The Ragga Twins

The Ragga Twins

The Ragga Twins are a British group from Hackney, London, made up of the Destouche brothers Trevor “Flinty Badman” Destouche and David “Deman Rocker” Destouche. They emerge from North London’s Unity sound system and begin operating under the Ragga Twins name in 1989, with a sound rooted in ragga, jungle and drum and bass.

Early work and Shut Up & Dance releases

They become important figures in the development of UK dance music through a run of 12-inch singles issued in the early 1990s on the Ragga Twins label associated with Shut Up & Dance, who also handle production. These releases include tracks such as “Illegal Gunshot” and “Spliffhead”, and they also appear on Shut Up & Dance’s “Lamborghini”.

Their first album, Reggae Owes Me Money, appears in 1991. The material from this period is characterised by energetic mixtures of dancehall, hip-hop and jungle.

Later releases

In 1995 they return on EMI with singles produced by Us3, including “Freedom Train” and “Money”. That period also produces a second album, Rinsin Lyrics. During the early 2000s, they issue additional scattered singles.

Compilation

In 2008, Soul Jazz releases Ragga Twins Step Out, a compilation focused on their Shut Up & Dance material.