What is Dubstep?

Well since everyone seems to be talking about dubstep right now I thought it might make sense to help explain what it is and provide a few examples.  Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged from London’s garage scene in the early 2000′s.  It’s overall sound can be described as “tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals.”  It’s marked by a shuffling rhythm called 2-step which has a heavy emphasis on bass and sub-bass.  A typical 2-step drum pattern features a kick on the first and third beat, with a shuffled rhythm or the use of triplets applied to other elements of the percussion, creating a “lurching, falter-funk feel.”

An example of 2-step can be heard in Burial’s “Archangel” from their 2007 release Unture:

Burial – “Archangle”

[Courtery of DubstepTunez]

Dubstep has taken on a life of its own over the last decade and has fractured into many different variations. One sign that a little-known genre has gone mainstream is when Jay-Z and Kanye West pick it up and sell it to the masses. “Who Gon Stop Me” off the duo’s recent release Watch The Throne has the telltale signs of dubstep. The distored vocals and deep bass are hallmarks of dubstep.

Jay Z & Kanye West – “Who Gon Stop Me”

[Courtesy of KylesFavoriteJams]

The most recent American artist to break into the dubstep scene is Skrillex who released his Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites EP late last  year as a co-release between mau5trap and Big Beat record labels.  The title track below is another good example of the genre.  It’s been reported that Skrillex made the track at home on his laptop.

Skrillex – “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”

[Courtesy of TheOfficialSkrillex]