Jump to content

Ragga Twins: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
 
(47 intermediate revisions by 32 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|English ragga and jungle MC duo}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = The Ragga Twins
| name = The Ragga Twins
| background = group_or_band <!-- mandatory format: please do not change or remove -->
| background = group_or_band <!-- mandatory format: please do not change or remove -->
Line 8: Line 9:
| caption =
| caption =
| origin = [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], England
| origin = [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], England
| genre = [[Ragga]], [[oldschool jungle|jungle]], [[dancehall]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]]
| genre = [[Ragga]], [[dancehall]], [[jungle music|jungle]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]]
| years_active = 1989–present
| years_active = 1989–present
| label = [[Shut Up and Dance (band)|Shut Up & Dance]], [[EMI]], [[Soul Jazz Records|Soul Jazz]]
| label = [[Shut Up and Dance (duo)|Shut Up and Dance Records]], [[Positiva]], [[Soul Jazz Records|Soul Jazz]]
| associated_acts = [[Aquasky]], Shut Up & Dance [[Skrillex]]
| associated_acts = {{Flatlist|
* [[Shut Up and Dance (duo)|Shut Up and Dance]]
| current_members = *Deman Rocker
* [[Pegboard Nerds]]}}
| current_members =
*Deman Rocker
*Flinty Badman
*Flinty Badman
}}
}}


'''The Ragga Twins''' or "RTC" are an English [[ragga]] and [[oldschool jungle|jungle]] group from [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], England, composed of London UNITY [[sound system (DJ)|sound system]] veteran [[MC]]s Deman Rocker and Flinty Badman (real names David and Trevor Destouche).<ref>{{cite web|first=Dorian|last=Lynskey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jun/27/filmandmusic1.filmandmusic33 |title=CD: Ragga Twins, Ragga Twins Step Out |work=The Guardian |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> They are regarded as pioneers of jungle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/19750/1/ragga-twins-on-jungles-year-zero |title=Ragga Twins on jungle's year zero &#124; Dazed |publisher=Dazeddigital.com |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] called them "crucial cogs in the development of U.K. dance music."<ref name="all">{{cite web|title=Biography & History|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-ragga-twins-mn0000328755/biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=15 August 2017}}</ref>
The '''Ragga Twins''', also known as '''RTC''', are an English [[ragga]] and [[jungle music|jungle]] [[Emcees|MC]] duo of Deman Rocker (David Destouche) and Flinty Badman (Trevor Destouche). Originating from [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], [[England]], they started out on [[London]]'s Unity [[sound system (DJ)|sound system]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Dorian|last=Lynskey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jun/27/filmandmusic1.filmandmusic33 |title=CD: Ragga Twins, Ragga Twins Step Out |work=The Guardian |date=26 June 2008 |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> and are regarded as pioneers of the scene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/19750/1/ragga-twins-on-jungles-year-zero |title=Ragga Twins on jungle's year zero &#124; Dazed |website=Dazeddigital.com |date=30 April 2014 |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] called them "crucial cogs in the development of U.K. dance music."<ref name="all">{{cite web|title=Biography & History|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-ragga-twins-mn0000328755/biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=15 August 2017}}</ref>


==History==
In 2008, [[Soul Jazz Records]] issued a [[compilation album]] of their early 1990s recordings entitled ''Ragga Twins Step Out''.<ref name="Pitchfork.com">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12033-ragga-twins-step-out/ |title=Ragga Twins: Ragga Twins Step Out &#124; Album Reviews |work=Pitchfork |date=1 August 2008 |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="web.archive.org">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100106205013/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/ragga-twins/ragga-twins-step-out ]</ref>
The Ragga Twins originated as part of London's Unity [[sound system (Jamaican)|sound system]], operating under the name in 1989. They first came to prominence with a number of groundbreaking singles in the early 1990s including "Spliffhead", "Wipe the Needle", "Hooligan 69" and "Mixed Truth", with production by [[Shut Up and Dance (duo)|Shut Up & Dance]]. This was followed by album ''[[Reggae Owes Me Money]]'' in 1991.<ref name="all"/> They resurfaced in 1995 on [[Positiva]], and continued to release tracks intermittently into the 2000s.<ref name="all"/>


