Review: The unstoppable, unrelenting, unmissable sounds of DJ Hybrid continue as he returns to Boom 93 with this feisty five-piece of slappers, bangers and bubblers. 'Comeback' sets the tone with its pitched up vocals and slippery bass harmonics. It's backed up by a whole load of jungle delights including highlights such as guitar-twanging fire-up 'Reach For The Lazers', the savage blasts of the Noisia-supported 'Don't Touch That Dial' and the wonderfully slinky fretless bassline on 'One For The Headz'. Good vibes doesn't even begin to describe the scenario and energy on display here. Booming marvellous.
Review: War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing... Except the outstanding Jungle Wars concept from DJ Hybrid's Deep In The Jungle camp. Nothing but pure fire from across the board as each artist works hard to bring their heaviest cuts and sharpest breaks to the ring. Mixed up by Mrs Magoo (who also collaborates on the track 'Big Bout Ya') the whole vibe and energy of this collection hits harder than 100 Fantazias. Highlights include Conrad Subs' super-ravey 'Wildstyle', Euphonique's 'No Problem', ODF's piano-slapping 'Good Times' and Plasmator's lesson in ruffness 'Bad Boy Sound'. Show us your war face!
Review: DJ Hybrid and Rider Shafique... What a link-up! Multiple label owning Hybrid has been working with MCs and vocals for a long time and knows exactly how much space and momentum for Rider needs to lay down his full-spectrum vocal. Loaded with a powerful message, praying for a more positive energy for the youth, Shafique rides out over both purring subs and sharp breaks of the original and the bubbling swing and slaps of the jungle mix. Complete with instrumentals, things couldn't be better on Boom 93 right now.
Review: It's that time of year again! DJ Hybrid sends for the troops and instigates nothing but pure gully warfare. This year is no exception as the talent remains just as high and ruthless as previous years. Here's the sampler to get us in the mood... First up the main man DJ Hybrid breaks the ice with the classically minded 'War Inna Jungle'. Expect lots of pitched breaks and soundman samples. 'Big Bout Ya' follows. A big old collabo affair between DJ Hybrid, Mrs Magoo and Veak, this one focuses on the sunny side skanks warm soundsystem vibe. These are the ones you were looking for.
Review: Heavyweight collabo DJ Hybrid and Sammie Hall link for the first time on 'Falling Again'. Hybrid's hooks are bubbly as ever with a real spacious vibe to the whole production that gives Sammie all the space she needs to apply her on-point dreamy vocal prowess. For an extra twist, this also comes with DJ Hybrid's first ever deep house / bass house version. Just as bubbly but with a little UKG sass to the groove, you'll be falling in love with this one again and again.
Review: Oh gosh... Jungle Cakes look back over their delicious back catalogue, and the wider jungle vista, to bring together 74 of the finest recipes known to mankind for this Gold level baking session. Featuring some of the biggest dishes in existence, one minute we're skanking out to Klue's insane 'Rudy, A Message To You', the next we're getting slapped by Spyda on Serum's 'All Ganja Man' then the next we're being tickled by seminal classics such as M-Beat & General Levy's 'Incredible'. The list of incendiary cuts goes on and on and on... Bossmen Ed Solo & Deekline's 'No No No', Potential Bad Boy's 'Over My Head', Dope Ammo & Taiwan MC's 'Babylon Falling' - every single cut is as hot as your oven on baking day. What a package... And there's a mix thrown in for good measure. Gold... Always believe in your soul.
Review: DJ Hybrid's Deep In The Jungle slams straight into 2022 with another blazing collection of past releases, all curated and packaged together with the super sick stylings of one of 2021's runaway DJ success stories - Frenetic. Renown for her crucial three-deck blends and premium energy, she's the perfect match for the label's megamix as there are so many wounders and blinders to get through. If you know the label's output you'll already know this but just in case you're new to this Deep In The Jungle malarky, expect nothing but premium modern day breakbeat badness. Highlights include RMS's purring 'Streaks & Blurs', Toby Ross's mischievous '170 Style', Charlie B's 'Rave Up' and DJ Hybrid's tongue in cheek skank-out 'The Last Bumbaclaat'. Anthemic.
