Not to be confused with Natty Light, Natty Ice, or Natty Grid (but definitely having a lot to do with natty dreadlocks), the jungle label Congo Natty was an important source for the iriest, rawest, and most roots 'n' culturest ragga soundscapes the 1990s had to offer. Many a spliff was blazed to the label's reworks of reggae/dancehall classics by the likes of Barrington Levy, Bounty Killer, and Rebel MC (Mr. Congo Natty himself).This week, British label Big Dada—known for their grime, leftfield hip-hop, and underground urban styles—released Congo Natty's Jungle Revolution, an album that takes what the label did in the '90s but updates the sound with original beats from the likes of Benny Page and Serial Killaz and brand new vocals from Lady Chann, Buggsy, and many more. To celebrate, I dug around in my dusty record crate (and then dug around YouTube, because that's what you do) to bring you the top Congo Natty anthems of the old school, all made by Rebel MC under different aliases. Get your lighters ready.Tribe of Isaachar "Junglist"
"Why won't you understaaaaand? I'm a junglistic man." A serious scene anthem—it might sound silly now, but dropping this proved that you were a real badman. Samples of Malcolm X and Fu-Schnickens and deep bass are a perfect recipe here, plus this murky video which documents London in the mid-90s: rastas blazing, dubplates rolling, and some dudes dancing in the dark.Barrington Levy "Under Mi Sensi (Jungle Version)"
Let's be real, kids are still bumping this dancehall weed anthem to this day. Maybe the jungle version is a little too hectic for those serious daps trips but goddamn do those rolling breaks sound good under this classic.Tribe of Isaachar "Wardance"
Crispy breaks, aquatic stabs, Method Man… and just wait until you get until the breakdown at 2:41! Super Cat off 1994's "Scalp Dem" with some serious war lyrics. Murder on the dancefloor!
Bringing some serious roots consciousness to the dance, this one drops science on your head about Emperor Selassie, the messiah and God incarnate of Rastafarians, before dropping a giant fucking bassline or three on your head.Conquering Lion "Code Red (94 Remix)"
This one calls to mind rudebwoy raves I used to go to in the mid-'90s full of tagbangers in black hoodies flashing lighters and knowing every unintelligible word. A serious ruffneck rager with more breakdowns and drops then anything, plus then some backspins and gunshots for good measure.Bad gyal Star Eyes' favorite dancehall MC is Bounty Killer and you can find her calling for the rewind - @stareyezzz
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"Why won't you understaaaaand? I'm a junglistic man." A serious scene anthem—it might sound silly now, but dropping this proved that you were a real badman. Samples of Malcolm X and Fu-Schnickens and deep bass are a perfect recipe here, plus this murky video which documents London in the mid-90s: rastas blazing, dubplates rolling, and some dudes dancing in the dark.Barrington Levy "Under Mi Sensi (Jungle Version)"
Let's be real, kids are still bumping this dancehall weed anthem to this day. Maybe the jungle version is a little too hectic for those serious daps trips but goddamn do those rolling breaks sound good under this classic.Tribe of Isaachar "Wardance"
Crispy breaks, aquatic stabs, Method Man… and just wait until you get until the breakdown at 2:41! Super Cat off 1994's "Scalp Dem" with some serious war lyrics. Murder on the dancefloor!
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Blackstar/Congo Natty "Emperor Selassie"
Bringing some serious roots consciousness to the dance, this one drops science on your head about Emperor Selassie, the messiah and God incarnate of Rastafarians, before dropping a giant fucking bassline or three on your head.Conquering Lion "Code Red (94 Remix)"
This one calls to mind rudebwoy raves I used to go to in the mid-'90s full of tagbangers in black hoodies flashing lighters and knowing every unintelligible word. A serious ruffneck rager with more breakdowns and drops then anything, plus then some backspins and gunshots for good measure.Bad gyal Star Eyes' favorite dancehall MC is Bounty Killer and you can find her calling for the rewind - @stareyezzz