The Ragga Twins longest musical relationship is with [[Aquasky]], a partnership that was first cemented in 2001 when the tracks "All in Check" feat. CoGee and "Loko"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=424 |title=RA Reviews: Aquasky vs Masterblaster feat. The Ragga Twins – Loko on Botchit & Scarper (Single) |publisher=Residentadvisor.net |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> were written for Botchit & Scarper. Four months later, the tracks "Coffee" and "Dem No No We" were recorded for drum and bass label [[Moving Shadow]], and in 2002, the [[drum and bass]] track "Dirty Entertainers" was recorded with Aquasky on their now defunct Sonix label. The following year, a remix was created and white labels distributed but the single was never released due to Aquasky leaving their distribution deal with ST Holdings and moving to SRD.
David is the father of Essex-based grime MCs RD (Renae Destouche) and Mr X.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}<!-- WP:RS needed; removed link to WP:SPS (Twitter, FB, WP)-->{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}<!-- WP:RS needed; removed link to WP:SPS (Twitter, FB, WP)-->


A series of 12" singles have been released with Aquasky on their Passenger label since 2002, including new tracks for the 601 album ''We Do Bass'' and a Ragga Twins 2002–2013 compilation album. In 2004, Aquasky were approached by [[HBO]] for the usage of the tracks "Loko" or "Dem No No We" to be used in the [[Ali G]] series ''[[Ali G in Da USA]]''. HBO finally settled on "Dem No No We" which took the Ragga Twins' new breakbeat output to [[United States|America]]. A video was shot for the "Superbad" single in 2011 by b-boy and film-maker Charlie Marbles, a friend of Aquasky also from [[Bournemouth]].
==History==
The Ragga Twins originated as part of London's Unity [[sound system (Jamaican)|sound system]], operating under the name in 1989. They issued a number of singles in the early 1990s as well as the album ''Reggae Owes Me Money'' (1991) with production by [[Shut Up and Dance (band)|Shut Up & Dance]].<ref name="all"/> AllMusic described these releases "fiercely energetic mutations of [[dancehall]], [[hip-hop]], and jungle."<ref name="all"/> They resurfaced in 1995 on [[EMI]], and continued to release tracks intermittently into the 2000s.<ref name="all"/>


In 2008, the Twins lent their vocals to the Backdraft single, "Rock the Mic".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.culturedeluxe.com/news_item.asp?id=4974 |title=Archived copy |access-date=14 October 2008 |archive-date=26 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526191355/http://www.culturedeluxe.com/news_item.asp?id=4974 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2010, they were featured on Mason and the Fraudster's track "U Appear". Flinty Badman & Deman Rocker appeared in the [[Plan B (musician)|Plan B]] crime film ''[[Ill Manors]]'' in 2012. In 2014, they featured on "All is Fair in Love and Brostep" and "[[Ragga Bomb]]" from [[Skrillex]]'s debut album ''[[Recess (album)|Recess]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.beatport.com/blog/2014/04/02/skrillex-releases-video-for-ragga-bomb-featuring-jungle-legends-ragga-twins/ |title=Skrillex releases video for 'Ragga Bomb' featuring jungle legends Ragga Twins |publisher=News.beatport.com |accessdate=24 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140606094553/http://news.beatport.com/blog/2014/04/02/skrillex-releases-video-for-ragga-bomb-featuring-jungle-legends-ragga-twins/ |archivedate=6 June 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and "Zipper" from MUST DIE!'s album ''Death & Magic''.
The Ragga Twins' longest musical relationship is with [[Aquasky]], a partnership that was first cemented in 2001 when the tracks "All in Check ft. CoGee" and "Loko"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=424 |title=RA Reviews: Aquasky vs Masterblaster feat. The Ragga Twins – Loko on Botchit & Scarper (Single) |publisher=Residentadvisor.net |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> were written for Botchit & Scarper. Four months later the tracks "Coffee" and "Dem No No We" were recorded for drum and bass label [[Moving Shadow]], and in 2002, the [[drum and bass]] track "Dirty Entertainers" was recorded with Aquasky on their now defunct Sonix label. The following year a remix was created and white labels distributed but the single was never released due to Aquasky leaving their distribution deal with ST Holdings and moving to SRD.


