Drum & Bass
tagStarted 1994Peak 1995–2001, 2019–2025Last big hit still active
Drum & bass is the broad fast-breakbeat umbrella after jungle’s initial explosion: chopped or programmed Amen-derived rhythms, powerful sub-bass, and an increasingly refined studio aesthetic. It usually circles 170–176 BPM and ranges from soulful glide to machine-war aggression.
History
The term took hold as jungle diversified and some producers pushed for cleaner engineering, more focused rhythms, and genre-specific identities. Goldie, Roni Size, LTJ Bukem, Ed Rush & Optical, High Contrast, and later Sub Focus or Wilkinson each represent major turns in the music’s ongoing evolution.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Beatport’s Drum & Bass history
- Insomniac overview of DnB subgenres.