Congo Natty is the artist name of Mikail Tafari, who grew up in Tottenham around London sound-system culture and began DJing at ten. His father came from Kingston, Jamaica, and his mother from Wales. Before he was twenty, Tafari and friends formed the soundsystem Beat Freak. He became known as Rebel MC, Conquering Lion and X Project as well as Congo Natty, and helped shape jungle by bringing reggae and dub influences into electronic music.
As Rebel MC, Tafari worked with Double Trouble on Just Keep Rockin’ and Street Tuff, and released the albums Black Meaning Good and Word Sound And Power. His single Tribal Base came out through the label of the same name, and he also released Tribute To Emperor Haile Selassie I. His label work included Tribal Base, X Project and Congo Natty; Congo Natty Records is associated with the artist. Tafari founded the Tribal Base, X Project and Congo Natty labels.
Under the Congo Natty name, Tafari released Jungle Revolution, featuring members of the extended Congo Natty family, Skip McDonald and Adrian Sherwood. The artist’s own label released Champion DJ and Junglist. Congo Natty has described collaboration as central to his music and as a way to bring different genres together.
The album Ancestorz (Rootz of Jungle) brings together Maverick Sabre, Akala, Footsie and Eva Lazarus.