Classic drum and bass tracks. Recommended popular songs.

In LoveChase & Status feat. Jenna G

Chase & Status feat. Jenna G – In Love

Chase & Status have released many anthems centered on drum and bass, are in constant demand for remixes, and also run the popular label MTA Records.

The duo—Saul Milton and Will Kennard—are a legendary UK act indispensable to any discussion of drum and bass.

Embodying a true spirit of mixture that reflects influences well beyond drum and bass, they’ve put out a slew of killer tunes.

Among them, the track covered here, “In Love,” is a global hit by UK singer Jenna G, produced by Chase & Status.

From the intro onward, the relentless high-speed drum and bass beat and Jenna’s soulful, blissful vocal melody are simply outstanding.

It’s a classic that epitomizes the joyous meeting of drum and bass and soul.

Racing GreenHigh Contrast

High Contrast – Racing Green

Anyway, especially if you’re a film lover, I’d recommend checking out the music video first! The parody and homage to the classic The Shining syncs uncannily well with the track and makes it really entertaining.

The MV for Racing Green, which is fascinating in its own right, accompanies a song released in 2004 by High Contrast, a drum’n’bass DJ and producer from Wales, UK.

A globally active hitmaker who has remixed numerous major artists, he included it on his second album, High Society, released the same year, and it even charted in the UK as a single—a true killer tune.

The sharp vocal chops, aggressive sense of speed, and the overall glittering, euphoric synths make it a joy to listen to, and it’s a track that’ll give you a boost.

If you’re seeking the primal pleasures of dance music within drum’n’bass, this is a must-listen.

CompoundEd Rush & Optical

Ed Rush & Optical – Compound

Ed Rush & Optical are a music duo comprised of two British producers who represent the drum and bass scene.

They originally released works as solo artists, but in 1998 they launched their own label, Virus Recordings, under their current duo name and released their debut album Wormhole, earning widespread acclaim.

The track Compound, introduced here, is included on Wormhole, and it captures the cool atmosphere unique to the late 1990s era when drum and bass dominated the scene.

The stripped-down yet meticulously crafted track is irresistibly cool!

HeroesRoni Size & Reprazent

Roni Size, Reprazent – Heroes

Bristol, England—birthplace of the genre known as trip-hop and home to many distinctive artists and groups.

Often dubbed the “Bristol Sound” after the city itself, Bristol has influenced a wide range of music scenes.

Among its greats is Roni Size, a seminal artist from Bristol who is renowned as a key producer and DJ in the UK drum and bass scene.

Under the name Roni Size & Reprazent, he released the album New Forms in 1997—a masterpiece that received high acclaim, including winning the Mercury Prize, often cited as the most prestigious music award in the UK.

Its uniquely crafted drum and bass, which incorporates live instruments like bass and drums, creates a pleasantly weightless feel; the production, infused with jazz and soul influences, exudes a mood entirely different from dance music that moves you in a purely primitive way.

First-time listeners are sure to be astonished.

The track featured in this article is the classic Heroes, which introduces a melody sung by a female vocalist.

Hearing it may leave you surprised that this, too, is drum and bass.

All NightJohn B

John B – All Night

As part of the EP series “5 YEARS OF METALHEADZ,” launched in 2021 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of drum and bass’s most important labels, Metalheadz, the first selection was John B’s historic masterpiece “Up All Night,” originally released on the label in 2001.

Born in 1977, John B is a UK DJ and producer who has had a major impact on the British electronic music scene—releasing cutting-edge tracks while also running Beta Recordings, another long-standing drum and bass imprint.

His “Up All Night” is a classic drum and bass anthem known for its intensely hardcore sound design and superb control of dynamics.

It’s impossible not to ignite the dance floor with this one; it’s pure, unrelenting energy you need to experience at least once.

Be sure to check out the remastered version mentioned at the start, alongside the original.

R-TypeJo

Jo R-Type Original Mix Awesome Records Rtype

Before jungle and drum and bass emerged, SL2—formed in 1985—was a British breakbeat group that released hits like “On a Ragga Tip” on the prestigious XL Recordings.

JO, who was a female dancer in SL2, put out a handful of jungle/drum and bass tracks after the group disbanded, and while few in number, they’re quite intriguing.

Their 12-inch single “R-Type,” released in 1993, will ring a bell for those familiar with video games.

It samples music from the classic shooter of the same name, and the way those game-music phrases ride over a straightforward jungle/drum and bass track is really interesting.

Early drum and bass is full of lesser-known tracks like this that hold all sorts of discoveries, so digging into it can be a lot of fun!

TourMacky Gee

Macky Gee – Tour

Machky Gee is a Drum’n’Bass DJ/producer from Medway, Kent, UK.

He began DJing in the early 2000s and spent four years teaching himself to produce tracks.

He then broadened his activities and has gained global support, with appearances on platforms such as BBC 1Xtra and RI Records Radio.

“Tour” is a Drum’n’Bass track released on Elevate Records in September 2017.