De Underground Records

De Underground Records was a record shop, studio, and record label located at 18 Sebert Road, Forest Gate, London, operating from 1991 until 1996. In May 2021, Newham Council erected a blue plaque in recognition of its contributions to "the development of UK hardcore, jungle and drum and bass music".

Details
The shop and its associated labels, including In Touch Records, IE Records, Ruff Groove, U No Dat, Oddball, Pure Energy, and the home brand De Underground Records released many seminal tracks. Owned by Mike De Underground (Michael Aymer), his brother Cool Hand Flex (Peter Aymer), Uncle 22, and DJ Randall, the shop was a hub for emerging sounds and artists. De Underground Records released Lennie De Ice's seminal track "We Are I.E." in 1991 on IE Records.

Legacy
In May 2021, Newham Council erected a blue plaque where the shop and label had its premises, in recognition of its contributions to "the development of UK hardcore, jungle and drum and bass music".

The 'Crate Digging: The Influence of De Underground Records' initiative, a project initiated by Rendezvous Projects for Newham Heritage Month 2021, was launched to document and preserve the history of De Underground Records, focusing on its impact on jungle and drum and bass music. This effort aimed to make the shop and studio's undocumented history accessible to the public for education and cultural preservation.