Review: Boom! Straight off the back of his Diary Of A Junglist album, man like DJ Hybrid lets rip into the new year with a whole clutch of thump-ups and rub-downs on Boom 93. 'Regenerate' takes the lead with its rifle-like bass flutters and heads-down pace and energy. It's back by five more full throttle workouts including the mischievous skank of 'Come Again', the rave homage 'Call That Rewind' with Manchester legend Diligent Fingers and the dreamy weaves and bobs of the finale 'More Than Enough'. All this and plenty more, DJ Hybrid is kicking down the 2022 doors in pure junglist style.
Review: Serious collab business as Simon Splice returns to his Exile alias for two big old bruisers on DJ Hybrid's Audio Addict. 'Rattle Speaker' sees him linking with the ubiquitous Manchester MC, man like Madrush for a stripped back and spiky thumper that's all gritty and growling. Deeper again we slurp down some premium uncut jungle juice as Exile links with the bossman DJ Hybrid for 'Junglist Sound'. Expect nothing but high grade bubbly subs and breezy detuned synth tones. Vibes for miles.
Review: Get ready for the eighth instalment of 'Deep In The Jungle Anthems' with an all-star cast as the label bossman calls in two close allies and super-skilled kindred spirits. First up is the powerful 'Give It Up' where Hybrid goes toe-to-toe-to-toe with Conrad Subs and Mrs Magoo to sculpt this perfectly bubbly late 90s Die-style bouncer. Elsewhere the bossman goes it alone on the turbo charged slap-about 'The Last Bumbaclaat' before Conrad closes the EP with 'Keep Breakin' which is a huge head nod to the legacy of Aphrodite and Micky Finn. Bring on the album!
Review: Sub-liminal brings an end to the year that was, going out all guns blazing with on Air Part 2 featuring a bunch of wicked VIPs. Label staple Agro serves up several collaborations on here with the likes of Mentah, Raz, Diligent Fingers and Ghxsty. There's also a few offerings by the ever reliable Yatuza; our pick being the wonky stepper of "Distance" with Master Error. Elsewhere, Pyro pops up a few times throughout and was in fine form on "Smithdown Bass" and Prestige handed in a couple of quality dubs with neurofunk cut "Logical" being our pick of the bunch.
Review: One of the most respected and hardest working mastering engineers in the game AND one of the most respected producers in the new generation, Guzi's accomplishments speak for themselves. Now with his debut album en route, we can expect even more damagement and level-setting from the Brighton artists. The countdown to his eponymous LP starts here with this crucial co-lab with fellow south coast warrior DJ Hybrid. Bashy, heavy and drawing on influences from the instrumental grime world, this licks off heads at 20 paces. Expect nothing less from two modern day donnies.
Review: Dear Diary, today we received a copy of DJ Hybrid's long-awaited debut album Diary Of An International Junglist on Liondub International. It's 20 tracks fat and, as you'd expect from such a prolific and hard working artist, it's well worth the wait. Featuring collabs with the likes of Rider Shafique, Diligent Fingers, Madrush MC, Redders and MC Foxy, there's a lot of next level action to unpack but instant head-slicers include the space age purrs and twists of 'Find Your Way', the menacing darkness and sparse funk of 'Pull Out Ya Piece' and the bouncing and swagger of 'Live For Yourself.' These are just some the many stand-out bangers from an album by one of the scene's most consistent leading lights in the last 10 years. Made for junglists, by a junglist. It doesn't get better than this.
Review: DJ Hybrid's Audio Addict continue to celebrate 100 releases with this epic collection of fresh fire-ups and revved up reboots. Featuring all the label favourites, plus a gamut of new talent, killer moments can be found on all 18 tracks but only fools would sleep on cuts such as the warped slap-about '+++ Strength' by Scartip, Formula's jittering twist-up of DJ Hybrid's massive 'Run Tune Now', Flat T's widescreen wobbler 'Crush', DJ Hybrid & Mrs Magoo's choppy choppy slappy slappy twist on Oram & Toby Ross's 'Baddest Sound' and Realist's ice cold tear-up 'Hold It Down'. Bring on the next 100!
