj squared) and shannon luhiowak. pittsburgh has had a long-standing history of being at the forefront of the u.s. drum n bass community. stemming back to dj deadly buda's original efforts in early breakbeat in 91-92, to dieselboy and 187's promotion of a sometimes unpopular new sound in 93-94 (soon was to be called jungle). pittsburgh's underground roots have always had a firm bassis in drum n bass. the jungle rooms at parties got larger and larger, jungle djs got better timeslots in the main room, and by '95 it was commonplace for one or two jungle dj's to be given the prime slots at parties. this support and enthusiasm for jungle increased to a fever pitch. culminating in a classic party called jungle warfare. on january 27, 1996 well over a thousand junglists, old and new, braved massive amounts of snow and ice to show their support at pittsburgh's first all jungle party, showcasing some of the east coast's top talent, including djs overload, karl k. and slant, along with locals dieselboy, 187, sine, and ruffian. this party would go down as the first collaboration between udg, inc. and the lollipop posse. the promoters and attendees were rewarded with what turned out to be the largest all jungle event on the east coast at the time. this party was the flash point which ignited pittsburgh's drum and bass frenzy. A regular club night called steel city jungle (scj) was soon established at club 168 by udg inc. promoters john dwight and ryan burdofer (dj ruffian). it enjoyed a successful run up until john relocated to israel, where he is continuing the legacy with a weekly drum and bass club. natalie horne from the lollipop posse was handed the reins to scj and along with dj sine and joshua ryan, they instituted the current chapter. almost a year strong, scj happens every other tuesday at club laga in pittsburgh. with a compliment of local (resident) dj's including dj's sine, saint, alaska, bricks, hazey, and the junglettes adair and kira, the local scene is well represented. out of town dj's have included the likes of phantom 45, overload, danny the wildchild, kingsize, karl k, and mikebee (sf), and of course the regular return of former hometown heroes 187 and dieselboy, with an improved and expanded crew, scj looks stronger than ever for ninety-eight. bringing in the most upfront drum and bass talent from the us, canada, as well as the first wave of uk junglists including special k and mc skibadee, the club's setting high standards for itself and for others to follow. with a booming soundsystem and an excellent atmosphere, the club boasts the largest regular attendance of any jungle club in america. the steelcity crew continues to flex and branch out with the strengths of bulletproof drum and bass mixtapes and gear, which you can find in most record stores around the country. nick bulletproof has given much of his time and effort to scj, but to hear him say it, "fuck drum and bass, all i care about is pittsburgh steeler football." all kidding aside, definitely keep an eye out for this man's original products. for more info, you can contact bulletproof @ 412.521.7844. in addition, the grand opening of steel city records happens on march 3. brought to you by dj's sine and squared, with shannon keeping things in check, it will be the latest addition to the pittsburgh underground scene. pittsburgh junglists are ready to keep things runnin' in '98 and beyond...drum and bass is definitely here to stay. the entire steel city crew (natalie, andy, derek, nick, jay, and hossam) would like to thank everyone for continuing to lend their support to the cause, respect goes out to you all. (bookings and other scj info please call (412) 734-8443 or email [email protected]) Houston Scene Report by BMC It was a very good fall season for the massive in Houston with parties every weekend all representin jungle. Dj's Dazee, DB, and Dara all came through in the last months of 97. DJ Rhino spun with the Got Bass crew alongside Purrin Lion dj's Reakt and Price at Mary Janes, a bar that hosted several jungle nights throughout the year. Aphrodite touched down in January for a wicked party with 900 kids brockin out. 97 marked the beginning of Absolute Jungle, a weekly event featuring Houston's finest keepin' it real. Absolute Jungle kicks off the nine eight with Absolute DC on January 31. The main attraction at this event will be DJ Slant from D.C. alongside Vitamin A from San Antonio and dj's UNT, BMC and Roll DJ. Also in store for Houston - Special K from Proper Talent recs and MC Skibadee from Kool FM crew for what is sure to be a phat show for all you junglist. Scooby Doo Crew also has something major planned for spring break. Gotta Move Productionz is bringing down Mikey Finn as well as bringing Aphrodite back for all those who missed the first time around. Absolute Jungle will host another party Feb 17 an all local showcase with Audio 3 Mc Swift, Lord Vishnu and more to be announced. Also hold tight for A-sides touching down in April. So big up to all the junglists coming out and supporting. We could not have done it without you! V Classic Tour / November 12, 1997 / NYC by Simone Scarnera The hallway leading into Twilo reeked of rain and trodden in mud, but one beat of the blaring drum and bass and the dreary weather was left behind. The main dance floor was packed. Obviously, every junglist for miles had to be there, making sure they didn't miss the rare chance to see all of the guys from V Classic. When I arrived, Jumping Jack Frost was on the tables. His set was mostly upbeat, and