jungle
electronic music genre; subgenre of drum and bass
Jungle bursts with frenetic energy, a whirlwind of rolling breakbeats and lush, bass-heavy rhythms that feel both euphoric and grounding. It's a sound you can feel in your bones, merging the urgency of drum patterns with soulful samples and an underlying sense of groove that pulls you into the dancefloor. The interplay of syncopated drums and melodic snippets creates a vibrant atmosphere, invoking feelings of liberation and joy, often making it impossible to stay still.
Emerging in the early 1990s from the UK’s rave scene, jungle was a response to the burgeoning electronic music landscape and the eclectic influences of hip-hop, reggae, and funk. Artists like Goldie with his groundbreaking album "Timeless," along with Roni Size’s "New Forms," helped define the genre's sound, capturing its raw energy while pushing boundaries. The underground scene thrived as communities came together, celebrating this new, thrilling blend of beats that was both innovative and rebellious—an exhilarating counterpoint to more commercial strains of dance music.
If you’re looking to dive into jungle, start with Goldie's "Timeless" for its masterful fusing of textures and emotional depth. Roni Size's "New Forms" is essential for understanding how the genre interacts with live instrumentation and MCing. Don't miss LTJ Bukem’s "Earth" album for its atmospheric take on breakbeat science that rides the line between introspection and ecstatic movement. Lastly, check out "Original Nuttah" by UK Apache & Shy FX for a dose of classic vocal hooks intertwined with infectious beats. For an even broader experience, keep an ear out for drum and bass—a genre that shares roots but takes its own exhilarating path forward.
20 artists in the catalog.
Start here
Timeless
Goldie · 1995
Top jungle albums
See essentials
Timeless
Goldie
Time Boom X De Devil Dead
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Repentance
Lee "Scratch" Perry
History, Mystery & Prophesy
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Arkology
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Panic in Babylon
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Battle of Armagideon
Lee "Scratch" Perry
All jungle artists
Lee "Scratch" Perry
drum and bass, dub music
Goldie
Shy FX
A Guy Called Gerald
acid house, drum and bass
Joy Orbison
UK funky, UK garage
12th Planet
drum and bass, dubstep
Newham Generals
UK garage, UK rap
Dub War
alternative metal, nu metal
Gosti iz budushchego
dance-pop, drum and bass
Femtanyl
breakcore, electronic music
M-Beat
Carnival Collective
cumbia, drum and bass
La Kinky Beat
drum and bass, dub music
Kenny Ken
MC Conrad
drum and bass
Alexey Romanof
dance-pop
About jungle
What is jungle?
electronic music genre; subgenre of drum and bass
Where should I start with jungle?
Start with "Timeless" by Goldie. It captures what makes jungle worth exploring.
What are the best jungle albums?
The jungle albums worth hearing first: "Timeless" by Goldie, "Time Boom X De Devil Dead" by Lee "Scratch" Perry, "Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread" by Lee "Scratch" Perry, "Repentance" by Lee "Scratch" Perry and "History, Mystery & Prophesy" by Lee "Scratch" Perry.
How many jungle artists are there?
northsound.fm covers 20 jungle artists, each with a recommended starting album and listening path.