Review: The Audio Addict 100 Vol. 2 Sampler features some heavyweight remixes. The first is from 24 year old up-and-comer from Devon Nury Blackburn, aka Amplify, whose noisy neurofunk rendition of Nectax's "Midnight" is sure to blow the doors off, while the dream team of label chief DJ Hybrid and Edinburgh's Mrs Magoo collaborate on a rework of Oram & Toby Ross's "Baddest Sound" - a mad junglist roller in proper back to '95 flava that will surely appeal to the nostalgists.
Review: Boom! DJ Hybrid's Audio Addict hit the big 100 and they're celebrating in true style. Here's part one - a 22 banger collection featuring the label's brightest and gulliest talent and close friends. Highlights lurk around every heavyweight corner from the off as T>I flips Hybrid & Haribo's 'Raised In The Jungle' into a riot. Mountains of carnage follows with highlights coming from all angles - Diagnostix gets ice cold with the venomous 'Depth Charge', Para flips Erbman's 'Ride Or Die' into a lesson in tension while Kalum reminds us of the label's deeper side with the barbed euphoria of 'Enough'. All this and so much more, the Audio Addict guys have taken things to the next level.
Review: No retreat no surrender! DJ Hybrid and Madrush MC link up on Liondub International for this dark lesson in tension. Stripped back, menacing but never erupting over the top, this is the epitome of a dancefloor creeper. It's backed with an instrumental and a fresh Hardcore Junglism take on DJ Hybrid and Liondub's 2015 slap-about 'Boom In 93'. Booming back at ya!
Review: Agro's Sub-Liminal hit the big 100 with a series of power punch exclusives from label friends and family old and new. Raz's 'Control Tower' sets the flavour in an instant with its wild drums and almost jazz-like attitude. He's followed by a whole range of killers, all delivering high grade goods. DJ Hybrid goes turbo on the rubber ball subs, Georgia Phoenix brings some seriously savage funk, Oz wheels up more bloodclarts than money can buy and Warhead gets weird and wonderful with his snake-like bass wriggles and computer trills... Not to mention the Sub-liminal bossman's horn-heaving hip-swinger 'Hang Ten'. All this and plenty more bangers, Sub-liminal are celebrating their 100th in style right here.
Review: Lordy lordy! Audio Addict are hitting release 100 and they're about to celebrate with some massive dispatches. It starts right here with these two powerful remixes. First bossman DJ Hybrid and Haribo's 2018 bust-up 'Raised In The Jungle' enjoys a woozy and raw shakedown from man of the moment T>I. Then Teej gets busy on Martial Taktics' label debut earlier this year 'Katana'. Big chops for big systems, we'll give these 100 out of 10... And we know there's even amazing Audio Addict 100 vibes to come soon. Big up DJ Hybrid!
Review: Watch out for the red lights! When it comes to contemporary jungle partnerships it can't get much more on-point and exciting then DJ Hybrid and Rider Shafique who've linked up for this haunted-yet-badass slice of timeless, emotional breakbeat science. Complete with an instrumental and a crucial 2021 update on DJ Hybrid's infamous banger 'Shockin Out', this is a very serious release from Liondub International.
Review: DJ Hybrid continues doing bits for the scene as he lays down this massive 31 track selection on Deep In The Jungle. Reflecting exactly where the mother genre is at right now in 2021, he's dug deep for a whole range of flavours, including a few cheeky exclusives. Every track is a banger but you'd be mad not to check Crom and Rider Shafique's theatrical slap-about 'Change', Xav's mind-blowing shock-out '1993', Mrs Magoo & DJ Hybrid's stripped-back and purring 'Back To 96' and the absolutely foul behaviour of Kumarachi & Epicentre with 'Patterns'. Trust us, this isn't even the tip of this jungle iceberg - cop it and bop it!