everyone was up and dancing. The sounds were incredible and the MC added just the right amount of crowd pleasing New York comments to make sure that those few people left in the chill out room jumped up for this one. Jack Frost's set was the highlight of the night. Ray Keith came last. His sounds were darker, allowing the crowd to slow down the moves before picking up the tempo and accelerating to an amazing finale of jungle madness calling for a final rewind before ending the night entirely too early at 4 a.m. It was nice to see jungle get some real attention. This definitely beats the usual NYC parties where jungle gets stuck in a side room with house on the main floor. Hopefully, this was one step towards moving the New York scene closer to London's. And, best of all, the sounds were massive inside, but weren't still pounding in my ears on the way home ... sign of a good sound system. "Inertia" party review / New Year's Eve / Oklahoma City By Lord Vishnu Back in Oklahoma City, but this time it's New Year's Eve and this time I am accompanied by family. DVS1, React, and the man like Bizz were all on the bill reprezentin' H-town too the fullest. The plane ride is always enjoyable when it's with DVS1, I meet this nice young lady from New Orleans on the flight and had an interesting conversation on long distant relationships. and religion. Touching down about 9:00pm, my man Diverse was the one at the gate this time. Krispy was not able to greet us due to his job, but would be at the party by the time we got there. The venue was the same as last time.(The Armory), only this time it was way more sound and lights. We were of course in the typical small and dirty second room. Not dissing on the promoter, but that is always how it goes being a junglist in America. Also I think that that venue needs a rest, because it is just not built for partyies; acoustically that is, and there was just too much sound on the main floor. Well the jungle was set off by Krispy, who had the crowd screaming as usual. The man like Squirt was supposed to go first, but due to mis-understandings he got there too late, and was not able to play. Now it was

mid-night and yours truly up to bat. I always seem to have bad luck in OKC. The plug cord ran all the way by the door, and got pulled out on me five times in my set, just killing the sound and the vibe. I finally just pissed and played crazy dark shit to scare the crowd, for the last 20 minutes of my set. Next up to swing was the one and only DVS1.1.1.1.1.1.1! That's right, the one that makes the ladies say UMMMMM, NANA,NA! Just canin' the crowd with anthem's from '94-'97. When man is in your town, lock your daughter and girlfriend away for the night, unless you are ready to give them up. Last but definitely not least, the man with the dubplate pressure. Reakt came the best out of all Tha Purrin' Lion on this night. Coming with the niceness of '98' with many at plate and test press. Just hit the crowd with all he had, definitely a man to be on the watch for in '98. The last man to play was my good friend and United Nations coalition member Diverse. You are from OKC, and have been down for along time then you know that this man along side Krispy and the Originator Love are all about the old school breakbeat bizness. Nice selection of what little I heard, needed to get to the hotel and get some sleep, for I was not going to wait to the end of the night to get to bed. All in all it was an ok night, I missed Bizz's set because we both went on and finished at the same time. Absolutely lovin' the speed garage, keep it up Bizz. To all the pretty girls I didn't see, I am sorry I missed you, and to the ones I did, catch you around next time. DJs Lorne and Starchild "Pandora's Playhouse" / December 31, 1997 / Austin by Curly Oh my gosh, Massive! If you left this party early, you completely missed out! Things definitely got off to a slow start, with most people standing around looking like they were waiting for something to happen. When I arrived, progressive trance DJ Dunaway was on the decks. Then we were slammed into Detroit with the sounds of Houston's own Turbo Timmy and Andrei Morant in a 2 hour tag-o-rama. They sounded great as always and wrung the first inklings of a vibe out of the very strange crowd. Next, straight outta Philly, Substitution Records' Lorne and Starchild dropped the wicked b-lines east coast style. Lorne started things off with a piece of classical music, a lovely little tune about Toscannini and some nice scratches. Then came the "garage" sound. Things started off all minimal and crazy, and I barely noticed the transition from Tim and Andrei. He eventually ended a nice set with some gorgeous speed garage. Once those deep, jungle bass lines kicked into the house groove, the Austin kids went crazy and finally it felt like a vibe came on in the Voodoo Lounge. I had been wanting to hear this speed garage stuff for a while and I have to say, I like it. The bass lines are wicked, but instead of a break-beat over the top, you get a nice minimal hard house kind of beat. The crowd loved it and so did Starchild. It was so great to see him going crazy on the stage behind Lorne, arms in the air, encouraging the crowd to let loose and get wild. Unfortunately, a hoarse voice prevented him from rockin' the mic. So now it's about 3 hours into 1998, and the Starchild takes the decks. Lorne jumps on the mic as the first 12" goes down and starts gettin' the crowd excited, talking about what a great time he is having. Starchild proceeded to