Spotlight: Kenny Ken

Kenny Ken touches down at Bassrush on Wednesday September 12th, so we thought we’d take a moment and give everyone a little back story on one of the originators of this thing we call jungle / drum & bass. We’ve also dug up a special 1995 archive set from BBC Radio1’s One In The Jungle show with Kenny Ken on the decks and MC GQ on the mic for your downloading pleasure, so make sure to check the link & tracklist at the end of this post!

So, just how old school is Kenny Ken?

As mentioned above, he was there for the One in the Jungle era of BBC Radio1 (1995 – 1997), a pivotal moment in drum & bass when more mainstream media outlets like the BBC began supporting the genre. He served hosting duties numerous times throughout the show’s two year stint after already being a mainstay on Kiss FM and pirate stations like Dance FM and Centerforce.

Kenny Ken also held a residency at AWOL, a legendary series of parties that many consider to be the height of early jungle: “Then came AWOL which, as far as I’m concerened, were the best parties and have never been matched by anyone up to this day. I played at AWOL week in week out only being absent when I had to go abroad.The AWOL era is a big part of my DJing career…”

And then there’s “Everyman,” one of the early jungle anthems (1994) that has since gone on to be an old school mainstay, landing on jungle compilations and mix CDs far and wide. Collaborating with D-R-S, Kenny Ken produced the original while also serving remix duties on a 2001 re-rub.

Before the explosion of jungle / drum & bass, Kenny Ken cut his teeth as a full-time DJ dropping house, techno, and UK garage sets to the first wave of ravers across the UK. Here, he earned the nickname “Mix and Blen’” because he was precisely beatmatching records and rinsing out extended mixes when every other DJ was pretty much all about the fade up / fade out transition. Mix and Blen’ later became the moniker for one of his record labels, which has gone on to have over 30 releases through its 10 year run and still has a healthy output today. He also handles a 2nd label, Planet Funk Recordings, alongside DJ Mace where they collaborate to push the forward-thinking liquid sounds of artists like, Electrosoul System, Supply & Demand, and Physics.

Kenny Ken & MC GQ – One In The Jungle on BBC Radio1 (August 10th 1995)
[DOWNLOAD]
Tracklist:
[00:15] ??? [Unknown]
[02:31] ??? [Unknown]
[05:40] H.M.P. – Runnin’s [Frontline]
[09:01] DJ Krust – Set Speed [V]
[11:15] ??? [Unknown]
[14:03] ??? [Unknown]
[17:47] ??? [Unknown]
[20:52] Shy FX – This Style [S.O.U.R.]
[24:58] ??? [Unknown]

**Top Ten Countdown**:

10/ Fallen Angels – Taken Over/Frequency (Tango Remix) [Creative Wax]
09/ Desired State – Goes Around/Here & Now [Ram]
08/ H.M.P. – Runnin’s/Lifa’s Mix [Frontline]
07/ Aquasky – Dezires/Images [Moving Shadow]
06/ DJ Dextrous – Wanted (Dead Or Alive)/Pure Sex [Subversive]
05/ T-Power & MK Ultra – Turquoise/Mutant Jazz (Rollers Instinct Remix) [S.O.U.R.]
04/ Rude Bwoy Monty – Warp 9 Mr. Zulu/Summer Sumting [Frontline]
03/ Photek – The Seventh Samurai/Complex [Photek Productions]
02/ Adam F – Lighter Style/Burning Deep [Section 5]
[27:30] 01/ Alex Reece – Pulp Fiction/Chill Pill [Metalheadz] Played: Pulp Fiction

**Kenny Ken continues:

[30:03] Mikey James – Do You Dream? [Suburban Base]
[34:17] Aladdin – Mash Up Yer Know [Aladdin]
[39:09] Roni Size – Timestretch (Origin Unknown ‘95 Re-Lick) [V]
[42:46] ??? [Unknown]
[46:41] Rude & Deadly Vs. Da Dogz – Give Me A Dub [No Smoking]
[49:45] The Terrorist – Sing Time (Remix – Part 2, Dubplate Version) [Unreleased]
[51:44] DJ Hype & Ganja Max – Pum Pum Mus Smoke Ganja [Ganja]
[54:35] Urban Shakedown ft. D.BO General – Some Justice ‘95 (Kenny Ken V.I.P.) [Unreleased]
[57:23] Asend – Can’t Play Bass [Second Movement]