DJ Ron is a UK jungle and drum and bass DJ and producer, also known as Ron Samuels. He is born in 1968 and works in British dance music from the 1980s onwards.

Early work and club career

He starts as a scratch DJ for TNT Sound System from 1982 to 1986, and later scratches for Rebel MC, appearing with both on Top of the Pops in 1989 and 1990. He is resident at a run of club nights in the early and mid-1990s, including Telepathy, Sunday Roast, Champion of Champions, Desert Storm, Jungle Fever and VIP Champagne Bash. He is described as one of the pioneers of jungle music in clubs and on radio, and in 1994 receives a Guinness Book of Records dance music quote recognising that role.

Radio, records and releases

In 1994 he helps launch London Some’ting Records. In 1995 he makes what is described as the first jungle or drum and bass set on national radio, on Pete Tong’s Essential Mix show on BBC Radio 1. He also serves as musical director for Channel 4’s jungle scene documentary Ah London Some’Ting Dis. In 1996 he launches Pimp Records and Picasso Musical Abstract Art, and also signs a record deal with RCA.

Touring and collaborations

He is among the first group of jungle DJs to tour North America and perform at the Winter Music Conference in Miami in 1995. He works with MC GQ and is involved in a near-fatal car accident with him on Boxing Day 1996. In 1999 he joins PHLATLINE DJ’s on a Germany tour with DJ Shusta, Jaleel and Likkle T, and in 2000 he DJs for Tefla & Jaleel on Curse’s Feuerwasser Tour. In 2002 he takes part in the MASSIVEN TOENEN MT3 tour.

Labels and business projects

He launches PHLATLINE Tapes in 1996 with DJ Shusta, and his first official mixtape becomes the label’s first release. That year also sees the mixtape Droppin’ Bombs, built from exclusive tracks and freestyles. In 1999 he and DJ Jaleel found PHLATLINE Records, where he acts as head of the company and produces the first project, Tefla & Jaleel’s debut maxi Streckenabschnitt. He later produces the annual compilation album for Europe’s biggest hip hop festival, Splash! He also launches DNA Recordings, GMM Beat Cloning and No Frills in 2001, and forms Aerosoul Clothing Ltd with Leke Adesoye, including the Junglist Movement emblem.

Media, performance and other roles

He runs his own radio show, Uptowns Finnest, in Chemnitz, with support from DJ Kenny D and Fast Phive, and appears on other stations including KISS FM, ENERGY and FRITZ. He also appears on television programmes such as VIVA Worldcup, Fett MTV and Mixery Raw Deluxe, and is written about in magazines including JUICE, BACKSPIN, WICKED and INTRO. In JUICE in December 2002 he is nominated as best national DJ.

MC work and later activity

He also works as an MC and singer, making that debut on Tefla & Jaleel’s Direkt Neben Dir, which he helps produce. He first performs as an MC at Splash! in 2002 in front of 20,000 people. His later interests include property development from 2005.