View source for Rebel MC

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background                = non_performing_personnel
| name                      = Rebel MC
| image                     = Congo Natty.jpg
| landscape                 = yes
| birth_name                = Michael Alec Anthony West
| birth_date                = {{Birth date and age|1964|8|27|df=y}}
| birth_place               = [[Islington]], [[London]], England
| alias                     = {{flatlist|
* Congo Natty
* X Project
* Conquering Lion
* Blackstar
* Tribe of Issachar
* Ras Project
}}
| genre                     = {{flatlist|
* [[Hip house]]
* [[Jungle music|jungle]]
}}
| occupation                = {{flatlist|
* [[Record producer]]
* [[Deejay (Jamaican)|toaster]]
}}
| label                     = {{flatlist|
* Desire
* [[Big Life]]
* Tribal Bass
* [[Mango Records|Mango]]
* X Project
* Congo Natty
* [[Big Dada]]
}}
| years_active              = 1980s–present
| website                   = {{URL|https://congonatty.com/}}
}}

'''Michael Alec Anthony West''' (born 27 August 1964 in [[Islington]], [[London]], England), better known as '''Rebel MC''' and '''Congo Natty''', is a British [[jungle music|jungle]] [[record producer|producer]], spiritual [[chant]]er and [[Deejay (Jamaican)|toaster]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=John |title=Rebel MC Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rebel-mc-mn0000416352 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20241025011003/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rebel-mc-mn0000416352#biography |archive-date=25 October 2024 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=[[AllMusic]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Congo Natty │ Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/congo_natty-jungle_revolution_2 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Congo Natty │ Exclaim! |language=en}}</ref> He has also gone by aliases including Conquering Lion, Blackstar, Tribe of [[Issachar]], [[Lion of Judah]], X Project and Ras Project.{{Cn|date=August 2024}}

==Biography==
In the late 1980s, West formed the [[musical group|group]] [[Double Trouble (dance music producers)|Double Trouble]] with Michael Menson, Karl Brown (more commonly known as the [[UK garage]] [[DJ]] Karl 'Tuff Enuff' Brown) and Leigh Guest.<ref name="LarkinDM"/> This would lead to two [[hip house]] records reaching the [[UK Singles Chart|UK]] [[Top 40]] in 1989 - "Just Keep Rockin'" followed by "[[Street Tuff]]".<ref name="LarkinDM"/> The latter reached number 3 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/street-tuff/|title=street tuff {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref><ref name="guard">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/04/congo-natty-jungle-revolution-rebel-mc|title=Congo Natty and the jungle revolution|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 July 2013|author=Ben Beaumont-Thomas}}</ref> These would appear shortly after on his debut album ''[[Rebel Music (Rebel MC album)|Rebel Music]]''.

In 1991, West released his second album, ''Black Meaning Good'', which combined his former hip house and [[pop-rap]] influences with radical political, spiritual consciousness and a stronger [[roots reggae]], dubwise and [[breakbeat]] edge.<ref name="LarkinDM"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=2013-07-04 |title=Congo Natty and the jungle revolution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/04/congo-natty-jungle-revolution-rebel-mc |access-date=2025-07-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The album featured notable reggae and [[dancehall]] artists such as [[Barrington Levy]], [[Tenor Fly]] and [[Dennis Brown]].<ref name="LarkinDM"/> Singles released from the album included "The Wickedest Sound", "Comin' On Strong", and "Tribal Base" - to which their [[breakbeat hardcore]] and [[reggae fusion]] would give rise to an early precursor to the [[jungle music|jungle]] sound.<ref>{{cite web |author=Matt Jost |date=October 16, 2012 |title=Rebel MC: Black Meaning Good |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/rebel-mc-black-meaning-good/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20241025021044/https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/rebel-mc-black-meaning-good/ |archive-date=25 October 2024 |work=Rap Reviews |access-date=25 October 2024 }}</ref>

