We created this page to showcase a sentimental chapter of Jungle and DNB history honouring an artifact's journey. Special shout-out to koolfm family, Eastman and Susie G for Their lasting influence and to DJ Ital for his important contributions.
April 18, 2026 will mark the exciting opening of the V&A East at Stratford, a highly anticipated cultural addition to the area.
Here, creativity meets opportunity. Whatever you're building.
Photo taken @ Kensington Museum
Kool FM MA1 jacket, 1994
Austin Haynes
This custom MA1 jacket features the logo of Hackney-based pirate radio station, Kool FM and Ital’s personalisation.
Founded in 1991 by DJs Eastman and Smurf, Kool FM specialised in jungle and drum & bass.
Their on-air talent included an array of DJs and emcees, including
DJ Brockie, DJ Ron and award-winning double-time rapper Skibadee and DJ Wildchild. Nationwide, land-based pirate radio stations like PCRL, Soul Nation, Kiss FM and BAD supported Black music sidelined by mainstream media. Rinse FM, a pirate station until 2010, acquired Kool FM in 2023.
Brixton, London Leather
Kool FM jacket is Courtesy of Martin Oscar aka DJ Ital (@dj.ital)
Photo credits (Ital)
Jungle, an electronic music genre, originated in the 1990s from the UK rave scene and Jamaican sound system culture. It features rapid breakbeats, percussive loops, samples, and synthesised effects, along with deep basslines, melodies, and vocal samples. Jungle was a precursor to drum and bass.
Between 1992 and 1993, the terms ‘jungle techno’ and ‘hardcore jungle’ described the transition from breakbeat hardcore to jungle. Rave’s like AWOL, Roast, Telepathy, and Jungle Fever promoted the sound, while stations like Kool FM, Don FM, Rush, and Rude FM contributed to its development.
