Jun 1, 2020
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Album cover for City Girls’s ‘R.A.W’
Dropping this Friday, October
Jungle 2023 Live Sets by Kenny Ken, 6BLOCC aka R.A.W.
Kenny Ken Live Set - Jungle 2023 Los Angeles Warehouse
132-minute audio and video recording of Kenny Ken Live Set at Jungle 2023, recorded at a Los Angeles warehouse, on July 8, 2023. Featuring Werd MC. The set began at 12:30 AM the following morning.
Rave Tapes · Kenny Ken Live Set - Jungle 2023 LA Warehouse
6BLOCC aka R.A.W. Live Set Jungle 2023, July 8 2023
60-minute audio and video recording of 6BLOCC aka R.A.W. live set at Jungle 2023, recorded on July 8, 2023, at a warehouse near downtown LA. The set began at 11:25 PM.
Rave Tapes · 6BLOCC aka R.A.W. Live Set Jungle 2023 July
[Video coming soon!]
Curious? Live Set - Jungle 2023 July 8 Los Angeles
80-minute audio recording and 52-minute video of DJ Curious? live set at Jungle 2023. The set began around 10 PM.
Rave Tapes · Curious? Live Set - Jungle 2023 July 8 Los Angeles
APX-1 Jungle 2023 Live Set feat. Werd MC
Rave Tapes · APX-1 Jungle 2023 Live Set feat. Werd MC
Here's a content dump from last Saturday night. The event was Jungle 2023, July 8 edition. This was next in a series of drum-and-bass events in Los Angeles produced by the people behind Technostate, a long-running and well-respected production crew.
The headliner was Kenny Ken supported by R.A.W., Curious?, and APX-1.
I have been told Kenny Ken is an OG of legendary status. I don't know firsthand because…well, because I'm largely ignorant of the jungle and drum & bass genres. I acknowledge I'm mostly aware of the LA-based og's, along with a few major UK names - that's it. Nevertheless, I can sniff out talent when it's presented before me. Thanks to R.A.W. and the Technostate crew for brining out Kenny Ken, because the set was delectable, start to finish.
A few comments about R.A.W.'s set. Raoul is the source water of the LA jungle scene. He was there at the beginning. He introduced jungle to LA. And he's been an 100-percent committed junglist ever since. He has to be one of the most prolific jungle producers out there. He has a massive BandCamp library of original works, remixes, and mashups, as well as sample packs aimed at music producers.
Every time R.A.W. plays, he brings something different. This night was noteworthy, as usual. His set was packed with fascinating 6BLOCC mashups and remixes. 6BLOCC is R.A.W.'s primary producer alias. He goes by both names. I'll title this set as 6BLOCC aka R.A.W. because it really feels like a 6BLOCC set based on the selections. I guarantee R.A.W. fans will be intrigued by this one.
The night opened by Curious? an og legend in his own right, who played alongside R.A.W. going back to the early 90's. His set was a dreamy journey of various d&b flavors.
APX-1, another heavy-hitter from the original LA jungle scene, closed out the night.
The next Jungle 2023 has been announced for Friday, August 11. It will be a free event, lineup TBA! Follow my socials for updates.
Mampi Swift, Star Eyes, live sets from Jungle 2023 Los Angeles
VIDEO and AUDIO live sets of Mampi Swift, Star Eyes, and R.A.W. live at Jungle 2023! Recorded on June 3, 2023, in a small warehouse near the heart of Los Angeles. Content below!
Ahh jungle and drum and bass. It seems there has been a resurging popularity in the genre recently, but did interest ever go away since the style emerged in the early 90's? I'm not sure.
I know that since the beginning, jungle offered an alternative to the inherently repetitive 4-on-the-floor beat of house, techno, and trance. As a drummer and percussionist, I was intrigued by jungle's complex breakbeats and chopped-up rhythms. It was very different than anything else being played at raves and clubs at the time.
Junglists were dedicated. I imagined they saw themselves as graduates of breakbeat and techno, whose taste had evolved into something more sophisticated.
The undisputed leader of the LA movement was and continues to be R.A.W. I've written quite a lot about him, I won't repeat myself. Suffice to say he has mythical status. If he showed up at a party, you knew you were in for something special. You could be sure he would bring things no one had heard before, as well as mix in anthems that he himself elevated into anthems.
I eventually drifted away from jungle simply because it was harder for me to dance to. I found the slower, consistent beat of deep house more seductive. But I admit my preference is purely subjective, purely personal taste.
Yet, the genre always maintained a following. Today, jungle events seem to happen quite regularly. And every year drum and bass has noticeable footprint at EDC, with 2023's lineup including Andy C.
This show was the second in a series of three underground jungle events in LA scheduled for Summer 2023. Not insignificantly, the production crew includes members that have been around since the early days. These folks know a thing or two about throwing all night dance events. As expected, all the requirements were met: smallish warehouse in a commercial district 15 minutes from Downtown LA, massive sound system, a few lights and lasers, and top-tier talent. What else is needed?
Last month's installment featured three amazing dnb artists/dj's I hadn't heard before: Kallan HK, DJ Dazee, and Empress. I didn't know them not because they aren't well known. I'm simply ignorant of the dnb scene, that's all. Dazee's set can be found on YouTube and SoundCloud, Kallan HK's live set is on SoundCloud. Highly recommended.
Likewise, I was unfamiliar with the two headliners this time: Star Eyes and Mampi Swift. And like before, I was blown away.
Star Eyes' set was a master class on drum and bass dj'ing technique. I often frequent dj forums on Reddit and elsewhere. Sometimes I'll offer advice to newbies asking "how to dj". In most cases, I want to tell them how I learned to dj – by watching the pros, up close, for hours.