drop a great set, excellently flowing from beginning to end and hooking the crowd the whole time. He started off kind of dark, dropping tunes like 31 seconds, Grooverider's remixes of Adam F's "Circles" and Roni Size's "Share the Fall", and two copies of DJ Krust's "Warhead." He then led things a bit jumpier, starting with "Play the Game" on True Playas. (Mad shouts for the way he worked the SWV acappella.) Some great anthems came next, and the steppahs went off. That song who's name I do not know with the great diva saying "It's the way that you love me..." and 2 different versions of Kemet Crew's "The Seed" were the high points for me. It was a wonderful set, great tracks excellently packaged with dynamic programming. Much respect to the Starchild. He is most definitely a P-funkster, doing much justice to his name. He and Lorne really added to the vibe, just having a blast on stage, hearing their tunes and watching people enjoy them. Their energy was contagious, prompting me to dance the most and hardest I have in a very long time. Not to mention the fact that these two are some of the nicest DJ's I've ever met. I had the pleasure of getting to talk with both of them, and they give me hope that maybe this scene won't end up about "super stars" after all. Be sure to check out the Substitution Records homepage at http://nimbus.ocis.temple.edu/~mtorree00/sub.html Essential @ The Palace, New Years Eve by Firewheel New Year's Eve in London at one of the biggest dance events in the world - where else would ya wanna be, eh? When I heard that Roni Size/Reprazent would be headlining, there was no doubt in my mind where I was going to be. So there I was at Alexandra Palace, standing in the queue for half an hour for the ticket I had already ordered. I really had absolutely no idea how massive this venue was or how much wicked drum & bass I was going to dance to. I still can't believe it was all for real. Each of the rooms (there were three, not counting the chill-out room with Global Communication, Mixmaster Morris, and Gilles Peterson) was about the size of the Austin Music Hall and each "arena" was entirely filled to the brim with people from all over the world. (I even ran into some kids from Dallas.) We pushed and shoved our way in through the entrance to the "legends of the dark black arena" Once inside, we were massacred by darker than black hole sounds coming from the hands of one Adam F. He surprised me with some of his jump-up selections. After more rolling darkness, we decided to check out the essential arena where Reprazent was scheduled to go on after the New Year's count-down. People all around me were hyped about seeing them perform live. I looked up on stage - an extensive drum set, a standup bass, a regular bass guitar and three or four computer screens backed by Roni Size, DJ Die, DJ Krust, and DJ Suv were all in place. Vocalist Onallee and MC Dynamite appeared as bassist Si John started thumping his fretless bass, creating the familiar b-line to "Brown Paper Bag." Hands and feet and bodies paused just for a moment as the sounds died down, but then were jacked back into the same crazed position as the analog bass suddenly blasted through the room once again. MC Dynamite's question "Do you think that you can hang tuff when the rhythm gets ruff?" (which I couldn't get out of my head for days on end) was answered by 3,000 yells and 3,000 pairs of hands thrown in the air. Onallee proved that the Brits do have soul after all in "Heroes" and in several improvised versions of "Share the Fall." Drummer Clive Deemer, who also drums for Portishead, amazed me with his quickness. Reprazent's sequencing was really put to the test when they made the smooth transition into a song which was a collection of beat patterns taken from all those nutty old-school anthems every junglist wished they still had on vinyl. MC Dynamite kept yelling "Do you know tha beats? Do you love tha beats?" and I was like, "Yes, I want the beats!" Their performance ended much too soon, but fortunately they came back on for an encore which satisfied our drum & bass taste buds for a bit. Then it was back to the jungle arena we went, and just in time to catch Grooverider mix his newest tunes (which even I had trouble recognizing). The sound system didn't seem quite loud enough and it certainly didn't help when DJ Krust's bass heavy "Warhead" was dropped (repeatedly). The weakened sound system was definitely in some serious trouble. Nevertheless, the crowd continued to dance like mad as Randall stepped to the decks taking us into the New Year with more futuristic beats. Mickey Finn and Peshay spun as well, but it was Jumping Jack Frost who really kept the crowd of 3,000 stepping. After hours of dancing and the usual over consumption of drink and smoke. Frost's jazzed up bass injections were just the right remedy. Superstar LTJ Bukem finally decided to show at the last second and managed to squeeze in three sleepy tunes. I wonder how much that fool got paid. Anyway, cheers to the U.K for creating such a unique and brilliant sound and style. We've already taken much of it back to the states, now if we can just elaborate and improvise. Maybe someday we'll have thousands of people dancing and celebrating to the integrated vibrations of drum & bass.

Waxx Museum HOUSTON'S GLOBAL HIP-HOP SPOT 1601 LEELAND @ CRAWFORD (DOWNTOWN) The Finest in Tru-Skool, Reggae, Acid jazz, Jungle, Trip-Hop, & Funky Breaks info: 713.655-WAXX

Positive Visual Atmosphere Kinetic Design 713-522-0333 the energy of a movement