The Wickedest Sound

Produced and written by Rebel MC (Michael West) and J. Sutter, the track was released in 1991 as a single from his second album Black Meaning Good, featuring vocals from Tenor Fly and Frighty. The release combined reggae and dancehall traditions with speeded-up hip-hop breakbeats and sampled elements. Released during the emergence of the breakbeat hardcore scene, the track reached number 52 on the UK Official Singles Chart in March 1991 and became a foundational record that merged reggae, dubwise, and hip-hop influences to help define the early jungle sound. The track's success established Rebel MC as a key figure in the movement and demonstrated the commercial appeal of the reggae-rave fusion. The Wickedest Sound remains a landmark recording in jungle and drum and bass history, frequently cited as a pioneering work that bridged UK hardcore rave with reggae-rooted production. Its influence extends through samples and covers by subsequent artists, and the track is recognised for its role in popularising the term jungle through Rebel MC's use of the chant 'all the junglists'.