The 10 Best Jungle DJ Sets of All Time

Jungle music has been a core fixture of dance music ever since it broke into the scene in the early 1990s, blending hardcore breakbeat with reggae and dub vibes.

Over the years, many of the leading figures have performed exceptional jungle DJ sets that showcase their unique style and energetic approach to dance music production.

We’ve compiled ten of the most incredible mixes from the genre to help you discover the best jungle DJ set for your taste in music.

The 10 Best Jungle DJ Sets of All Time

With several decades of jungle DJ sets to choose from, there’s no shortage of incredible mixes from the world’s most iconic jungle DJs and producers.

Let’s dive into our top 10 jungle DJ sets, from classic mixes on Radio 1 from the genre’s founding fathers to contemporary sets performed at major international festivals.

10. Photek @ BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, London (1997)

Rupert Parkes, better known as Photek, is widely ranked among the best drum and bass artists, with heavy-hitting beats and complex drum patterns in his tracks.

After an early interest in jazz and hip hop, Photek expanded his music style and began producing tracks in the drum and bass, and jungle music genres.

Before long, he was releasing music on LTJ Bukem’s Good Looking Records, the home to many of the most successful jungle producers of the 1990s.

His live jungle DJ mix on Radio 1’s Essential Mix in 1997 came at the height of his rise to fame, with the artist featuring many of his own productions in the set.

Other notable artists are also featured on the mix, with Peshay, Goldie, and Hidden Agenda among the big names from the jungle DJ world.

Abrasive drums, rugged basslines, and punchy synthesizers characterize Photek’s approach to jungle, with the mix remaining as fresh today as it was in 1997.

Photek is a textbook example of a successful DJ producer, having gone on to score music for films and video games, winning awards for his efforts.

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9. Andy C @ Ultra Music Festival, Miami (2024)

Like Photek, Andy C entered the world of drum and bass and jungle in the early years, co-founding the independent record label RAM Records in 1992.

Andy C has remained at the cutting edge of music trends ever since, as his packed DJ set at the Ultra Music Festival in 2024 demonstrates.

After gaining international attention in 1996 with his “Valley of the Shadows” track, Andy C quickly became a key player on the jungle scene.

Over the following years, he released many tracks and collaborated with major industry artists on remixes and original productions.

The Ultra Music Festival DJ set demonstrates his technical mixing skills, eclectic taste in music, and inimitable stage presence.

He has also won numerous DJ awards throughout his career, including the 2011 Drum & Bass Arena Awards for Best DJ and many people’s vote awards.

Andy C continues to DJ jungle music around the world and releases new singles that showcase his ongoing evolution as one of the leading music producers.

8. DJ Randall @ The Lab, London (2016)

Another hugely influential jungle DJ who emerged on the UK scene in the 1990s is DJ Randall, who began his journey DJing acid house at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1987.

This initial interest in electronic dance music paved the way for his entry into the broader rave scene, where he rose to prominence performing breakbeat hardcore DJ sets.

His career continued throughout the decades since, with the DJ set at The Lab in London in 2016 highlighting his enduring sense of style and effortless skills.

Just as his mixing skills have been consistently flawless, so too does this DJ set reflect his deep appreciation of the genre’s roots and evolution.

Classic jungle tracks from A Guy Called Gerald and Dillinja appear along with more recent entries, such as DRS’s 2015 “The View.”

Sadly, DJ Randall passed away in 2024 at the age of 54, leaving behind an enduring legacy as one of the most iconic jungle DJs of his generation.

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7. Nicky Blackmarket & Stevie Hyper D – One In The Jungle, London (1996)

For our next essential mix, we’re heading back to the early days of the jungle music scene, performed by Nicky Blackmarket and Stevie Hyper D in London in 1996.

The One In The Jungle event on Radio 1 held a similar place for jungle enthusiasts as the station’s Essential Mix did for a broader range of dance music.

It was an era where underground music came into its elements, with many of the best techno DJs emerging on the rave scene in the mid-1990s.

This DJ set captures some of the best releases of the era in a single mix, featuring tracks from Shy FX, Roni Size, and Concept 2.

There are also some obscure but essential oddities here, such as the Goldie Revamps the Camp Remix of Fu-Gee-La by The Fugees.

Likewise, this mix covers notable jungle music record labels of the time, with tracks from Talkin’ Loud, Trouble On Vinyl, and Phat Trax among the selection.

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6. LTJ Bukem – Mixmag Live Volume 2 (1996)

We’ve mentioned the importance of LTJ Bukem in bringing Photek to a wider audience, so it’s time to give the artist his due with one of his most impressive jungle sets.

LTJ Bukem helped define the art of DJing jungle, and this early release, produced for Mixmag in 1996, exemplifies his smooth transitions and flow.

Bukem’s music exists in the realm of liquid drum and bass and draws heavily on jazz for its style, with a timeless sense that few other DJs and producers can master.

Over the years, he created many exclusive mixes for outlets such as Mixmag and, through Good Looking Records, helped launch countless other careers.

Like the Mixmag Live Volume 2 mix and others for the outlet, Bukem also released a series of Logical Progression mixes that continue the atmospheric approach to the style.

