General Levy 'Incredible' | The Making Of A Timeless Jungle Anthem

General Levy shares the story behind his and M-Beat's unstoppable hit, 'Incredible', on the year of its 30th anniversary.
Originally released in 1994, Levy's vocals - which he laid down in just one take - have transcended generations to become some of the most recognisable lyrics within dance music. Here, General Levy explains how he went against his label's advice to work on the track, the story of its subsequent chart success, the impact of featuring in Ali G, and the story behind that iconic 1Xtra moment. Levy also explains the track had a detrimental impact on his career following its release, and that he has yet to receive any royalties from it.
Electronic music history is rich with unforgettable and timeless classics. In our series, DJ Mag explores the tales behind some of the world's favourite dance tracks, told by the people that made them.
Explore more stories of the biggest tracks in dance music below.
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[@DJMag]

'Junglist massive'! 👊When did you first hear 'Incredible'?

[@albertolh79]

I think it was before the film, but I remember perfectly the moment I saw Ali G, it was like General Levy tells: Crazy 🔥🔥😍

[@luxmundiofficial]

definitely the Ali G film :)

[@hkolen9633]

Late at night watching MTV. My first encouter with "Jungle".

[@jameshawe]

In the zone nightclub in Tottenham the place would go billy bonkers as soon as it dropped

[@chrisclarke1278]

I was 14, i was at secondary school and our registration classroom was in the French block and we had these speakers that played tapes for learning French. My old class mate Omar Davis whacks in this tape before the teachers got in and BOOOM in that moment i was converted! I threw away the black garbs from the grunge and metal i had been into. And from then on i was a Jungalist! I started dj'ing in my 20's and did loads of party's and pirate radio. I still have my records, and funny enough I'm going to see Mr Levy in May at a local Party in a park ting, il be taking my 'Incredible' 12" and hope to get it signed... Mr Levy if your reading 😅...

[@FinleyForbes]

GET THIS MAN HIS BAG

[@Rondawwg]

These record labels have BLOOD on their hands……..pay up to the General

[@roodgeregeld]

Every record label has blood on their hand's...

[@divinasi0n]

Mate they're drowning in an ocean of it.

[@christer8964]

Not a single pound for one of the most groundbreaking song ever!!! Songs like that doesn't happen often.

[@ant2312]

it was ground-breaking in the way it was the first jungle tune to go mainstream, but there were plenty of more ground-breaking jungle tunes 2 years before in the rave scene

[@Nite85]

dont care what anyone says this is and was one of the greatest jungle tunes ever made period

[@ant2312]

only if it was one of the first jungle tunes you'd heard, which it was for a lot of the 'normals'. Don't forget in the rave scene we'd been hearing better stuff since 1992

[@Nite85]

@@ant2312 was waiting for one of you 😂

[@Nite85]

@@ant2312 was waiting for one of yous to pop up 😄

[@ROBERTTONUS]

@@ant2312 facts

[@crappymeal]

​@@ant2312the tune blew up on its own merit before going mainstream, it deserves respect

[@EclectickMusic]

It was 2023 when one of my students (16) walks into the gym for a training session, and asks me “sir, can I play a song on the system?”. “Go for it” I say. Let me tell you, I lost my mind when the song drops. It’s ’Incredible’ by General Levy. Legendary song! 30 years later and teenagers still know what it is 🔥

[@crappymeal]

It's been playing in clubs the whole time till now, that's why

[@Big-Mike]

Still stands up 30 years later! 2024 and tunes still a banger!

[@ChrisW_Essex]

Mbeat deserves props too, badboy producer, surrender is a track

[@bpdlr]

One of my earliest memories of jungle, "Sweet Love" plays at the Notting Hill Carnival and when the beat drops the whole road heaves as people go mental

[@ant2312]

@@bpdlr where were you the 2 years before when jungle was played at raves

[@christianvictor827]

Can we all appreciate for a moment how incredibly awesome this beat slaps?

[@DJMag]

It's INCREDIBLE!

[@VNDM-MUSIC]

this beat is killer

[@SuperRobertoClemente]

All about the bass, just POUNDING like a pulse. And the synths for a bit of sugahh

[@philosoraptor777]

The 1extra scene legit had me in tears.