In 2008, [[Soul Jazz Records]] issued a [[compilation album]] of their early 1990s recordings entitled ''[[Ragga Twins Step Out]]''.<ref name="Pitchfork.com">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12033-ragga-twins-step-out/ |title=Ragga Twins: Ragga Twins Step Out &#124; Album Reviews |work=Pitchfork |date=1 August 2008 |accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="xlr8">{{cite web|url=http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/ragga-twins/ragga-twins-step-out|title=Ragga Twins Step Out - XLR8R|date=6 January 2010|website=XLR8R|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106205013/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/ragga-twins/ragga-twins-step-out|archivedate=6 January 2010}}</ref>
A series of 12" singles have been released with Aquasky on their Passenger label since 2002, including new tracks for the 601 album "We Do Bass" and a forthcoming Ragga Twins 2002–2013 compilation album. In 2004, Aquasky were approached by [[HBO]] for the usage of the tracks 'Loko' or 'Dem No No We' to be used in the [[Ali G]] series "[[Ali G in Da USA]]". HBO finally settled on "Dem No No We" which took the Ragga Twins' new breakbeat output to [[United States|America]]. A video was shot for the "Superbad" single in 2011 by bboy and film-maker Charlie Marbles, a friend of Aquasky also from Bournemouth.


Ragga Twins play regularly on the [[Kool London]] [[radio station]].
In 2008, the Twins lent their vocals to the Backdraft single, "Rock the Mic".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232826/http://www.culturedeluxe.com/news_item.asp?id=4974 ]</ref> In 2010, they were featured on Mason and the Fraudster's track "U Appear". Flinty Badman & Deman Rocker appeared in the [[Plan B (musician)|Plan B]] crime film ''[[Ill Manors]]'' in 2012. In 2014, they featured on "All is Fair in Love and Brostep" and "[[Ragga Bomb]]" from [[Skrillex]]'s debut album ''[[Recess (album)|Recess]]''.,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.beatport.com/blog/2014/04/02/skrillex-releases-video-for-ragga-bomb-featuring-jungle-legends-ragga-twins/ |title=Skrillex releases video for 'Ragga Bomb' featuring jungle legends Ragga Twins |publisher=News.beatport.com |accessdate=24 April 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20140606094553/http://news.beatport.com/blog/2014/04/02/skrillex-releases-video-for-ragga-bomb-featuring-jungle-legends-ragga-twins/ |archivedate=6 June 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and "Zipper" from [[MUST DIE!]]'s album ''Death & Magic''. In 2008, [[Soul Jazz Records]] issued a [[compilation album]] of their early 1990s [[sound recording and reproduction|recordings]] (notably their collaborations with production team/label [[Shut Up and Dance (band)|Shut Up and Dance]]) entitled ''Ragga Twins Step Out''.<ref name="Pitchfork.com"/><ref name="web.archive.org"/>

Ragga Twins play regularly on [[Kool FM]], now Kool London.


==Discography==
==Discography==

===Albums===
===Albums===
* ''Reggae Owes Me Money'' (1991) – [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] No. 26
* ''[[Reggae Owes Me Money]]'' ([[Shut Up and Dance (duo)|Shut Up and Dance Records]], 1991) – [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] No. 26
* ''Rinsin' Lyrics'' (1995)
* ''Rinsin' Lyrics'' ([[Positiva]], 1995)
* ''Keep On Chant'' (Solid Vinyl Music, 2003)
* ''Ragga Twins Step Out'' (2008, [[Soul Jazz Records]])<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book

| first= David
===Compilations===
| last= Roberts
* ''[[Ragga Twins Step Out]]'' (2008)
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 448}}</ref>
* Keep On Chant (2003) Solid Vinyl Music