With his impact on DJ culture secure, LTJ Bukem continues to perform extensively worldwide and release singles and EPs of original productions.

5. R.A.W. – R.A.W. Is Dead Mixtape (1994)

While most of the iconic jungle DJs and producers originated in the United Kingdom, a select few began their journey elsewhere.

R.A.W. is one such DJ and producer who burst onto the jungle scene in the early days, releasing tracks and performing in Los Angeles since 1992.

The R.A.W. Is Dead Mixtape came shortly after his debut, hitting retailers in 1994 and released as a two-tape mix for hardcore jungle fans.

It reflects the importance of mixtapes back in the 1990s, particularly for drum and bass and hip-hop artists looking to break into the music industry.

R.A.W. approached the mixtape with high ambitions, striving to create the mood of an atheist who dies and becomes aware of God’s existence.

Tracking down original copies of this rare cassette tape is difficult, but fortunately, this YouTube upload allows everyone to appreciate this innovative and moving DJ set.

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4. Micky Finn @ Amnesia House, Coventry (1994)

If you’re looking for some seriously hardcore original jungle music, you can’t go wrong diving into the bouncy and driving sounds that characterized DJ Micky Finn.

Born in 1996 as Michael Hearn, Micky Finn rose through the ranks of jungle DJs during the 1990s and performed at many hugely popular UK raves.

His set at Amnesia House in Coventry encapsulates his dominant style, with extensive use of MCing supporting his heavy beats and fast tempo.

It also showcases his revolutionary use of samples in his sets and productions, with vocal snippets and dynamic sound effects used throughout the set.

Ranked among the best old-school DJs of his generation, Finn has released many popular jungle tracks over the years on several iconic record labels.

He continues to DJ internationally to this day, taking bookings through the Urban Agency and selling merchandise through his online store.

3. DJ Hype & MC GQ @ AWOL, London (1993)

Another hugely popular 1990s jungle DJ who performed at many of the raves and festivals where Micky Finn appeared is DJ Hype.

A DJ and producer with a short but impressive discography of original tracks, DJ Hype collaborated with MC GQ for this classic jungle set from 1993.

It shares the same intensity and reliance on iconic drum loops as other sets from the era, with MC GQ providing additional vocal texture over the beats.

DJ Hype’s technical abilities are also on full show, ranging from double record phrasing and scratching to pitch beeps and more.

It’s especially impressive considering the set was performed using turntables and a mixer, which lack modern DJ controllers’ auto tempo and phrase recognition.

This particular set represents the one and only time that DJ Hype performed at AWOL in London, giving it a special place in the hearts of many dedicated fans.

DJ Hype would go on to dominate the scene throughout the 1990s and beyond, releasing tracks such as “Shot in the Dark” and “Super Sharp Shooter.”

The latter track remains one of the most well-known jungle releases to this day, and it is still played by jungle and drum and bass DJs worldwide.

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2. Roni Size & DJ Krust @ The End, London (1997)

Roni Size and DJ Krust are two more titans of the jungle music scene who released tracks that dominate the airwaves to this day.

Size’s “Brown Paper Bag,” like “Super Sharp Shooter,” helped to bring the jungle genre to a broader audience and filter into the mainstream consciousness.

Roni Size and DJ Krust began collaborating in the late 1990s and became famous DJs for their forward-thinking approach to hardcore and rave music.

In 1997, Roni Size formed the group Roni Size & Reprazent, which catapulted them into the underground dance music scene thanks to the success of the debut album New Forms.

This release set the foundation for Roni Size and DJ Krust’s performance at The End nightclub in London in 1997.

The End and Fabric dominated the electronic dance music scene at the time, and Roni Size and DJ Krust capitalized on the event to raise their profile.

The DJ set was also broadcast live on Radio 1’s One In The Jungle show, further enhancing their reputation and bringing them to a wider audience.

It marks the transition from underground pirate radio DJ to mainstream artist and represents the best that the genre of music offers.

1. Goldie @ Boiler Room (2018)

Our final mix comes from none other than Goldie, a true pioneer of electronic music and one of the genre’s founding fathers.

Goldie’s career began when he became fascinated with the early breakbeat scene in the UK, emerging around the rave scene in the early 1990s.

Before long, he became one of the leading figures in jungle and drum and bass, with his 1992 “Metalheadz” track smashing the charts.

While there are many great early Goldie DJ sets, his 2018 set at Boiler Room demonstrates the evolution of his musical and performance style.

It’s also a mix that covers a broad spectrum of tracks from the genre, beginning with older releases from LTJ Bukem and Source Direct before moving on to contemporary releases.

This makes it a must for anyone interested in staying relevant as a DJ and performing sets that pay respect to past masters while remaining fresh and modern.

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Summary

Jungle music continues to thrive in the electronic dance scene, with many notable producers still releasing tracks and hitting the decks at clubs and festivals.

The ten DJ sets we’ve covered here are just the tip of the iceberg, and each DJ featured has many more outstanding sets for you to listen to at your leisure.

As you dive deeper into the world of jungle music, you’ll discover new and exciting artists and DJs who are committed to keeping the genre alive and kicking.