Knowledge 099

42 JUNGLE STORY
WORDS | Ed Aarons
PHOTOGRAPHY | Cleveland Aaron
Ever since the likes of Everson Allen and The But while pulling together a cast of 15 MCs may collaboration between MC CD and Rhymes, was
Ragga Twins ﬁ rst picked up a microphone not sound like a walk in the park, it was actually also instrumental in pulling together the album
as the acid house explosion took hold in the dealing with the plethora of producers that and he feels that it is about time that the scene as
late 1980s, the MC has played an integral caused most problems. “We had a few problems a whole recognised the contribution of its lyricists.
part in British underground music. But while with producers not getting their tracks in time
their American counterparts have gone on to but to be honest the MCs were fantastic,” says “A lot of the MCs are artists in their own right
ﬁ nd fame and fortune by the bucketload, the Phantasy. “They are all hungry for this project and and this has given them the chance to show how
road has been a lot rockier for the UK’s ﬁ nest have given me 100 percent support throughout. good they are rather than just performing on a
lyricists, with the majority failing to receive The thing that took the time was waiting for Friday night,” he says. “It’s nice for them to put
adequate support when it comes to getting in the accompanying tracks to get ﬁ nished but it something down on vinyl and show their skills
the studio. Until now that is. takes a lot longer to produce a good tune than it but it will be interesting to see how people react
does to spit some lyrics. Most of the artists were because it’s a new idea. They all have a lot to
“A lot of DJs seem to be afraid to play vocal tracks, asked who they wanted to work with so they were say and even though it took us a long time to
unless it’s a big hit, so this is a chance for some comfortable with everything.” sort the whole thing out it is a great platform for
of the MCs to get their tunes out there,” conﬁ des everyone involved.”
Phantasy. “Our music has tended to be driven by For the legendary UK Apache, the chance to record
the producers, but the MCs are an important part his personal story was an opportunity he couldn’t Scheduled for release at the end of May, the
of our scene and they are the visual face of drum resist. Having shot to fame back in 1994 with the album will only be available on CD format, with
& bass. For me, they are the crucial link between seminal ‘Original Nuttah’ with Shy FX, he has spent a special bonus mix CD by America’s number
the crowd and the people behind the decks who a lifetime immersed in the music and is well known one female Scratch DJ, DJ Shortee. But while
make the music, so they deserve the opportunity for his battles to get the MCs voices heard. Phantasy was all too aware of the supreme
to have their voices heard.” talents of Skibadee, Shabba, Navigator et al, he
“Sometimes the drum & bass scene isn’t open was pleasantly surprised with the ability of some
And with some of the scene’s best exponents of enough for vocalists and this project has been of the lesser-known artists: “A few of the MCs
the art including Navigator, Skibadee, Shabba, perfect for so many of us,” he admits. “Originally, surprised me with the quality of their tracks – for
UK Apache, 2Shy, Fatman D and Tali gracing the Phantasy came to me with a riddim that Benny example MC Biggie wrote all the lyrics within two
‘Jungle Story’ album, you can be sure that these Page had done for him and asked me to do my days of being asked to! I wanted them all to tell
are stories that deserve to be told. story. At ﬁ rst I wrote quite a deep one about the their personal stories of their experiences in the
scene so it can be recorded and in 50 years time
“A lot of DJs seem to be afraid
they will be able to look back at what they did.
“There are a lot more people I would have loved
to play vocal tracks, unless it’s
to have got on the project,” Phantasy adds. “So
many artists have contributed to the evolution
of our music over the years and everyone needs
a big hit...”
to be recognised but it just wasn’t possible to
include everyone. The whole thing is all about
the MCs telling their stories so the important
“The whole reason this project came about general history of slavery and things like that thing is that they have managed to record their
was when I heard the original accapella of YT’s but he came back to me and asked me to make viewpoints on tracks. We’re really grateful to all
‘England Story’,” explains Phantasy. “Digital put it more about myself. In the end, that original those who worked hard to make this come to
me in touch with YT to do a drum & bass mix one got released on my label as ‘His-Story’ and fruition and hopefully it will attract people from
and it went really well, so we started talking then I wrote another one about growing up and outside of drum & bass as well.”
about doing a few more. We figured that there how I got into the music, which was produced
are so many MCs out there and everyone has a especially for the album. So more than 18 months since the idea was
story to tell. The problem with drum & bass is ﬁ rst mooted, Phantasy shows a mixture of pride
that it’s such a faceless music and we wanted “I’ve always put my lyrics down on proper tracks and relief to ﬁ nally get the project out on the
to take this opportunity to get some of the UK’s because I’m from a reggae background but streets. “It’s very hard to get 33 artists together
finest talent together to tell their stories and Phantasy has given us the chance to express and organise it all but I think it’s been worth it,”
try to help put a face to drum & bass. We spoke ourselves fully and given us lots of support,” he concludes. “Halfway through it I wasn’t sure
to so many artists and there was a really good he adds. “I think it’s a good way forward to help if we were going to get it ﬁ nished but we kept
response, so we were hoping to follow up the expand drum & bass but a lot of the time the plugging away and it’s thanks to all the artists
success of ‘England Story’ by releasing it as support hasn’t been there. Hopefully this will that we made it. A lot of people went out of their
soon as we could. Unfortunately it took a little help to change a few attitudes and give MCs the way to make sure that they were represented
longer than we had hoped to get everything platform that they deserve.” and I think it’s something to be proud of. All the
sorted but I’m hoping that people will still stories are positive and are about how they have
be interested in hearing the stories of their Digital, who alongside Lutin, contributed beats managed to make the most of their personal
favourite MCs.” to the tracks featuring Navigator, 2Shy and the situation through music.”
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