Breakbeat is the umbrella term for dance music that uses chopped, sampled breakbeats (drum patterns lifted from old funk, soul, and rock records) instead of a four-on-the-floor kick. The Amen, Think, and Funky Drummer breaks are the most recognisable. Breakbeat as a distinct genre took shape in early-1990s UK and US dance scenes, predating and feeding into jungle, drum & bass, big beat, and nu-skool breaks. Tempos vary 125–145 BPM. Modern breakbeat lives across multiple subscenes — from the UK rave revival around Bristol's Stay Up Forever and Hospital Records crowd to US-leaning festival big-beat producers. The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, and Crystal Method are foundational; modern producers like Sammy Virji and Interplanetary Criminal extend the form.