And that's just what I did. I was there in the room recording, anyway. Of course I was fascinated by how the dj's cue'd up and mixed records. Back in the day, when dj's were positioned on the floor next to the dancers, one could stand to the side and watch – and study – the dj's moves.
The problem today is that most times, dj's are physically separated from the audience, either by a big stage or distant booth. A wannabe dj can't stand and look over a dj's shoulder anymore. Now, we fans are down in the pit looking up at the dj, with no clear view of the decks and mixer.
Well, videos like these are the next best option. The side angle provides an excellent view of the dj and decks, making it possible to observe their craft.
And what a craft.
One is mesmerized listening and watching Star Eyes seamlessly bring each track in and out, with flourishes of filter tweaks and fader cuts.
And Mampi Swift? Oh my days!
I told him afterwards his set was like a religious experience for me. I don't even listen to jungle and dnb that much. But holy smokes, I had never heard anything like that before. It was some powerful stuff. I have to go back and give the set a few good listens to fully comprehend the experience. I can just say that the tracks were really extraordinary. The production/sound quality was tops, technically speaking. But the sounds, arrangements, samples, and the builds... It was a mind-bending trip. A sonic journey through the lens of drum and bass, yes, but a fascinating musical journey regardless of the genre.
As is the tradition with this genre, the music is accompanied by emceeing. Originally, I was indifferent to emcees rapping over drum and bass. But it's grown on me. Indeed, if I heard it without an emcee, it would probably sound like something was missing.
Saturday night we were blessed with two local emcees trading off – MCMC, and MC Word. The guys add a lot. It takes talent to come up with the lyrical flows, remember them, and execute without fumbling. And good adlib is very entertaining. Balance is usually best, and fortunately MCMC and Word know when to let it rip and when to lay low.
Local legend R.A.W. opened the event. Respected veteran Scooba closed it out. Audio of their sets can be found below.
The recordings came out nice. The video is decent – my gear is entry level 1080 HD, old technology. Still, better than nothing. The audio sounds good – strong levels, no issues besides the dj mic levels getting hot occasionally (beyond my control). The audio of the YouTube and Soundcloud versions will be different, with the SoundCloud versions sounding slightly better.
If you missed this event, now's your chance to experience some of it. I hope you enjoy!
The next installment of Jungle 2023 will happen July 8. Featured artist will be Kenny Ken (UK). Visit Jungle2023.com for more info. I'm not sure if that one will be streamed live or recorded for sharing later. In any case, follow Rave Tapes on Instagram, SoundCloud, and Facebook to know when new content goes live.
Mampi Swift Live Set – Jungle 2023 LA dnb warehouse rave
VIDEO:
AUDIO:
Rave Tapes · Mampi Swift Live Set - Jungle 2023 LA Warehouse
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Star Eyes Live Set – Jungle 2023 LA dnb warehouse rave
VIDEO:
AUDIO:
Rave Tapes · Star Eyes Live Set - Jungle 2023 LA Warehouse
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R.A.W. Live Set – Jungle 2023 LA dnb warehouse rave
Rave Tapes · R.A.W. Jungle 2023 Live Set - LA Warehouse - June 3 2023
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DJ Scooba Live Set – Jungle 2023 Los Angeles
Rave Tapes · Scooba Live Set - Jungle 2023 LA Warehouse
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Jungle 2023 – June 3, 2023 flyer
Completed on 11/24/18, I wanted to prove to myself that I could finish a longer written work. It's been two and a half years of work between parts 2 and 3 because I was still working on college and at a job and at other life stuff. After I graduated, I sat down to finish it, which took a few months, and revision took a few months as well (longer than I had hoped, admittedly). But, overall, I'm very proud of the work I've done and what I've created with Topaz. She’s taught me a lot about my path ahead as an author. I feel I am now more than ready to sit down and write my first book to be published.
I'm going to print out parts 2 and 3, frame them, and, with part 1, hang them up on my wall.
She taught me a lot about myself, as funny as that may sound. Because of her I learned so much about illustration/drawing and storytelling. She will be with ...
Topaz is an original character based off the series, Steven Universe. She came into my life at the right time as she gave me something to focus on that wasn't the frustrations I was facing during my time at university. She is the embodiment of my frustration, and she taught me a lot about myself and a lot about what I'm capable of. Her story is now, after three and a half years, done. She gave me great practice for the path ahead of me. She will be with me for the rest of my life. Check out the link for a video showcasing and explaining more about who Topaz is and how far I've come as an artist and a writer because of her. Thank you. -R.A.W.
Part 2 of Topaz's story: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13076038/1/Falling-Star
It is in prose form, like I said. This part was completed on 2/6/16. Since then, now that I've completed part 3, I've only changed a few small things to make better sense with the overall story. Everything still happens the same way, however, and I didn't change the way it was written from over 2 years ago (word choice, pacing, etc). Looking back on it, I had originally anticipated finishing part 3 a month or so after part 2 was done. Well... life would not have it that way. Two and a half years later, part 3 is done. (More than anything I wanted to prove to myself that I could finish a longer written work, and also that I would not stop halfway through Topaz's story and let her die.)
Anyway, here's a link to the first chapter of Part 2: "Falling Star." Though there are no "chapters" to parts 2 or 3, breaking them up into sections seemed more manageable for readers (not to mention it refreshes the story to the top of the "latest submission" wall with every "chapter").
The sections of the story will be uploaded over the next several days, and part 3 will be uploaded soon after that.
Thank you. -R.A.W.