UK producer Lennie De Ice has died.
News was confirmed on his Facebook page a few hours ago, with friend Matthew Copeland writing: “You will forever be the soundtrack of our generation god bless my brother fly high and keep the party going up there!”
Lennie De Ice – real name Lenworth Green – came of age through early hip-hop and electro, before being drawn into London’s rare groove movement as the 80s progressed. Cutting his teeth on those sound systems, the producer took his love of funky breaks and hip-hop production skills into the house arena.
Part of the nascent breakbeat hardcore movement, his track ‘We Are I.E’ helped codify jungle – revolving around crunchy amen breaks, Spaghetti Western samples, and its iconic vocal line, it would go on to become regarded as jungle’s foundation stone.
News of the passing of Lennie De Ice has sparked a wave of tributes from producers and DJs both past and present. Fellow breakbeat pioneers 2 Bad Mice write: “RIP to one of the originals.”
One commentator writes: “Absolutely FOUNDATIONAL record. without this, you would have a lot of modern dance music. RIP”
Revisit ‘We Are I.E.’ below.