===Singles===
===Singles===
* "Illegal Gunshot" / "Spliffhead" ([[Shut Up and Dance (duo)|Shut Up and Dance Records]], 1990) – [[UK Singles chart|UK]] No. 51
* "Blaze It Up" – WE CHIEF ft. Ragga Twins and Captain Planet (2014)
* "Illegal Gunshot" / "Spliffhead" (1990) [[UK Singles chart|UK]] No. 51
* "Wipe the Needle" / "Juggling" (Shut Up and Dance, 1991) – UK No. 71
* "Wipe the Needle" / "Juggling" (1991) – UK No. 71
* "Hooligan 69" (Shut Up and Dance, 1991) – UK No. 76
* "Hooligan 69" (1991) – UK No. 56
* "Mixed Truth" / "Bring Up the Mic Some More" (Shut Up and Dance, 1992) – UK No. 65
* "Mixed Truth" / "Bring Up The Mic Some More" (1992) – UK No. 65
* "Shine Eye" feat. [[Junior Reed]] (Shut Up and Dance, 1992) – UK 63
* ''Freedom Train EP'' ([[Positiva]], 1995)
* "Shine Eye" (1992) – UK 63 †
* "All in Check" feat. CoGee / "Loko" with [[Aquasky]] (Botchit & Scarper, 2002)
* "Freedom Train" (1995) RT 4 track 12"
* "Coffee" / "Dem No No We" with Aquasky ([[Moving Shadow]], 2003)
* "All in Check ft CoGee" / "Loko" (2002) – Aquasky vs Masterblaster – (from Aquasky's "Beat The System" album on Botchit & Scarper)
* "Jerlipy lipy" (Solid Vinyl, 2003)
* "Coffee" / "Dem No No We" (2003) – Aquasky vs Masterblaster – (from Aquasky's "Stayfresh" album on Moving Shadow – "Dem No No We" was used for the theme music for the second series of "Ali G in the USA")
* "E Legal Gunshot" (Solid Vinyl, 2003)
* "Shut Em Down" with TC Izlam & Ed Solo (Solid Vinyl, 2003)
* "Dirty Entertainers" with Aquasky (Sonix, 2003)
* "Ready for This" with Aquasky (777 Records, 2005)
* "Everybody Hype" feat. DJ Go with Aquasky (777 Records, 2006)
* "Let Me See Your Hands" / "Let Me See Your Hands" with Aquasky (777 Records, 2007)
* "Rock the Mic" with Backdraft (Passenger Records, 2007)
* "Bring Forth Ya Booty" with 10 Sui & La Resistance (Mob Records, 2008)
* "Give It Up" with Aquasky (Passenger Records, 2008)
* "Living Legends" / "Raggatron" with Aquasky (Passenger Records, 2010)
* "Humble" feat. Tenor Fly with Aquasky (Passenger Records, 2011)
* "Heatwave" feat. MC Spyda, CoGee, Pedro Slimer & M-TEK (Passenger Records, 2012)
* "Hot Like We" with Realecta (2015)
* "All Is Fair in Love and Brostep" with [[Skrillex]] ([[Big Beat Records (American record label)|Big Beat Records]], 2014)
* "[[Ragga Bomb]]" with Skrillex (Big Beat Records, 2014)
* "Bad Man (Skrillex Remix)" with Skrillex ([[Owsla]], 2015)
* "Get Ready 4 tha Drop" with Charlotte Devaney (Karma London, 2015)
* "Windpipe" with Barely Alive (Disciple, 2015)
* "Worldwide" with [[Metrik]] ([[Hospital Records]], 2016)
* "Madman" with RIOT (Play Me Too Records, 2016)
* "Watch Out" with [[Dirtyphonics]] and [[Bassnectar]] (Monstercat, 2017)
* "Move It Up" with MDE (Get Twisted Records, 2017)
* "Kingston" with Mekanikal (Harsh Records, 2018)
* "Hammer" with Mr Quest (Solid Vinyl Music, 2018)
* "Ready" with Ndrew LG (Nelation, 2018)
* "For the People" with Seanie T (Fatback Records, 2018)
* "For the People (Dub)" with Seanie T (Fatback Records, 2018)
* "Ragga House" with Sentinel Groove (Tumbata Records, 2019)
* "Ragga House (Radio Edit)" with Sentinel Groove (Tumbata Records, 2019)
* "Toppa Top" with Full Kontakt & VEGAS (Bad Taste Recordings, 2019)
* ''War Start EP'' with Dr Meaker, Krucial & Lexxus (Kartoons, 2019)
*
*
* "Computa Hakka" with [[Pegboard Nerds]] (Monstercat, 2019)
* "Blood" with Gray (Born On Road Records" 2019)
* "Fruity" with Krucial (Kartoons, 2019)
* "We a Dem" with High Roll (Formation Records, 2021)
* "Mad Again" with Krucial (Kartoons, 2021)
* "Mad Again (Dub)" with Krucial (Kartoons, 2021)
* "Depolarize" with Dirt Monkey (19K, 2021)
* "Bloom" with Sammy Virji (self-released by Sammy Virji, 2022)
* "Gyal Factory (Radio Mix)" with Rumble (Liondub International, 2022)
* "Bring the Fire" with Iskia (Jungle Cakes, 2022)
* "Party Starters" with J Wilz, LOAD B & BlckHry (self-released by J Wilz, 2023)
*
*
* "Big Hammer" with [[James Blake (musician)|James Blake]] (Polydor, 2023)
* "Bruk It Up" with Charlotte Devaney & M-Tek (Karma London Records, 2023)
* "Bring the Fire" with Iskia (Jungle Cakes, 2023)
* "Keys to the City" with Iskia (Jungle Cakes, 2023)
* "Fix" with Nasser UK & Teej (Jungle Cakes, 2023)
* "Allstars Mic" with Krucial (DnB Allstars Records, 2023)


