Official Drum & Bass Subgenres

Drum and bass (D&B) is a genre with a rich history and an array of subgenres that emerged from the fusion of breakbeats, basslines, and electronic music production techniques. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the major subgenres, their characteristics, and evolution:

Jungle (Started in early 1990s)

• Origins: Jungle is the precursor to drum and bass, emerging in the UK rave scene in the early 90s. It evolved from hardcore breakbeat, reggae, dancehall, and dub influences.
• Sound: Jungle is known for its fast, syncopated breakbeats, especially the "Amen break," heavy basslines, and reggae or ragga vocal samples.
• Key Artists: Shy FX, Remarc, General Levy, and DJ Hype.
• Notable Tracks: Shy FX's Original Nuttah, and Congo Natty’s Junglist.

Jump-Up (Started in mid-1990s)

• Origins: Originating in the mid-90s, jump-up was designed to get crowds moving with its energetic style.
• Sound: Jump-up is known for its catchy, loud basslines, simple melodies, and often playful elements, emphasizing the “drop.”
• Key Artists: Aphrodite, DJ Zinc, and Hazard.
• Notable Tracks: DJ Zinc’s Super Sharp Shooter and Aphrodite’s King of the Beats.

Techstep (Started in mid-1990s)

• Origins: This darker, industrial subgenre emerged from the fusion of jungle and techno influences.
• Sound: Characterized by dark, sci-fi atmospheres, hard-hitting snares, and distorted, mechanical basslines. Inspired by horror and science fiction themes.
• Key Artists: Ed Rush, Optical, Trace, and Dom & Roland.
• Notable Tracks: Ed Rush & Optical’s Wormhole and Trace’s Sonar.

Darkstep (Started in late 1990s)

• Origins: Evolved as a darker take on techstep, with a focus on eerie, unsettling atmospheres.
• Sound: Fast, heavy, and complex drum patterns, dark and cinematic sounds, and aggressive basslines.
• Key Artists: Dieselboy, Limewax, and Technical Itch.
• Notable Tracks: Technical Itch’s The Rukus and Limewax’s One of Them.

Hardstep (Started in late 1990s)

• Origins: Emerged as an evolution of jungle with a harder, more straightforward rhythm.
• Sound: Characterized by tougher, more prominent snares and a stripped-back approach, often with gritty basslines.
• Key Artists: DJ Hype, Dillinja, and Lemon D.
• Notable Tracks: Dillinja’s Hard Noize and DJ Hype’s Peace, Love, and Unity.

Liquid Funk (Started in early 2000s)

• Origins: Liquid funk (or liquid D&B) emerged as a melodic, soulful counterbalance to the darker subgenres.
• Sound: Features jazzy, funky, and soulful vibes, often with uplifting melodies and a smoother, more relaxed rhythm.
• Key Artists: High Contrast, Calibre, and London Elektricity.
• Notable Tracks: High Contrast’s If We Ever and Calibre’s Even If.

Neurofunk (Started in early 2000s)

• Origins: An evolution of techstep with a focus on intricate bass design and complex rhythms.
• Sound: Known for its neurotic, robotic basslines, tight percussion, and sci-fi atmospheres. Often dark and intense.
• Key Artists: Noisia, Phace, Mefjus, and Black Sun Empire.
• Notable Tracks: Noisia’s Stigma and Phace & Misanthrop’s From Deep Space.

Liquid Drum & Bass (Started in mid-2000s)

• Origins: Liquid D&B continued evolving from liquid funk, embracing even more melodic and accessible sounds.
• Sound: Known for smooth, flowing compositions, emotional melodies, and deep, often uplifting basslines. Elements of jazz, soul, and R&B are common.
• Key Artists: Logistics, Netsky, and Lenzman.
• Notable Tracks: Logistics’ Together and Netsky’s Memory Lane.

Rollers (Started in mid-2000s)

• Origins: Rollers is a broad category, emphasizing a consistent, hypnotic groove that "rolls" over a track.
• Sound: Typically mid-tempo, with a repetitive and subtle bassline, and less focus on dramatic breakdowns or drops.
• Key Artists: Serum, Voltage, and Bladerunner.
• Notable Tracks: Serum’s Round the Corner and Voltage’s Lumberjack.

Drumfunk (Started in late 2000s)

• Origins: A subgenre that celebrates the rhythmic complexity of breakbeats, focusing on detailed, intricate drum programming.
• Sound: Emphasis on chopped, layered, and intricately programmed drums, often using jazz or ambient sounds for atmosphere.
• Key Artists: Paradox, Fanu, and Macc.
• Notable Tracks: Paradox’s A Certain Sound and Fanu’s Siren Song.

Atmospheric Drum & Bass / Intelligent D&B (Started in early 2000s)

• Origins: Developed as a more cerebral, ethereal take on drum and bass, influenced by ambient and IDM music.
• Sound: Known for lush, ambient textures, jazz influences, and introspective moods, with a less aggressive beat.
• Key Artists: LTJ Bukem, Seba, and Peshay.
• Notable Tracks: LTJ Bukem’s Horizons and Seba’s Valley of the Moomins.

Minimal Drum & Bass (Started in 2010s)

• Origins: Emerged as a response to the maximalism in neurofunk, with a stripped-down approach.
• Sound: Focuses on minimalistic, hypnotic basslines, and subtle drum patterns with a lot of space in the mix.
• Key Artists: dBridge, Skeptical, and Alix Perez.
• Notable Tracks: Alix Perez’s Melodrama and Skeptical’s Echo Dub.

Halftime (Started in mid-2010s)

• Origins: A newer subgenre that emphasizes slower rhythms, inspired by hip-hop and bass music.
• Sound: Features half-speed drum patterns, deep bass, and a slower, often hypnotic feel, blending dubstep and hip-hop elements.
• Key Artists: Ivy Lab, Sam Binga, and Fracture.
• Notable Tracks: Ivy Lab’s Gomelez and Sam Binga’s Pound for Pound.

Future Bass / Synthwave-Inspired D&B (Started in late 2010s)

• Origins: Recent experimentation with synthwave, future bass, and pop elements in D&B.
• Sound: Uses lush, retro-inspired synths, melodic elements, and polished, cinematic atmospheres, influenced by 80s electronic music.
• Key Artists: Metrik, Camo & Krooked, and Sub Focus.
• Notable Tracks: Sub Focus’ Solar System and Metrik’s Gravity.

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