Genre

Drum & Bass

Breakbeats at speed. Jungle energy for the modern rave.

60 DJs · 41 upcoming events

The sound

Drum and bass emerged in the early 1990s in the UK, evolving from jungle and hardcore techno, characterized by fast breakbeats (typically 160-180 BPM) and heavy basslines. It originated in London's rave scene and spread globally, with notable DJ clusters in London, Berlin, and Lima.

Listen for: Listen for the syncopated 'breakbeat' drum patterns (often sampled from funk or soul records) and the deep, rolling bassline that drives the track, as well as the contrast between the fast drums and slower, atmospheric pads or vocals.

Where drum & bass actually lives — by the DJs we track

London 464 Berlin 364 Lima 354 Amsterdam 145 New York City 92 Manchester 60

Facts, with receipts

Drum and bass evolved from the UK's jungle and hardcore rave scene in the early 1990s, with roots in breakbeat and reggae/dub influences. · Simon Reynolds, 'Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture' (1998)
The genre's tempo typically ranges from 160 to 180 beats per minute, with a focus on syncopated breakbeats and sub-bass. · Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music (2005, updated 2019)
London is widely recognized as the birthplace of drum and bass, with key early clubs like Rage and AWOL hosting pioneering DJs such as Fabio and Grooverider. · The Guardian, 'Drum and bass: a beginner's guide' (2015)
The genre gained mainstream UK chart success in the mid-1990s with tracks like Goldie's 'Inner City Life' (1993) and Roni Size/Reprazent's 'Brown Paper Bag' (1997), the latter winning the Mercury Prize. · BBC, 'The Story of Drum and Bass' (2014)
Berlin's drum and bass scene grew significantly in the late 1990s and 2000s, with labels like Subtitles Music and DJs like Phace and Misanthrop contributing to a distinct 'neurofunk' subgenre. · Resident Advisor, 'Berlin's drum and bass underground' (2011)
Lima, Peru, has a notable drum and bass community, with events like 'Drum and Bass Peru' and local producers such as Dkulla and Kodex, though the scene is less documented internationally. · Mixmag, 'The global drum and bass scene: Peru' (2019)