His third album ''Word, Sound and Power'' (released in 1992) represented further exploration of increasingly politicised awareness, breakbeat hardcore, [[house music|house]], conscious spiritual [[roots reggae]], dubwise, and [[hip hop music|hip hop]], with two singles "Rich Ah Getting Richer" and "I Can't Get No Sleep" released from it.<ref name="LarkinDM"/> "Rich Ah Getting Richer" was built on melodies and samples from [[Twinkle Brothers]] "[[Jah]]ovia", [[Junior Byles]] and [[King Tubby]]'s'"Fade Away" as well as [[Junior Delgado]]'s "Tichion." The track "Jahovia" samples the keyboard hook from the sound system  favourite, "Kunta Kinte". Kunta Kinte, the film character from [[Alex Haley]]'s book "Roots" inspired a [[reggae]] [[riddim]] of the same name, which started off life as a track called ''Beware Of Your Enemies'' released from [[Jamaica]]'s [[Channel One Studios|Channel One]]. A [[Dub music|dub]] version, put out in 1976 by Channel One [[house band]] [[The Revolutionaries]] became a [[Sound system (Jamaican)|sound system]] anthem for many years on [[dubplate]], and inspired a UK version produced by [[Mad Professor]] in 1981. The track inspired Rebel MC and other [[jungle (music)|jungle]] covers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Muth |first=Anderson |date=August 5, 2018 |title=Riddimology 101: Essential Cuts of the "Kunta Kinte" Riddim |url=https://www.dub-stuy.com/riddimology-001-kunta-kinte/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20241025021044/https://www.dub-stuy.com/riddimology-001-kunta-kinte/ |archive-date=25 October 2024 |work=Dub-Stuy Brooklyn |access-date=25 October 2024 }}</ref>

On ''Word, Sound and Power'' Rebel MC also built tracks around samples and melodies from [[Yabby You]], [[Lincoln Thompson]] and the Royal Rasses ("Humanity") and [[Burning Spear]]'s "Creation Rebel." 

The track "African" samples [[Lloyd Coxsone]]’s ''King of the Dub Rock part two'', and [[Johnny Clarke]]’s vocals from [[Bunny Lee]] productions. 

The album track “Revolution” is largely based on [[Dennis Brown]]’s track of the same name. 

Whilst West was enjoying further commercial success with "Tribal Base" featuring [[Barrington Levy]] and [[Tenor Fly]], he was also experimenting with [[white label record|white label]] releases on his X Project label.<ref name="LarkinDM">{{cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music]] |date=1998 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=0-7535-0252-6 |editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]] |edition=1st |page=280}}</ref> The first of these would be "Walking in the Air" (which contains samples from ''[[The Snowman]]'' track), followed by a further five releases which by this time were [[jungle music|jungle]].<ref name="basschron">{{cite web |date=January 9, 2017 |title=History Sessions: Congo Natty Special (1992-1998) |url=https://abasschronicle.co.uk/history-sessions-congo-natty-special/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20241025021022/https://abasschronicle.co.uk/history-sessions-congo-natty-special/ |archive-date=25 October 2024 |work=A Bass Chronicle |access-date=29 October 2019 }}</ref>

West is often noted for having popularised the term "jungle". In the book ''[[Energy Flash]]'' by [[Simon Reynolds]], MC Navigator of [[Kool FM]] is quoted as saying: "Rebel got this chant - 'all the junglists' - from a yard-tape" (referring to the [[Sound system (Jamaican)|sound system]] tapes from [[Kingston, Jamaica]]). "When Rebel sampled that, the people cottoned on, and soon they started to call the music 'jungle'".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |title=Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture |date=2008 |publisher=[[Picador (imprint)|Picador]] |isbn=9780330454209 |location=London |publication-date=2008 |page=245 |oclc=175283973}}</ref>

In 1994, West converted to [[Rastafari]].<ref name="quietus">{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/12795-congo-natty-interview|title=I've Got Souls To Save: An Interview With Congo Natty|author=Joe Clay|date=11 July 2013|work=TheQuietus}}</ref> As Conquering Lion, he would release a classic jungle track "Code Red", with vocals from [[Super Cat]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Jones |first=Charlie |date=September 18, 2012 |title=The 10 Best Jungle Tracks, According to Uncle Dugs |url=https://dmy.co/10-best/the-10-best-jungle-tracks-according-to-uncle-dugs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20241025021028/https://www.dummymag.com/10-best/the-10-best-jungle-tracks-according-to-uncle-dugs/ |archive-date=25 October 2024 |work=DMY Mag |access-date=25 October 2024 }}</ref> This was picked up for major release by [[Mango Records]], a [[subsidiary]] of [[Island Records]], which was followed by "Champion DJ" (featuring Top Cat) and "Junglist" (featuring Peter Bouncer), both released on his Congo Natty label that would be prolific in the mid-1990s to early 2000s.<ref name="basschron"/>

In 2013, West returned with the album ''[[Jungle Revolution]]'', featuring [[Jah Shaka]]'s son, Young Warrior, [[General Levy]], Top Cat, [[Tippa Irie]], [[Tenor Fly]], and Nãnci Correia.<ref name="quietus"/>

