Bryan Gee’s HQ seems to be on a buzz right now…. Serum’s just dropped an impeccable Philly Blunt album while V have been casually dropping monthly science bombs throughout the year with some real stand out tracks from Brazilian badman Alibi, the mysterious dancehall murdereration outfit Think Tonk, pure soul fire from Paul T & Edward Oberon and a 50 track Planet V album.
While Gee and Frost’s V machine is clearly fixed on the future, they’re well aware of their past. D&B would truly be a different place without V’s prolific decade of benchmark settery between 93 – 2003. So many careers launched, so many classics and so many dubplates in Bryan’s personal collection.
As V prepare to take a trip down memory lane on August 5 with Planet V Presents V History at London’s Qube Project we asked Bryan for his top 10 dubplates.
Bryan Gee, JJ Frost, Ruffstuff, DJ Patife, Fabio & Grooverider, Randall & Bailey, Alibi and Jordan V will all be present on August 5. For more details check their event page on Facebook
**Note: The embedded audio isn’t the dubplate he’s talking about, but the original or a similar mix
Leviticus – Burial (Amen Mix) (1994)
“The tune that started the Philly Blunt imprint. Produced by JJ Frost with Dillinja engineering, the original turned out to be one of the biggest jungle tunes. This Amen mix, which was done not too long after, somehow never came out… And you know you can’t go wrong with a bit of amen!”
Berte B & Dillinja – Lion Heart VIP (1994)
“Another Dillinja production, this time along with his friend Bert. Lion Heart was one of those stone cold jungle classics from back in the day which always had the rude boys and gyals skanking out. The VIP has a more rootsy dubby feel and a bit deeper, one of them ones that made me flash my natty dreads when I had them!”
Roni Size & Reprazent – Trust Me VIP (1996)
“Love this mix. It’s just a deep dirty sub bass roll out of the original. You watch your bass bins on dis!”
Roni Size – Only A Dream VIP (1997)
“This one rolls out just like the Trust Me VIP, but the sub ain’t as low. It’s a little higher but heavy as fuck. Another wicked roll out of a classic Roni tune.”
LTJ Bukem – Atmospherical Jubilancy (1993)
“Bukem’s made some great tunes: Music, Horizons , Atlantis… But this, along with Demons Theme are my faves. I remember getting the plate off Danny and playing it a Swerve and vibing up the place. I love a tune that takes you on a journey and this is what you get here. I can’t believe it never got released, such a beautiful tune.”
DJ Die – SAY RED (199?)
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“Another track that I look back on and wonder why Full Cycle never released it. I guess at that time they were shitting stuff like this out daily. This one kinda reminds me of Clear Skyz and it sounds like he probably made it at the same time or just after. Maybe he was trying to get that Clear Skyz vibe again but funkier and more musical? I don’t know. But I do know that Die don’t play around when he’s rollin’ it and the groove on this is bad.”
Roni Size & DJ Die – It’s A Jazz Thing (Utah Jazz VIP) (2006)
Love this mix! Utah did it about ten years ago when he did the original remix as a little New Year’s Eve present with my name in it. I play it all the time, it goes ‘clap your hands and stomp your feet this one happens to be a Bryan Gee treat’. Everyone loves it and it always goes down everywhere!
Fernanda Porto – Sambassim (DJ Patife Remix) (DJ Suv Amen mix) (2001)
“A remix of a remix: Sambassim is another classic that always gets the party going. Suv went ahead and made his own version with a little amen action. Like I said before, you can’t go wrong with a dirty amen beat underneath anything!”
Twisted Individual – Hand Grenade (Clipz VIP) (2002)
Clipz flipped it and got ugly on the VIP. The bassline was mean, deep and angry bass but still kept that Clipz party flavour going. Big tune!
Hot Steppers – Freak Like Me (VIP) (1995)
AKA DJ SS. Another one of my fave jungle tunes from back in da day. Would love to get my hands on a WAV of this mix. It’s got so much more of the vocals than the released version. But, for me, that was much better…. You can get lost in Adina’s vocals and the drop, for me, was what I call real jungle!
Planet V Presents V History
Date: 5th August 2016
Venue: The Qube Project, 191 Victoria St, London SW1E 5NE
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/
Tickets: https://www.vrecordings.com/
Line Up
Bryan Gee & JJ Frost & Ruffstuff [V Classics]
Dj Patife [Movement Vibes]
Fabio & Grooverider [History Of D&B]
Randall & Bailey [Awol Vibes]
Alibi [Future Classics]
Jordan V
Hosted By: Cleveland Watkiss, Ic3, Stamina, Darrison + Special Guest