==See also==
* "Jerlipy lipy" (2003) – Mr.Quest – released on Solid Vinyl (Mr.Quest's d&b label)
*[[Shut Up and Dance (duo)|Shut Up and Dance]]


==References==
* "e legal gunshot" (2003) – Mr.Quest – released on Solid Vinyl (Mr.Quest's d&b label)
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
* "shut em down" (2003) – TC Izlam & Ed Solo – released on Solid Vinyl (Mr.Quest's d&b label)
*{{Discogs artist|artist=The+Ragga+Twins|name=Ragga Twins}}


{{Authority control}}
* "Dirty Entertainers" (2003) – Aquasky – released on Sonix Records (Aquasky's d&b label)
* "Ready For This" (2005) – Aquasky vs Masterblaster – 777 Records – (also included on Aquasky's 2006 album 'Teamplayers' on Passenger Records)
* "Everybody Hype ft. DJ Go (from the Mixologists" / "Let It Burn") (2006) – Aquasky – 777 Records
* "Let Me See Your Hands" / "Let Me See Your Hands (The Bodysnatchers Mix)" (2007) – Aquasky – 777 Records
* "Rock The Mic" (2007) – Backdraft – Passenger Records
* "Bring Forth Ya Booty" (2008) – 10 Sui & La Resistance – (featured in Hollywood Hit Epic Movie)
* "Give It Up (Old Skool Style)" / "Give It Up (Old Skool Style) – Aquasky Clunk Clik Mix" / "Give It Up (Old School Style) – Trevor Loveys Fidgerty Dub Mix" / "Give It Up (Old School Style) – Trevor Loveys Vocal Mix" / "Give It Up (Old School Style) – Michael Morph Legit Mix" (2008) – Aquasky – Passenger Records
* "Living Legends" / "Raggatron" (2010) – Aquasky – Passenger Records
* "Superbad ft. Pedro Slimer, M-TEK & Mr. Thing" / "Humble ft Tenor Fly" (2011) – (from Aquasky's "Raise The Devil" album on Passenger Records)
* "Heatwave ft. MC Spyda, CoGee, Pedro Slimer & M-TEK" (2012) – (also on the "Bring The Ruckus" (2013) album on Passenger Records)
*Ragga Twins featuring [[Junior Reid]]<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
;2014
*"All Is Far in Love and Brostep" {{small|([[Skrillex]] featuring Ragga Twins)}} from ''[[Recess (album)|Recess]]'' by '''Skrillex'''.
*"[[Ragga Bomb]]" {{small|(Skrillex featuring Ragga Twins)}} from ''Recess'' by '''Skrillex'''.

;2015
*"Bad Man (Skrillex Remix)" from ''OWSLA Spring Compilation 2015'' by [[OWSLA]].
*Charlotte Devaney "Get Ready 4 Tha Drop" feat. Ragga Twins
*Barely Alive - "Windpipe" feat. Ragga Twins

;2016
*[[Metrik]] - "Worldwide" feat. Ragga Twins

;2017
*[[Dirtyphonics]] and [[Bassnectar]] "[[Watch Out (Dirtyphonics and Bassnectar song)|Watch Out]]" feat. Ragga Twins

==See also==
*[[List of Peel sessions]]