[@Topbayder]

“YO!” ❤❤❤

[@blender130000]

If you haven't heard them before do check out M-Beats tunes prior to Incredible, that were part of Jungle's foundations, including: M-Beat - Shuffle M-Beat - Surrender M-Beat - Just a Little M-Beat - Rumble M-Beat - Forever M-Beat - Dark Dub M-Beat - Style

[@gavindc2507]

And Shout out Junior too. I met him in Uganda where he now lives

[@jk1362]

Big chunes dem

[@chejones6058]

Style 👌🏻

[@djdubplate76]

Sess

[@djrosco1982]

Style was the one

[@DDGXMUSIC]

I must be so elated about hearing this story that my ears have started to deceive me, I could have sworn he said HE DIDN'T EARN A PENNY from this massive anthem!!?? That is out-fuggin-ragoues! We love you General Levy - know that you earned something worth more than all the money in the world - the love and admiration of everyone who has ever been blessed by the joy that this absolute banger brings. Junglist Massive for ever.

[@liquidpodcast]

Long live jungle music ❤❤❤

[@Luki1060]

Dj Mag always seems to one up me, I watch a video and think “they should get this artist on” then they pull out a timeless classic every single time

[@tellerrecords]

this guy is a Legend!!

[@ilmarcello]

That moment in one extra moved me to tears when it came out. Such energy, love, and sense of unity. That's what music is about.

[@Piercy0812]

That 1xtra set is legendary , gotta be their biggest ever , I must have heard the whole thing 20 times at least

[@abeining]

It's incredible. Before that I hadn't heard about Levy, but was blown away by the tune and energy. Brilliant stuff!

[@sumeettatla9830]

This song will forever be part of the fabric of uk music history ive seen it played everywhere from weddings to school disco's and it always mashes up da place😂😂

[@christhescientist]

True legend, him and M-Beat created a timeless classic

[@spookybizzle]

Respect to the General - laid it out in one take and 30 years later still doing the rounds!

[@domoakley781]

the fact that JME gave the general his full respect and loyalty to the UK music scene really does sum up why UK dance music no matter what its origins really is the most humble and connected scene about even to this day. (I still find it insane that on the mentioned bbc 1extra show JME showed his respect to General levy.... Honestly my 2 fav aristist ever coming out of the UK music scene, coming together to show their love to what is the UK brings tears to my eyes in ways I will never forget) ...... MASSIVE LOVE TO GENRAL LEV, JME and all the others that made the UK music scene what it was, is and always will be xxxxxxxxx

[@DjStinger]

This track brings back so many great memories. Friends, girlfriends, school, first job. Pure awesomeness! And that he didn't receive one statement and was treated like a piece of crap behind the scenes is just mind-blowing. Artists deserve to be paid, period. ❤

[@D-One]

Someone get this man a lawyer, not one penny for such a classic is crazy!!

[@NewmskiRunnerCarerDJProducer]

Great interview. To hear that he has never to this day received any royalties from the track, absolutely sucks. One of the biggest Jungle tracks of the 90's and on tons of compilations, tons of Spotify streams and so on, and not getting a penny from it, how? FFRR / London Records need to sort their **** out.

[@GavinWhitehouse]

Remember seeing the video for this the first time at a friend’s party back in 94 and it blew our minds. That MistaJam moment was so special too. One of my favourite clips of anything on the internet… the energy in that studio 👌🏻

[@DJMag]

Amazing

[@dj858]

tunes effin iconic man, pay this legend his due's immediately

[@richard8417]

I remember hearing it for the first time and instantly recognised it to be something else 👌🏻

[@iamdamo8945]

This video has it all - loved it when he mashed up 1xtra. What a legend the General is!

[@joelvinson]

I want to hug this man before I die. Big ups to all!

[@MsTishalish]

I hugged him at a party a couple of years ago and this man is a pure hearted soul 🧡✨☀️

[@Nozes..]

Stands the test of time. BIG UP to the General!!

[@zzmichaelnuttall4665]

Travelling from north Manchester to Hastings to watch this legend later in the year. One off the bucket list. Respect

[@submergedtapes]

Did not expect to cry at the end of this but here we are! What a classic

[@Miawallce80]

I remember this being released 94/I was 14 . Essex uk In 97 I immigrated to Australia!! My bestie from high school is about to visit me!! And this song is a massive nostalgic memory from my life if uk... ❤❤❤❤

[@djmastergroove946]

I remember seeing this on top of the pop's in 1994. It had just been released on an album I bought back then called Jungle Mania. General Levy is an absolute junglist soldier! Big ups..

