DJ Randall Has Died, Aged 54

The jungle and drum & bass innovator was often referred to as the "pioneer of breakbeat."

DJ Randall, the innovative DJ known for his work in the jungle and drum & bass music genres, has passed away at the age of 54.

Known as the pioneer of breakbeat, this British DJ played a crucial role in shaping British rave culture during the late 80s and early 90s. He transitioned the scene from acid house to breakbeat, hardcore, jungle, and drum & bass, which became the dominant sounds on dance floors in the 90s. He frequently performed with other iconic figures from the early jungle scene, such as Fabio & Grooverider.

Randall started playing around with vinyl mixing and scratching in the late 80s after he fell in love with acid house music at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1987. He started collecting records, going to parties, and eventually started making his own mixtapes. By the early 90s, he was even featured on pirate radio stations like Rave FM and Centreforce.

During this period, his DJ performances began to explore new territories, transitioning into a more unconventional style featuring a darker mix of breakbeat-heavy hardcore and jungle music. His mixtapes, recorded during his sets at the now-defunct AWOL party at The Paradise Club in London in the early 90s, are widely regarded as iconic works in the jungle genre. Similarly, his regular appearances at the now-closed Blue Note club in Hoxton were celebrated by the venue's regular attendees.

Even though Randall was more famous as a DJ than a music producer, his partnership with Andy C on the track 'Sound Control' in 1994 is often seen as a classic jungle song. He played a key role in starting the DeUnderground record shop in East London, along with Cool Hand Flex and Mike De Underground. The shop was active from 1991 to 1996 and played a role in the creation of another label, Mac2 Recordings, in 1996.

In reaction to the announcement of Randall's passing, Goldie's Metalheadz record label, which was one of the important labels that the DJ was connected to, expressed their sadness. They stated, "Everyone at Metalheadz is shocked to hear about the loss of one of our own. Randall was a one-of-a-kind, lovable person with a kind heart. We will greatly miss you, Randall."

Paul Woolford, also known by his breakbeat-inspired alter ego Special Request, recently shared on social media that the impact of Randall's influence cannot be emphasized enough. He described it as immense and expressed how many of us were greatly influenced and educated by Randall's techniques. Woolford went on to say that Randall's influence runs so deep that it's hard to believe.