Volume 2, Issue 2 – Matt Grimes – “Dis one is for alla the junglists”: From Rebel MC to Conquering Lion and beyond

Taking a broadly historiographical and socio-cultural approach, this article presents the development of Jungle, a unique Black British musical form, through the musical lifecourse of one of Jungle’s originators and innovators Michael West aka Congo Natty. With its roots in Reggae soundsystem culture, British Hip-Hop, Soul and Rastafarian philosophy, Jungle emerged from various previous manifestations of Black British music since the 1970’s. With his ongoing development of and contribution to Jungle music and its culture, West presents a Black British identity that reflects the multicultural society he grew up in, and continues to inhabit.

Matt Grimes