Goldie

If any individual was responsible for breaking Drum 'n' Bass into the mainstream, it was Goldie. He composes complex orchestrations of diva vocals, string sections, earth-shaking low-end, and always, his fierce, alarming breaks. Even in his down-tempo, melodic tunes, his breaks cut through the Jungle-lite of artists like L.T.J. Bukem without the belligerence of artists like Ed Rush and Optical. Underneath the concrete shattering beats is dark and menacing, yet elegantly painted expressions of lyric romanticism and urban despair. His recordings come together as progressive epics that move through a narrative from one track to the next, though always maintain a tough stance, as Goldie is 100% B-boy.