[@user-lj7jk5lv5f]

I was in secondary school when this jungle ting dropped. ❤ Best era, these yuts today will never understand. Spliffy jacket Jean's etc. this man is owed millions in sales no doubt. They simply bumped a young artist as the industry does bump anyone as usual. Sad tho still

[@ScottThePisces]

Man, is there no way for you to re-record and re-release the song the way Taylor Swift did with her catalog, so that you can finally make money off of it?

[@jakspin]

Of course he could. Everbody can cover any song legally as long as it's very close to the original.

[@Elberto71]

As long as chase & status don't jive bunny it up 🙄

[@illavisions]

​@@Elberto71amen to that!

[@jamiec2023]

Jive bunny.. happy Easter to the Hawaii 5-0 music lol

[@djmannik]

ITS CALLED A REMIX ITA CALLED A VIP EDITION JUNGLE HARDCORE RAVE CULTURE EXISTS ALREADY GODDAMN TAYLOR'S VERSION WHAT DA FUG

[@LewisRhymes]

That studio energy! 🤯

[@christravis8288]

The first time I heard this me and my mates were playing SNES and it came on a tape one of us had brought along. We must have rewound and replayed it 20 times. Still a massive tune! This guy needs a big cheque.

[@DjConstantin]

Man I was like 15 at the time and dancing in house parties with this tune... very nice video from DJ Mag... Quite emotional

[@djdannyd2060]

Mad how jungle man back in the day wasn’t showing love! Big up general levy! Timeless classic 🔥💥💥

[@user-qe9qm4jj1h]

because the fool tried to say he invented jungle

[@MrMichaelHeat]

I love him and this sond for opening a new world to me. That was one of the most important moments for me in my musical history.

[@vahakngehlhaarmatossian2673]

You speak so well General. So positive. Salute

[@brandonbergh2585]

#1 song of all time across all generations of humanity

[@sheppo]

This track dropped this week at a Pete and Bas gig in east London. The crowd went bonkers!

[@alex.caroppi]

Legend forever

[@benji.B-side]

What a great song, what a wonderful man!

[@richard8417]

Wauw… Not one pound?! The music industry is horrible.

[@UONeal]

I just played this for my fiancee 2 weeks ago and told her what a classic and hit this was... Awesome to see this posted now...Big Ups!!!

[@roblucchetti2993]

i remember when this track was new and it still make me jump up an down in the car when i hear it...

[@erockrude]

Even 100 Gecs played it in their boiler room set. A classic through and through.

[@Dawwwg]

Still bumping this in the car at least a few times a week, so much energy... And it still sounds fresh to this day !!! Thank you for rocking this tune General 🎉🎉🎉

[@calwinwood813]

Big up General Levy! Seems like a top bloke.

[@Lostin2024]

That one gave me goosebumps!! 😮

[@listefanden860]

Tune is and will always be 🔥🔥🔥 ❤️ from 🇩🇰

[@NeilL269]

Perfect, I woke up to a tight muscle in my shoulder, I needed this one today. So much better now

[@shoppingcart238]

Nah that 1Extra video was unspeakbly huge for the scene that video still slaps

[@DJMag]

FACTS!

[@mrmrmusic123]

That’s what music is about that 1xtra set 🔥💯

[@feadz7787]

Amazing ! Levy Legend ! Let's hope he gets his $ now !

[@robertdavies922]

Junglist Massive! Big up General Levy - what a legend!

[@greatestone4eva]

bigups to a legend

[@duckhorse2563]

I remember listening to that Jam on MCM back in the day. Massive tune. Went crazy when I heard that 1xtra show live in Uni.

[@mrgooakalegooster]

#CHAMPIONSOUND Give the man his true props! Pay him!!!!

[@christravis8288]

M-Beat's Sweet Love was a big one for me as a kid too.

[@ant2312]

great tune

[@bacop001]

Wow what a top bloke , I love Incredible and Pull Up is a TUNE as well , Respect.