Review: International bass music label Liondub presents the second single taken from DJ Hybrid's forthcoming full length LP titled Diary Of An Everyday Junglist. The full LP has been lovingly crafted by him over the last two years, and features a stunning array of collaborators. The single in question is titled "Diggin Through The Archives" where the Coventry-based producer serves up the main mix, which is an old school flavoured junglist roller featuring the talented Taja on the mic, followed by a handy instrumental version. As a bonus, you are also treated to the emotive darkside stepper "No Way" (2021 remix) calling to mind classic Marcus Intalex.
Review: This various artists release from Born on Road is packed full of twisted sounds for you wrap your noggins around, and there's a sick blend of aesthetics and styles amongst all the filth. 'Turbulent Times' by Gray and Rider Shafique is wobbly and rolling, it packs all of its energy into the sub-bass and just flows out with style alongside some wicked MC work. 'Pieces of Eight' by Trex is a monstrosity of energy, with a superb drum section that packs more character into the arrangement than you can wag a finger at, whilst Bruk edges in over the top with 'Waps', showing what a hefty dose of technoid energy can bring to the beat. Big.
Review: As if launching his debut album on his own label Boom 93 this month wasn't quite enough action from Brighton's DJ Hybrid, he's also back on Liondub International with Martial Taktics and MC Foxy on this bouncy, Trex-style bubbler. Complete with OG Foxy doing the business on mic, it's another instant classic from one of the hardest working men in jungle. For good measure he's remixed his and Haribo's 2018 Liondub smoking jam 'Stay High' into a riffy Serum-style chest-ratter. All done in his own unique and vibey way, Hybrid records are impossible to sleep on. Them's the rules.
Review: Boom 93 is DJ Hybrid's new label, and The Prelude is the longest release he's put out so far. Six tracks long, it's an expression of pure jungle and drum & bass; no pretensions, no frills, no rubbish. There's also new sounds and textures that we haven't heard all that much from Hybrid, as the Tron-esque synths of 'Swan Song' build into a rolling crescendo of chopped up basslines and rabid drum breaks. There's more classic jungle vibes on 'Biggest Baddest' and 'Jumble Jungle', as well as more considered breaks on 'Grasshopper'. Finally, the all time great that is Sempra rolls out the goods on his remix of 'Riddim Runner' in that nostalgic, forward looking way that only he can. Big.
Review: A long time ago, in a land far, far away, Deep in the Jungle unleashed interplanetary destruction on a galactic scale. Not really, but they are channelling the force with this compilation, which ropes in some of the galaxy's fiercest producers to craft old-school riddims with a futuristic touch. Conrad Subs lands all phasers blasting with a bunch of different cuts, and his collaboration 'Rock On' with DJ Hybrid is an absolute percy, a sub-heavy wobbler that oozes funk through brass stabs and a rhythmic, catchy approach. Redline flips a light, fluttery intro into bassline-led low frequency devastation, whilst Kartoon gets old school with his remix 'Lions of Judah' by Sharpz. Unreal stuff.
Review: These two cuts are taken from a forthcoming various artists album on DJ Hybrid's Deep In The Jungle imprint, and the boss himself is joined by Mrs Magoo and Conrad Subs for a single that gets right to the core of the label's ethos. 'Back To 96' is a time travel machine that takes you back to the days of rolling reece basses and frantic percussive work, simpler times when all you needed was the barebones to create a vibe. Conrad Subs goes in a funkier direction, with brash brass notes that lead into a wobbling concoction of bouncing basslines and innocent clubland notes. Cracking.
Review: Over on DJ Hybrid's new label, Boom 93, he's showing off the more jungle focused, breaksier element to his productions and it's gotten us very excited. Both sides of the jungle spectrum are represented here, as Hybrid rolls out the reece bass-laded, junglist vibes on 'Eclipse' in a sound system friendly rendition of breaks music culture. The flip is funky and influenced by jazz notes, as a bubbly bassline surfaces amidst superbly crisp percussive touches. It's a truly classy piece of music from a class producer.
