DJ SS
Born Leroy Small on 27 August 1970 in Leicester, England, DJ SS is one of the architects of drum & bass culture, a figure whose journey traces the evolution of UK underground music from hip hop and hardcore to jungle and D&B. Raised in a musically curious household alongside siblings Pam, Melanie and Fitzroy, SS grew up absorbing the rhythms of street culture, dance, and sound-system energy that would later define his career.
Before he ever touched a set of decks, SS was a breakdancer, deeply embedded in early ’80s street culture. As a teenager he moved from the dancefloor to the turntables, first playing electro and quickly falling in love with hip hop and rare groove. It was during this period that he adopted the name Scratchenstein, a nod to his sharp, technical scratching style and his early identity as a hip hop DJ. The name stuck, eventually shortened to simply SS — and became part of UK rave folklore.
In the late 1980s, SS began experimenting with music production, initially diving into acid house, hardcore and breakbeat as the UK rave explosion gathered momentum. By 1988, he was already shaping sounds that would soon form the backbone of a new movement. As hardcore fractured into jungle and drum & bass, SS instinctively followed the rhythm forward, locking into faster tempos, heavier basslines and complex break patterns.
His big breakthrough came in the early 1990s when he started DJing at major British raves such as Telepathy, events that helped define the scale and spirit of the UK rave era. These weren’t just parties — they were cultural flashpoints, and SS’s presence behind the decks placed him firmly among the new generation of DJs pushing underground music into uncharted territory. From there, his reputation spread fast, leading to DJ bookings across the UK and eventually worldwide.
At the heart of DJ SS’s legacy is Formation Records, the label he co-founded and continues to head. The label’s name was inspired by SS’s early hip hop crew, The Formation Five, and it would go on to become one of drum & bass’s most influential platforms. Through Formation, SS released over 100 tracks, often under different aliases, building a catalogue that helped define the genre’s sound across multiple eras.
Among the most iconic releases are the “Colour Series” and “Country Series”, experimental collections that explored rhythm, mood and identity through sound. Tracks like MA3 – “Those DJs” became underground staples, while SS’s production style, punchy, melodic, and unmistakably dancefloor-focused, earned him respect from DJs and ravers alike.
His most famous track, “The Lighter,” originally released in 1995, would later become his biggest commercial success. Built around the instantly recognisable piano theme from Love Story, the tune blended emotional melody with rolling drum & bass pressure. When it was re-released in 2002, The Lighter reached number 63 on the UK Singles Chart, introducing a new generation to a track that had already achieved anthem status in raves and clubs. Even decades later, it remains one of drum & bass’s most enduring records.
Beyond his own releases, SS has also left his mark through remixes, including a rework of The Prodigy’s “No Good (Start the Dance)”, bridging the worlds of rave, hardcore and bass music. His influence extended to radio too, featuring on platforms like BBC 1Xtra’s D&B M1X, where he delivered a full hour-long Formation Records mix and reflected on his journey through the scene.
Live, DJ SS is a veteran with presence. His sets move fluidly between classics and deeper cuts, shaped by decades of understanding how sound systems, crowds and energy interact. Whether in a packed club or a festival setting, his selections reflect a lifetime spent reading dancefloors. His World of Drum and Bass brand is a global success story that tours America and the World regularly, selling out and showcasing the finest Drum and Bass on the planet.
DJ SS isn’t just a DJ or producer — he’s a cornerstone of drum & bass culture. From rave pioneer to label boss, his story is inseparable from the music itself. Still respected, still active, and still played loud, DJ SS remains a true original in the UK underground.
Essential Tracks:
🎧 DJ SS – The Lighter
🎧 DJ SS – MA3 “Those DJs”
🎧 DJ SS – Colour Series selections
