Drum and bass

"DnB" redirects here. For the Norwegian bank, see DNB ASA.

Drum and bass
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsEarly-to-mid 1990s, United Kingdom
Derivative forms
Subgenres
Fusion genres
Regional scenes
Sambass
Other topics
An example of a D&B song in the subgenre of liquid D&B

Drum and bass (commonly abbreviated as DnB, D&B, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterised by fast breakbeats (typically 165–185 beats per minute[2][3]) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines,[4] samples, and synthesizers. The genre grew out of the UK's jungle scene in the 1990s.[5]

DJ Dextrous, a trailblazer in the early days of Jungle music, seen here during a performance in Switzerland in 2015.

The popularity of drum and bass at its commercial peak ran parallel to several other UK dance styles. A major influence was the original Jamaican dub and reggae sound that influenced jungle's bass-heavy sound. Another feature of the style is the complex syncopation of the drum tracks' breakbeat.[6] Drum and bass subgenres include breakcore, ragga jungle, hardstep, darkstep, techstep, neurofunk, ambient drum and bass, liquid funk (also known as liquid drum and bass), jump up, drumfunk, sambass, and drill 'n' bass. Drum and bass has influenced other genres such as big beat, dubstep, trip hop and has been influenced by hip hop, house, ambient music, techno, jazz, rock and pop.

Drum and bass is dominated by a relatively small group of record labels. Major international music labels had shown very little interest in the drum and bass scene until BMG Rights Management acquired RAM in February 2016.[7] Since then, the genre has seen a significant growth in exposure. Whilst the origin of drum and bass music is in the UK, the genre has evolved considerably with many other prominent fanbases located all over the world.

Adam F performs at Listen at Club Alchemy in New Haven, Connecticut, on 3 September 2006.
  1. ^ Reynolds, Simon (2013). Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture. Soft Skull Press. Whether they were black or white, or skinny lads from brum called combatant these artists reaffirmed drum and bass's place in an African continuum (dub, hip hop James Brown, etc...) whose premise constitute a radical break with Western music, classical and pop.
  2. ^ Bateman, Graeme (18 March 2019). "A 10-step guide on how to remix drum 'n' bass". Red Bull Music Academy. Red Bull. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Tempo and genre". Ableton. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Jungle/Drum'n'Bass". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  5. ^ Murphy, Ben (4 January 2018). "These are the drum 'n' bass sub-genres that you need to know". Red Bull Music Academy. Red Bull. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  6. ^ Proctor, Landon (21 February 2006). "Video explains the world's most important 6-sec drum loop". Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2017 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "BMG Invests in Drum & Bass Powerhouse RAM". BMG. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.