A maverick of UK electronic music and pioneer of the jungle style, toaster and DJ Congo Natty’s music draws connections between uptempo dance beats and reggae. The artist originally named Michael Alec Anthony West was born in London in 1964 and emerged from the city’s hip-house scene in the late ’80s. He embraced roots-reggae influences directly on his 1991 album as Rebel MC, Black Meaning Good, featuring breakbeat-driven tracks—including singles “Tribal Base” and “Wickedest Sound”—that are considered seminal experiments in the jungle style. After converting to Rastafarianism in 1994, he continued to commingle house, rap, and reggae styles on influential 12-inches and LPs on his Congo Natty and X Project labels. In the 21st century, he cemented his legacy with the acclaimed albums Born Again (2005), Jungle Revolution (2013), and Ancestorz (Rootz of Jungle) (2022), exploring themes related to politics and religion.