Ragga Twins

The Ragga Twins

Born and raised in North and East London, brothers Trevor and David Destouche, better known as Flinty Badman and Deman Rockers, came up through the city’s sound-system circuit in the 1980s. Surrounded by reggae, lovers rock and early dancehall, the pair found their voices on the mic long before jungle existed. By their teens they were regulars on the Unity Sound System, a powerhouse rig that dominated the UK dancehall scene through the mid-’80s, they soon earned their reputation for rapid-fire toasting and razor-sharp wordplay.

Under the Unity banner, Deman dropped underground favourites like Iron Lady and Chuck It (featuring Jack Wilson), while Flinty voiced tracks such as Gunman, Stush and Mi Lover Gone with Richie Davis. Their cassettes travelled far beyond London’s borders, spreading the UK dancehall gospel worldwide and helping define a distinctly British MC style.

By 1990, as the acid house explosion waned, they linked up with North London production duo Shut Up and Dance, fusing hip-hop, rave and reggae, they stepped into uncharted territory. SUAD sampled Deman’s voice from a Unity tape, sparking a collaboration that birthed the Ragga Twins name and a new hybrid sound: ragga energy over hardcore breakbeats. The results were explosive, Spliffhead, Hooligan 69, Illegal Gunshot, Juggling, records that shook raves and laid the foundation for what would soon be called jungle.

Their 1991 debut album Reggae Owes Me Money captured the moment perfectly. A love letter to their roots and a manifesto for the new sound, it hit No. 26 on the UK albums chart and topped the national dance chart. The twins toured the UK and Europe, hit the US with a show at Manhattan’s Limelight, supported Shabba Ranks on tour, and even performed Spliffhead on BBC’s Dance Energy.

In the mid-’90s, they experimented with new sounds, linking with jazz producers US3, Mel & Jeff for the album Rinsin’ Lyrics (EMI, 1995). It took their lyrical flow into new territory, complete with videos filmed in South Africa (Freedom Train) and Las Vegas (Money), and a the mind blowing highlight of supporting James Brown in Norway.

Through every era, the Ragga Twins stayed loyal to the jungle scene that grew from their sound. From early raves to modern drum & bass festivals, their presence on the mic remains a guarantee of reloads, wheel-ups and pure energy. Decades in, they’re still setting the pace—original architects of the UK underground.

Essential Tracks:
🎧 Ragga Twins – Spliffhead
🎧 Ragga Twins – Illegal Gunshot
🎧 Ragga Twins – Juggling
🎧 Ragga Twins – Freedom Train
Still blazing. Still original. Still the foundation.