==References==
{{reflist}}{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Musical groups from London]]
[[Category:Musical groups from the London Borough of Hackney]]
[[Category:English musical duos]]
[[Category:English electronic music duos]]
[[Category:English hip-hop groups]]
[[Category:Drum and bass duos]]
[[Category:English male musical duos]]
[[Category:Breakbeat hardcore music groups]]
[[Category:British drum and bass music groups]]
[[Category:British drum and bass music groups]]
[[Category:Ragga musicians]]
[[Category:Black British musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1989]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1989]]

Latest revision as of 13:30, 13 December 2024

The Ragga Twins
OriginHackney, England
GenresRagga, dancehall, jungle, hip hop
Years active1989–present
LabelsShut Up and Dance Records, Positiva, Soul Jazz
Members
  • Deman Rocker
  • Flinty Badman

The Ragga Twins, also known as RTC, are an English ragga and jungle MC duo of Deman Rocker (David Destouche) and Flinty Badman (Trevor Destouche). Originating from Hackney, England, they started out on London's Unity sound system,[1] and are regarded as pioneers of the scene.[2] AllMusic called them "crucial cogs in the development of U.K. dance music."[3]

History

[edit]

The Ragga Twins originated as part of London's Unity sound system, operating under the name in 1989. They first came to prominence with a number of groundbreaking singles in the early 1990s including "Spliffhead", "Wipe the Needle", "Hooligan 69" and "Mixed Truth", with production by Shut Up & Dance. This was followed by album Reggae Owes Me Money in 1991.[3] They resurfaced in 1995 on Positiva, and continued to release tracks intermittently into the 2000s.[3]

The Ragga Twins longest musical relationship is with Aquasky, a partnership that was first cemented in 2001 when the tracks "All in Check" feat. CoGee and "Loko"[4] were written for Botchit & Scarper. Four months later, the tracks "Coffee" and "Dem No No We" were recorded for drum and bass label Moving Shadow, and in 2002, the drum and bass track "Dirty Entertainers" was recorded with Aquasky on their now defunct Sonix label. The following year, a remix was created and white labels distributed but the single was never released due to Aquasky leaving their distribution deal with ST Holdings and moving to SRD.

A series of 12" singles have been released with Aquasky on their Passenger label since 2002, including new tracks for the 601 album We Do Bass and a Ragga Twins 2002–2013 compilation album. In 2004, Aquasky were approached by HBO for the usage of the tracks "Loko" or "Dem No No We" to be used in the Ali G series Ali G in Da USA. HBO finally settled on "Dem No No We" which took the Ragga Twins' new breakbeat output to America. A video was shot for the "Superbad" single in 2011 by b-boy and film-maker Charlie Marbles, a friend of Aquasky also from Bournemouth.

In 2008, the Twins lent their vocals to the Backdraft single, "Rock the Mic".[5] In 2010, they were featured on Mason and the Fraudster's track "U Appear". Flinty Badman & Deman Rocker appeared in the Plan B crime film Ill Manors in 2012. In 2014, they featured on "All is Fair in Love and Brostep" and "Ragga Bomb" from Skrillex's debut album Recess,[6] and "Zipper" from MUST DIE!'s album Death & Magic.

In 2008, Soul Jazz Records issued a compilation album of their early 1990s recordings entitled Ragga Twins Step Out.[7][8]

Ragga Twins play regularly on the Kool London radio station.

