Episode #11: The New Sound Of Hardcore

In the context of Jamaican pop culture, a sound system was basically a group of DJs and MCs. The crews would load trucks with generators, turntables and huge speakers to set up street parties. Many of these dj's were very set on playing "exclusive" music which would only be shared amongst their own sound system. These exclusive records were pressed onto an acetate disc called dubplates. In the record industry these discs were used as test pressings to help master a recording before the track was pressed to vinyl and mass produced. After the break of 1994, the entire United States was beginning to more widely embrace jungle. Dieselboy, who at the time was living in Pittsburgh, was hosting a show on Carnegie Mellon's radio station WRTC. In 1994, Dieselboy released "The Future Sound of Hardcore" which was his first major mix. The demo sold over 100 copies online through the first electronic mailing list application known as LISTSERVs. Selling this mixtape was a slow process but it eventually snowballed into a variety of gigs up and down the East Coast. Since the term "jungle" had become so closely related to the reggae-influenced sound, dj's and producers who did not incorporate reggae sounds began to adopt the term "drum & bass." Incidentally this term was used several years prior by a London KISS FM disc jockey named Trevor Nelson to describe rougher funk melodies & "raregroove" that he was playing on the pirate radio station. The release of General Levy's "Incredible" in 1994 was another major turning point for jungle. This record featured a quote by General Levy himself which turned a lot of heads for other major drum & bass producers. Many of these producers began to feel that the genre was taking on too many violent elements mixed with crowds that were tinged with gangster type of appeal. This was the birth of "intelligent drum & bass." Intelligent drum & bass focused on warm, jazzy elements. It also featured samples that were atmospheric with deep basslines. Alongside the evolution of intelligent drum & bass, ragga became more stripped-down, featuring more aggressive snare drums. This style was soon titled as being "hardstep." This podcast is to musically chart the progression from acid house to darkcore, not quite leading into hardstep or intelligent. The previous episode did not demonstrate any tracks that featured the Caribbean dancehall/ragga style that had become and integral part of the jungle culture. That sound is found on DJ Spice's "New Stylee" and DJ Sparks "Hang Dem High." 4 Hero - Mr. Kirk's Nightmare (1990) 2 Bad Mice - Bombscare (1989) Stakker - Humanoid (1989) Rufige Cru - Darkrider (1992) Holy Noise - I Am A Nightmare Walking (1992) Aphrodite - Raw Motion (1992) Subject 13 - Armageddon Countdown (1992) DJ Spice - The New Stylee (1992) DJ Sparks - Hang Dem High (1992) 2 Bad Mice - Underworld (DJ Hype Remix)(1993) LTJ Bukem - Demon's Theme (1991)