Junglist

Junglist is a slang term referring to a dedicated listener of jungle and/or drum and bass. Tracks from this genre often contain calls and references to the "original junglists," "jungle soldiers". Junglists usually tend to gravitate towards Oldschool and Ragga Jungle, such as compositions by Goldie, Redrose, Shy FX, and others rather than today's Drum n bass.

History

The term itself is connected with the origin of the name jungle (see articles on history of drum and bass and jungle).

During the time of Junglists, they were also some times referred to as "rude bwoys" a slang term originally used by Jamaicans (as rude boy), meaning "gangsta" or "badbwoy" ("bad boy"). Certain tracks made references to the "original rudebwoys" or "original gangstas" as denoting particularly respected junglists. Most members of this sub-culture took great pride in the music created by jungle producers.

Unlike some urban styles of music drug-dealing is rarely mentioned in drum and bass tracks, but several MCs sometimes feature lyrics in relation. The only generally accepted illegal activity in the subculture is drug possession, distribution and consumption. Junglists often consume cannabis perhaps arising from the reggae roots of jungle. Other terms applied to Junglists in varying degrees are "ravers" or "drum and bassheads".

Junglists belong to what is seen as a predominantly UK based drum and bass subculture. As a subculture, however, it is not nearly as distinct as goth or punk to the untrained eye, where members can often distinguish each other by their mannerisms and fashion without hearing their choice of music.

Ali G could be seen as a parody Junglist (e.g. dressing in camouflage and listening to loud drum & bass music in his car, General Levy's "Incredible" which in itself was discarded by the real jungle community as a commercial sell out, was played in the Ali G feature film and appearing on its soundtrack), though he can also be treated as a parody of a hip-hop listener, unsurprising in light of the similar clothing fashions and speech.