Biography
Michael West entered the world in London in 1965. Early in the decade he assembled Double Trouble alongside Michael Menson and Leigh Guest, issuing the ska-pop success “Street Tuff.” Although Rebel MC later found widespread recognition in England as a pop-rapper, the 1991 album Black Meaning Good already pointed toward jungle by fusing hardcore techno with dub basslines and featuring ragga toasters such as Barrington Levy and P.P. Arnold. The 1992 singles “Rich Ah Getting Richer” and “Humanity” likewise signaled the emerging direction. Released under the Conquering Lion moniker, “Code Red” became a defining jungle hit in 1994 and carried the movement to mainstream British listeners.