Drum and Bass

Putting The Science Into Music

Drum and Bass emerged in Britain during the early 1990s from breakbeat hardcore, jungle and the wider rave scene. Its foundations combined accelerated sampled drum breaks with heavy sub-bass, electronic production and influences from reggae, dub, hip hop, techno and sound-system culture.

Early jungle producers reshaped funk drum samples through chopping, time-stretching and rapid rearrangement, with the Amen break becoming one of the scene's most recognisable rhythmic sources. Reggae basslines, ragga vocals and dub production techniques carried the strong influence of Black British and Caribbean communities into the music.

As the sound progressed through the mid-1990s, Drum and Bass became the common name for productions leaning more heavily on detailed percussion, electronic bass and studio experimentation. Artists including Goldie, Grooverider, Fabio, LTJ Bukem, Roni Size, 4hero and Doc Scott established different musical directions, while Metalheadz, Moving Shadow and Good Looking Records became influential labels.

Drum and Bass commonly uses fast tempos, syncopated breakbeats and basslines built for powerful club sound systems. The genre expanded into styles including liquid funk, atmospheric Drum and Bass, techstep, neurofunk, jump-up, dancefloor, darkstep and minimal Drum and Bass.

Pirate radio, record shops, raves and specialist club nights supported the scene before it reached wider exposure through albums, festivals and international touring. Drum and Bass is now produced around the world, while its history stays closely tied to British rave culture, jungle and the influence of Jamaican sound-system tradition.

At Scientific Sound Asia, drum and bass occasionally surfaces within Basement Soul, The Deeper Shades, Control Tower and Global Bass, with an occasional appearance from DJ Mista C's dedicated Drum and Bass show.