Drum & Bass is a genre with powerful kicks and a furious tempo. Everything about the history, subgenres, top artists, and the modern sound of DnB.
Drum & Bass (or DnB / D&B) is an electronic music genre where the drums and the bassline don’t just play the lead role – they’re racing at breakneck speed. It’s all about energy, rhythm and pressure that you can’t mistake for anything else. DnB has long moved beyond raves: you’ll hear it in games, movies, clubs, festivals and even commercials.
History of Drum & Bass
The genre emerged in the early 1990s in the UK as an evolution of rave, hardcore and breakbeat. The legendary London club "Rage" became one of the first venues where fast, aggressive rhythms with jungle-style samples started to take over.
Drum & Bass grew out of jungle – reggae, funk and dub samples layered over fast, chopped-up breakbeats. Over time the sound became more complex, spawning new subgenres, labels and scene heroes.
Key characteristics
-
Tempo: 160–180 BPM (with 174 BPM as the standard)
-
Breakbeat: a chopped, syncopated drum pattern
-
Powerful, often very deep bass
-
Dark, atmospheric or aggressive delivery
-
A strong focus on sound engineering — from sound design to advanced mixing
DnB subgenres
-
Liquid DnB — smooth, melodic, “liquid” sound (Netsky, Calibre, LSB)
-
Neurofunk — dark, technical and “robotic” (Noisia, Black Sun Empire)
-
Jump Up — bouncy, party-ready style with “jumping” basslines (Sub Focus, Macky Gee)
-
Techstep — industrial, mechanical DnB (Ed Rush & Optical)
-
Darkstep / Skullstep — aggressive and chaotic offshoots
-
Atmospheric DnB / Intelligent DnB — more ambient, often with little or no driving drum groove
-
Drumfunk — built around intricate drum programming and break science
Key artists
-
Goldie — godfather of the scene; his album Timeless became a cult classic
-
Roni Size & Reprazent, LTJ Bukem, DJ Hype — pioneers and architects of the genre
-
Pendulum — pushed DnB into the mainstream (especially into the rock world)
-
Noisia — highly technical neurofunk and iconic game soundtracks
-
Netsky, High Contrast, Camo & Krooked, Logistics — leaders of the liquid wave
-
Andy C — DJ legend and multiple DJ Awards winner
Fun facts
-
Many DnB producers are true “sound engineers”, obsessing over sound design and detail.
-
DnB features heavily in game soundtracks: WipeOut, Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, Cyberpunk 2077.
-
The "Amen Break" — a six-second drum sample from the 1960s — became the backbone of thousands of DnB tracks.
-
DnB has one of the most devoted fanbases; the scene has been active for over 30 years.
-
In Ukraine, Poland, Czechia and Germany there are entire club nights and labels dedicated solely to DnB.
DnB today
Drum & Bass is evolving and thriving:
-
It regularly enters the charts on Spotify and Beatport.
-
It’s a staple at festivals like Rampage, Let It Roll, Hospitality, Boomtown, Liquicity.
-
It’s hugely popular in livestreams and DJ sets on Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.
-
It appears in tracks by pop artists — from Poppy to Chase & Status.
Where to start for newcomers?
-
Goldie – Inner City Life
-
Noisia – Tommy's Theme
-
Netsky – Memory Lane
-
Sub Focus – Tidal Wave
-
DJ Marky & XRS – LK
-
Camo & Krooked – Ember
Drum & Bass is speed, power and intellect fused into one rhythm. Born at London’s underground raves, it has become a global language of movement — from Berlin’s clubs to cyberpunk movie soundtracks.
There are no accidental sounds in DnB: every break, every bass lead is the result of precise engineering and a passion for detail. The genre combines punk energy, electronic precision and jazz soul, while somehow staying fresh and forward-thinking.
Today Drum & Bass is more than just jungle’s legacy: it’s a fully-fledged culture with its own heroes, festivals and way of life. It unites those who feel music not just with their ears, but with their whole body. As long as hearts beat at 174 BPM, DnB will keep playing — fast, loud and forever.