==Discography==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details
! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26061/rebel-mc/|title=Rebel MC {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="AUS">{{cite Ryan|page=230}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Dutch Album Top 100|NLD]]<br /><ref name="NLD">{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Rebel+MC|title=Discografie Rebel MC|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]<br /><ref name="NZ">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Rebel+MC|title=Discography Rebel MC|website=charts.nz|access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br /><ref name="SWE">{{cite web|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Rebel+MC|title=Discography Rebel MC|website=swedishcharts.com|access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Rebel Music (Rebel MC album)|Rebel Music]]''
|
* Released: 1990
* Label: Desire
| 18 || 98 || 54 || 9 || 40
|-
! scope="row"| ''Black Meaning Good''
|
* Released: 1991
* Label: Desire
| 23 || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| ''Word, Sound and Power''
|
* Released: 1992
* Label: [[Big Life]]
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| ''Tribute to Haile Selassie I''
|
* Released: 1995
* Label: Congo Natty
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| ''Born Again''
|
* Released: 2005
* Label: Congo Natty
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Jungle Revolution]]''
|
* Released: 2013
* Label: [[Big Dada]]
| — || — || — || — || —

|-
! scope="row"| ''Ancestorz [Rootz of Jungle]''
|
* Released: 2022
* Label: [[New State Music]]
| — || — || — || — || —
|}

===Compilations===
* ''Most Wanted'' (Congo Natty, 2008)

===Singles===
====As Rebel MC====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK"/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="AUS"/><ref name="aus2">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/bmewaN2 |title=ARIA chart history 1988 to 2022, received from ARIA in 2022|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=2 December 2023}}  N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Ultratop|BEL<br />(FL)]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1f809/Double-Trouble-&-Rebel-MC-Just-Keep-Rockin'|title=Double Trouble & Rebel MC – Just Keep Rockin'|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=nl|access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Dutch Single Top 100|NLD]]<br /><ref name="NLD"/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]<br /><ref name="NZ"/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br /><ref name="SWE"/>
|-
! scope="row"| "Just Keep Rockin'"<br />{{small|(with [[Double Trouble (dance music producers)|Double Trouble]])}}
| rowspan="3"| 1989
| 11 || — || 14 || 3 || — || —
| rowspan="4"| ''Rebel Music''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Street Tuff]]"<br />{{small|(with Double Trouble)}}
| 3 || 85 || 7 || 3 || 29 || 12
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Better World]]"
| 20 || 131 || 22 || 14 || 4 || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Rebel Music"
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| 53 || 155 || — || 84 || 15 || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Culture"/"Comin' On Strong"
| 90 || — || — || — || — || —
| rowspan="4"| ''Black Meaning Good''
|-
! scope="row"| "The Wickedest Sound"<br />{{small|(featuring [[Tenor Fly]])}}
| rowspan="2"| 1991
| 43 || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Tribal Base"<br />{{small|(featuring Tenor Fly and [[Barrington Levy]])}}
| 20 || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Black Meaning Good"
| rowspan="5"| 1992
| 73 || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Rich Ah Getting Richer"
| 48 || — || — || — || — || —
| rowspan="3"| ''Word, Sound and Power''
|-
! scope="row"| "Word, Sound and Power"
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Humanity"/"I Can't Get No Sleep"
| 62 || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Under Me Sensi"<br />{{small|(with Barrington Levy)}}
| — || — || — || — || — || —
| ''Barrington''
|}

====As X Project, Lion of Judah et al====
* "Walking in the Air" (X Project, 1992)
* "The Calling"/"[[Jah]] Sunshine" (X Project, 1993)
* "Inahsound"/"[[Lion of Judah]]" (X Project, 1993)
* "Code Red" (as Conquering Lion) (X Project/Mango, 1994)
* "Champion DJ" (as Blackstar with [[Top Cat]]) (Congo Natty, 1994)
* "Junglist" (as Tribe of [[Issachar]]) (Congo Natty, 1995)
* "[[Jah]] Set It" (as [[Lion of Judah]]) (Congo Natty, 1996)
* "Emperor [[Selassie]] I" (as [[Lion of Judah]]) (Congo Natty, 1997)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Michael West}}
* [https://congonatty.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Rebel+MC Rebel MC] at [[Discogs.com]]
* [http://www.discogs.com/label/Congo+Natty Congo Natty] at [[Discogs.com]]
* [https://www.heroesofukhiphop.com/rebel-mc/ Rebel MC at Heroes of Hip-Hop]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rebel MC}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English drum and bass musicians]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:Hip house musicians]]
[[Category:Jungle musicians]]
[[Category:Singers from the London Borough of Islington]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Islington]]
[[Category:People from Islington (district)]]
[[Category:Big Dada artists]]
[[Category:Ninja Tune artists]]