# The Waxonia Desk: 160

Six records that all live at or near 160 BPM, from Chicago and from every British rave that got there first. Four of our rankings share a tempo, which is the whole claim a 160 set makes in practice.

- **Picks:** 6
- **Years:** 1991–2013
- **Curator:** The Waxonia Desk
- **Updated:** 2026-08-29
- **Curator's page:** https://waxonia.com/artist/the-desk/
- **Canonical page:** https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-160/

## The picks

Selected, not ranked — the order is the curator’s, and carries no claim about which is best.

### [Origin Unknown](https://waxonia.com/artist/origin-unknown/) — [Valley of the Shadows](https://waxonia.com/track/origin-unknown--valley-of-the-shadows/)

*1993 · RAM*

Two spoken words and an Amen break. The moment hardcore is unmistakably jungle, and a record old enough now that playing it is a reference rather than a rediscovery.

Also on: [Breakbeat Hardcore](https://waxonia.com/genre/breakbeat-hardcore/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Origin%20Unknown%20Valley%20of%20the%20Shadows) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=B3FPYOou_Mg)

### [Metalheads](https://waxonia.com/artist/metalheads/) — [Terminator](https://waxonia.com/track/metalheads--terminator/)

*1992 · Synthetic*

The time-stretch that changed what a break could be. The technical leap is what gets written about; the atmosphere is the part that has actually lasted thirty years.

Also on: [Breakbeat Hardcore](https://waxonia.com/genre/breakbeat-hardcore/), [The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Metalheads%20Terminator) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Knu-7A7BLtQ)

### [Lennie De Ice](https://waxonia.com/artist/lennie-de-ice/) — [We Are I.E.](https://waxonia.com/track/lennie-de-ice--we-are-i-e/)

*1991*

Usually named as the first jungle record, two years before the word existed. Origin records are generally more use to writers than to DJs, and this one is the exception because it still works.

Also on: [Breakbeat Hardcore](https://waxonia.com/genre/breakbeat-hardcore/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Lennie%20De%20Ice%20We%20Are%20I.E.) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=_gx7Uv3sl5A)

### [DJ Rashad](https://waxonia.com/artist/dj-rashad/) — [Feelin](https://waxonia.com/track/dj-rashad--feelin/)

*2013 · Hyperdub*

Chicago arriving at the same tempo from a completely different direction. The overlap between footwork and jungle is the premise of this list, and this is the record that makes it undeniable.

Also on: [Juke and Footwork](https://waxonia.com/genre/juke-and-footwork/), [The Waxonia Desk — Footwork Travels](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-footwork-travels/), [The Waxonia Desk — Ghosts](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-ghosts/), [The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/DJ%20Rashad%20Feelin) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=MC5zj4eLM3k)

### [RP Boo](https://waxonia.com/artist/rp-boo/) — [Baby Come On](https://waxonia.com/track/rp-boo--baby-come-on/)

*1997 · Dance Mania*

The first footwork track, and rhythmically the least accommodating thing here. A European floor has to be taught this one, and the teaching is the reason it belongs.

Also on: [Juke and Footwork](https://waxonia.com/genre/juke-and-footwork/), [The Waxonia Desk — Footwork Travels](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-footwork-travels/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/RP%20Boo%20Baby%20Come%20On) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=L17sHYmwTWY)

### [Shy FX & UK Apache](https://waxonia.com/artist/shy-fx-and-uk-apache/) — [Original Nuttah](https://waxonia.com/track/shy-fx-and-uk-apache--original-nuttah/)

*1994 · SOUR*

The crowd-pleaser, and included as the awkward one. A set built on this is a different set from one built on the other five, and both of them are honest.

Also on: [Drum and Bass](https://waxonia.com/genre/drum-and-bass/), [1994](https://waxonia.com/theme/nineteen-ninety-four/), [Bass Weight](https://waxonia.com/theme/the-desk-bass-weight/), [The Waxonia Desk — Ghosts](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-ghosts/), [The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Shy%20FX%20%26%20UK%20Apache%20Original%20Nuttah) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=sxbekgL4w7w)

## About the curator

The people who write the rankings on this site. We keep the lists honest, we argue about the order, and we get asked the same question more than any other: where should someone actually start. These are our answers.

Elsewhere: https://waxonia.com/

---

Hand-curated by Waxonia. We host no audio; all links point to streaming platforms.