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Compilations

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
  • "Illegal Gunshot" / "Spliffhead" (Shut Up and Dance Records, 1990) – UK No. 51
  • "Wipe the Needle" / "Juggling" (Shut Up and Dance, 1991) – UK No. 71
  • "Hooligan 69" (Shut Up and Dance, 1991) – UK No. 76
  • "Mixed Truth" / "Bring Up the Mic Some More" (Shut Up and Dance, 1992) – UK No. 65
  • "Shine Eye" feat. Junior Reed (Shut Up and Dance, 1992) – UK 63
  • Freedom Train EP (Positiva, 1995)
  • "All in Check" feat. CoGee / "Loko" with Aquasky (Botchit & Scarper, 2002)
  • "Coffee" / "Dem No No We" with Aquasky (Moving Shadow, 2003)
  • "Jerlipy lipy" (Solid Vinyl, 2003)
  • "E Legal Gunshot" (Solid Vinyl, 2003)
  • "Shut Em Down" with TC Izlam & Ed Solo (Solid Vinyl, 2003)
  • "Dirty Entertainers" with Aquasky (Sonix, 2003)
  • "Ready for This" with Aquasky (777 Records, 2005)
  • "Everybody Hype" feat. DJ Go with Aquasky (777 Records, 2006)
  • "Let Me See Your Hands" / "Let Me See Your Hands" with Aquasky (777 Records, 2007)
  • "Rock the Mic" with Backdraft (Passenger Records, 2007)
  • "Bring Forth Ya Booty" with 10 Sui & La Resistance (Mob Records, 2008)
  • "Give It Up" with Aquasky (Passenger Records, 2008)
  • "Living Legends" / "Raggatron" with Aquasky (Passenger Records, 2010)
  • "Humble" feat. Tenor Fly with Aquasky (Passenger Records, 2011)
  • "Heatwave" feat. MC Spyda, CoGee, Pedro Slimer & M-TEK (Passenger Records, 2012)
  • "Hot Like We" with Realecta (2015)
  • "All Is Fair in Love and Brostep" with Skrillex (Big Beat Records, 2014)
  • "Ragga Bomb" with Skrillex (Big Beat Records, 2014)
  • "Bad Man (Skrillex Remix)" with Skrillex (Owsla, 2015)
  • "Get Ready 4 tha Drop" with Charlotte Devaney (Karma London, 2015)
  • "Windpipe" with Barely Alive (Disciple, 2015)
  • "Worldwide" with Metrik (Hospital Records, 2016)
  • "Madman" with RIOT (Play Me Too Records, 2016)
  • "Watch Out" with Dirtyphonics and Bassnectar (Monstercat, 2017)
  • "Move It Up" with MDE (Get Twisted Records, 2017)
  • "Kingston" with Mekanikal (Harsh Records, 2018)
  • "Hammer" with Mr Quest (Solid Vinyl Music, 2018)
  • "Ready" with Ndrew LG (Nelation, 2018)
  • "For the People" with Seanie T (Fatback Records, 2018)
  • "For the People (Dub)" with Seanie T (Fatback Records, 2018)
  • "Ragga House" with Sentinel Groove (Tumbata Records, 2019)
  • "Ragga House (Radio Edit)" with Sentinel Groove (Tumbata Records, 2019)
  • "Toppa Top" with Full Kontakt & VEGAS (Bad Taste Recordings, 2019)
  • War Start EP with Dr Meaker, Krucial & Lexxus (Kartoons, 2019)
  • "Computa Hakka" with Pegboard Nerds (Monstercat, 2019)
  • "Blood" with Gray (Born On Road Records" 2019)
  • "Fruity" with Krucial (Kartoons, 2019)
  • "We a Dem" with High Roll (Formation Records, 2021)
  • "Mad Again" with Krucial (Kartoons, 2021)
  • "Mad Again (Dub)" with Krucial (Kartoons, 2021)
  • "Depolarize" with Dirt Monkey (19K, 2021)
  • "Bloom" with Sammy Virji (self-released by Sammy Virji, 2022)
  • "Gyal Factory (Radio Mix)" with Rumble (Liondub International, 2022)
  • "Bring the Fire" with Iskia (Jungle Cakes, 2022)
  • "Party Starters" with J Wilz, LOAD B & BlckHry (self-released by J Wilz, 2023)
  • "Big Hammer" with James Blake (Polydor, 2023)
  • "Bruk It Up" with Charlotte Devaney & M-Tek (Karma London Records, 2023)
  • "Bring the Fire" with Iskia (Jungle Cakes, 2023)
  • "Keys to the City" with Iskia (Jungle Cakes, 2023)
  • "Fix" with Nasser UK & Teej (Jungle Cakes, 2023)
  • "Allstars Mic" with Krucial (DnB Allstars Records, 2023)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (26 June 2008). "CD: Ragga Twins, Ragga Twins Step Out". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Ragga Twins on jungle's year zero | Dazed". Dazeddigital.com. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  4. ^ "RA Reviews: Aquasky vs Masterblaster feat. The Ragga Twins – Loko on Botchit & Scarper (Single)". Residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Skrillex releases video for 'Ragga Bomb' featuring jungle legends Ragga Twins". News.beatport.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Ragga Twins: Ragga Twins Step Out | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Ragga Twins Step Out - XLR8R". XLR8R. 6 January 2010. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010.
[edit]