[@Bkoded]

goosebumps throughout this seeing peoples reactions to parts of the song, what a tune

[@shadialhalfi6423]

Love this song

[@k1lm4ch1n3]

Biiiiig uuuup General ❤❤❤

[@TheBizzyBScience]

The Truth always comes out in the end! you cant rewrite history, Big up General Levy a true Legendary Artist!

[@GeneralSigh]

Thank you for giving the backstory to this powerful track, legendary

[@djslip_irie]

Slightly forgot to mention he said he created jungle on tv and was canceled and we never heard another song again.

[@clinthannibal5461]

First time I heard this at roller express(can’t remember what rave) it was an unreal moment pretty sure it came into valley of the shadows although better with helicopter. What a moment. More recently our pal had it played at his funeral. Cracked us up.

[@theheathster2]

Jungle wasn’t my biggest thing at the time, but this video brought home what a massive choon it was and still is. The 1extra clip shows that! Absolutely criminal he never saw one penny from the labels for this.

[@frogantoad]

im shedding a tear for you for not earning any royalties, thats a disgrace, but thats how the music industry was/is. i hope you get what's owed to you General

[@jeffscurry1059]

Thanks for this!

[@benseal3072]

Bless u general levy

[@notlayjeno6258]

realest dude in the industry... mad respect to the general

[@Burd805]

LEGENDARY!! Respect

[@jean-pierredonarte578]

Big big tune.

[@walterkaiyuenpang3556]

Any Lawyers in the Music Industry ???! Go get this Man his fair share !!! 💪

[@IzzyMann]

Thank you for uploading this, I couldn't stop smiling XD

[@DJMag]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@albertdesalvo7697]

Great episode

[@FreekaPista]

Amazing interview, the stories the General told are buzzing, glad to have this retrospective on tape. Props to the comments, this song still reverberates, I'm in the US and it's an all time tune

[@sjeverton]

That 60 minute take over is absolutely iconic 🔥🔥🔥

[@theodark]

What a great guy... Never saw him on an interview...

[@dreday3303]

I remember being told, around 2006 by a DnB DJ, about him claiming to have invented Jungle and people in the scene didn't care for him too much. I'm glad he set the record straight. But he should have done that in the second interview instead of dismissing it.

[@ingmarsjansons3665]

I was around 12y when heard these track. I'm 36 now and Jungle is still massive for me!!! No party can go wrong with these playing! 🤘 Incredible story... ❤️

[@hankj7077]

THIS MAN!

[@niooi]

Thank you so much for that tune and this video. It must have have been insane to be at Brockwell park, I saw the video before. I wish I was there ❤ Much respect. Did you go to Radfio Nova in 1994 in Paris to play live on the station? Anyway, the birth of a new genre.

[@kashrex]

An essential party classic to this very day. It's played alongside candy as whole families do the eletric slide.

[@Topbayder]

Saw him perform this live at Outlook Orchestra a few years ago. Went off!

[@DJMag]

iconic !

[@iShredStreets]

Much love, General Levy!

[@Leehuss5582]

Incredible is an ANTHEM for us Jungle/Drum n Bass/UKGarage lovers in the UK....I remember I was in high school in Ealing when it came out. I recorded it on cassette tape off a pirate station next day in school at breaktime pulled out my WALKMAN and a whole crowd were listening and going mad!. Massive tune!

[@kristoffscuba5466]

Makes the 1xtra thing even more impressive if he really did just get thrown in there. Killed it.🔥

[@PazEdenMoor]

One word!!! Respect!!!!!

[@samxday]

Beautiful video. Amazing

[@Kapulot]

This was the biggest thing we'd ever heard and all we talked about for weeks on the school yard in 94. The original classroom table banger (sorry Grindin haha) What a classic!

[@djjameshayes9766]

Humble guy big tune

[@adamm.1367]

Such a timeless track....still a banger today. I wish I could have experienced that early jungle/dnb scene back then but this style of music had absolutely no presence here in the States. I remember having to dig through the 'world music' section of Barnes & Noble for CD's lmao

[@benseal3072]

this is awesome ty djmag

[@DJMag]

Thanks! Check out the rest of the series

[@soundminedd]

Golden moment 😭🙏♥️♥️♥️

[@TheRealBlackPhoenix]

Salute the General! YO!!!

[@oldschool3670]

Love that guy

[@gregoryherrerajr.1822]

❤️❤️❤️❤️ I still have this on vynal❤️❤️❤️❤️