What Makes Something Jungle? | Resident Advisor

Back in January, University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan became an unlikely hero when he said "I can't accept drum & bass. We need jungle, I'm afraid."

The teams had been asked to name the genre born from the '90s UK rave scene and reggae sound system culture. After the writer Nathan Filer uploaded the clip to X, the moment went viral and reignited an age-old debate: what exactly makes something jungle?

Our latest film explores the story of jungle, from its myriad roots to the present day; the sound's unique characteristics and stylings; how it infiltrated the mainstream with tracks like "Original Nuttah" by Shy FX and UK Apache; and how, alongside the genre's pioneers, artists like Nia Archives and Shy One are passing it down to the next generation.

00:00 - Intro
00:49 - The Musical Foundations of Jungle
02:14 - The US Electronic Influence
03:46 - The Sound System
05:56 - The Jungle Formula
06:08 - Bass
06:36 - Breakbeats & Drum Patterns
07:34 - Vocal & Melodic Samples
08:36 - Sound Effects
09:36 - Timestretching
10:39 - Ragga Influence

Music in order of appearance:

System Ex - Mindgames (Dub Mix) (1994)
Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart - Sweet Dreams (1983)
Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia (1979)
Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant (1977)
The Specials - Ghost Town (1981)
Big Daddy Kane - Raw
Soul II Soul - Fairplay
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
James Brown - Funky Drummer
John Coltrane Quartet - My Favorite Things
The Heptones - Book Of Rule
Capleton - Belly Come
Theme from Love Story
Chaba Fadela - N'sel fik
Frankie Knuckles - Your Love
Model 500 - NO UFO'S
A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray
DJ Seduction - Come On
Lennie De Ice - We Are I.E.
2 Bad Mice - Bombscare
LTJ Bukem - Logical Progression
Splash - Babylon
Oblivion - Last Dance
The Winstons - Amen Brother
4Hero - Parallel Universe
Lynn Collins - Think (About It)
DJ Pulse - So Fine
The Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
Goldie - Inner City Life
LTJ Bukem - Music
Jill Jones - Mia Bocca Extended
A Guy Called Gerald - Like A Drug
Paul Johnson - Intimate Friends
Tom & Jerry - Airfreshner
Sound Of The Future - The Lighter
Shy FX - Just An Example
Johnny Jungle - Johnny
Johnny Jungle - Johnny 94 (Dillinja Remix)
Origin Unknown - Valley Of The Shadows
Remarc & Lewi Cifer - Ricky
Goldie - Terminator
Amazon II DJ Aphrodite - Beat Booyaa ! Remix (1994)
Blame & Justice - Nemesis (1994)
Formula 7 - Dark Star
Red Light - Selekta
DJ Krome & Mr Time - The Licence (Krome & Time Remix)
Cutty Ranks - Limb by Limb (Original Mix)
Cutty Ranks - Limb By Limb (DJ SS Remix)
Top Cat - Gallist
DJ Nut Nut Ft. Top Cat & Frankie Paul - Special Dedication (Ladies Mix)
Papa Lover - General Degree
Papa Lover - General Degree (Stretch Remix)
General Levy - Mad Them
M Beat Ft. General Levy - Incredible
UK Apache & Shy FX - Original Nuttah
LTJ Bukem - Atlantis (I Need You)

Production:

Producer - Sophie Misrahi
Writer - Julia Toppin
Script Editor - Tom Gledhill
Narrator - Keisha Forte-Hercules
Editors - Sophie Misrahi, Guy Clarke
Sound Mix - Guy Clarke (www.guy-audio.com)
Motion Graphics - Dan Derham

Archive footage:

Thomas Mitchell
BBC Two
FckYouThought
HYBE LABELS
JungleSoundclash
Underground inna Moss Side
24H Canal + - Jungle and Drum & Bass in London
A London Somet'ing Dis
Sounds of the West
Our Jamaican Problem
RA Exchange 599
Talkin' Headz - The Metalheadz Documentary
Ajm080 - Midwest Rave Footage 1994-95
WHTSOXX74 - Chicago House Music (85-88)
Soul Control Manchester
JAH SHAKA - 1979 Vintage Ting - Steven Joseph Birchenough
Jah Shaka 90' documentary from ARTE VOST
DON SINCLAIR REGGAE VIBES
Goodfellas (Film)
Sirens (TV show)
Marked For Death (Film)
Boyz N The Hood (Film)
How Clubbing Changed the World
Subtle Radio
Nia Archives Sound of BBC