Review: The second chapter in Deep in the Jungle Anthems 7 is upon us, and there is yet another cacophonous blend of fractious jungle riddims inside. Drawn from artists across the scene both old and new, this LP is the second leg of a journey that's pull you deep through the spiky, rough edges of a the jungle. The crashing force of K Jah's 'Quest' is a good example, as repetitive breaks needle their way into your soul amidst a wobbling sub and jazzy samples. Bish is on remix duties for label boss DJ Hybrid and his tune 'Badboy', which samples possibly one of dance music's most iconic film lines and does so amidst a relentless, rolling instrumental. Sick - there are over 30 tracks inside so get involved.
Review: Sub-liminal take a moment to look back over almost six years of hard graft at the future talent coal face. Having been responsible for so many bangers from so many now household names, it's a mean feat boiling it down to this mere 50 heavyweight highlights. All the label's key names are on board; Guzi, Dreadnaught, Nick The Lot, Too Greezy, Kumo, Version, Vital, Pyro, Motiv and many more dust off their past heavers, hurters and head-slappers to reflect on everything Sub-liminal has stood for and encouraged so far. From the deeper, more subtle bubblers (Sam Harris - 'Coffee Machine') to the most outrageous funk-ups (Warhead - 'Cranked') this EP has everything. When the Riddim hits you, you can't say no...
Review: Jungle Cakes always tend to put out music that rests on the foundations of UK underground, the cross-over influences of soul, reggae, jungle and D&B. it's always a fresh sound and it always brings up connotations of Boomtown, free parties and sunny afternoons. This is a monster album curated by Aries and Kelvin 373, who have taken tracks both old and new to form a banging compilation. Bou nails it on 'Music Takes Me Higher', a rustic revisit to classic jungle sounds; Aries and Nicky Blackmarket roll things out in a tight way on 'Champion'; and Chimpo slams the brakes on 'DidDieDoThat'. We don't know the answer to that, but we do know this is fat. Big ups.
Review: Deep in the Jungle continue their onwards march with this, the seventh edition in their widely acclaimed Anthems series, a compilation that always finds the ideal mix of current and future talent to showcase. In the case of the former, well-travelled producers Epicentre and Kumarachi roll things out and tear them down on 'Light Em Up', which features a gnarly array of interlinked bass nodes and torn low frequency sonics, al underpinned by a percussion section that's the perfect blend of rusty and sharp. New talent emerges in the form of Trobe and Mirage, who have their first label release with '89', although you wouldn't have guessed it based off this tune's razor clean percussive edge and expert use of space, a hard thing to get right and one this pair blow out the water here. Rave samples, expansive basslines and a synth arrangement you won't be able to shake - unmissable. 34 tracks later and Deep in the Jungle have nailed every single one of them - big ups.
Review: The second sampler ahead of Deep in the Jungle's 7th Anthems album is here and gives us another glimpse into what is sure to be a superb collection of vicious jungle weapons - they always are. This one features Crossy on remix duties for Epicentre and Diligent Fingers, and he's turned 'Run Up' into a vibrant track with a gorgeous set of hi-hat studded drums and a luscious, deep bassline that packs plenty of attitude. 'Run Dem' by Hybrid is stepping in its percussion and lands with a seriously heavy amount of downwards pressure, whilst Bish remixes Hybrid's 'Badboy' to great effect. Toby Ross and K Jah both kill their tunes as well, and to say we're excited about this album would be an understatement.
Review: This is the first sampler to drop ahead of the next Deep in the Jungle Anthems LP, and since we're seven deep into this series already, you'll know just how hard they tend to hit. This sampler is no exception and the team have roped in a handful of the best in the game. Napes steps up first for a remix of 'Madman' by DJ Hybrid and the result is furious expression of breaks and bass, a flurry of energy that starts on the drop and doesn't let up for a second, its old school vibe cut through with modern jump up force. Janaway's cut - 'Know Dem' - is especially sick, with stepping drums and an infectiously funky bassline that ripples with high frequency energy. Conrad Subs lives up to his name with the subby monster that is 'When Its Time', and Tony Ross keeps things minimal on 'Marathon'. Sick.
