Drum n Bass is also known as Jungle?, although possible racist overtones make this term controversial. Drum n Bass, originally an offshoot of the UK breakbeat hardcore scene, came into existence when people mixed reggae basslines with sped-up hip hop breakbeats and influences from techno. First, raggamuffin dee jay [General Levy]? and other dee jays were therfore the stars of drum n bass, then still called jungle. Producers like Goldie? and [4 Hero]? were not that fond of hip hop and reggae, and turned drum n bass in a less accessible and more instrumental direction, spawning sub-genres like tech-step? and moving the genre closer to techno.
Calling the term Jungle? controversial, with racist overtones, is missing an important point. By using the word as a description of a musical style, British Junglists in fact reclaimed a racist phrase from common usage in English (see Profanity). In the mid-90's, the term Jungle? on the British dance came to refer to a rougher, darker style of Drum and Bass influenced by a ragga dance hall tradition and favouring ragga-style MC's, repetitive sampled drum loops and distorted bass (rather than melodic vocals, programmed drums and floaty synthesiser ambience, as is common in so-called 'intelligent' Drum and Bass). Good examples of Jungle are provided by Shy FX or Aphrodite, while Bukem, Goldie and Roni Size are definitely Drum and Bass. Recently the New York scene such as DJ Soulslinger has combined fast Jungle? with elements of techno music. In general, Jungle is simpler, sweatier, dirtier, and (dare I say) more working-class than Drum and Bass, and in this contributor's opinion, often more fun! ihh
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