DJ Rap

An excellent compilation of DJ Rap productions, Propa Classics is taken from her days in Britain's hardcore/jungle underground of the early to mid-'90s and includes multiple classics of the field. It leads off with Engineers Without Fears' "Spiritual Aura," one of jungle's seminal classics, and proceeds through track after track of tough, tight drum'n'bass. "Hardstep" from 1996 was a pioneering track in the move to tech-step, and her remix of Topcat's "Ruffest Gun Ark" melds deep sub-bass with the ragga master's chatting. Rap's drum programming was a little weak compared to jungle's other big producers (Rob Playford, DJ Hype), but her breadth and expertise of the drum'n'bass underground may come as a surprise to those who know her only from her pop-heavy major-label contract. Also included is a 2001 version of "Spiritual Aura," remixed by DJ Rap with Freestylers (whose Aston Harvey helped her out with the original). ~ John Bush, All Music Guide