Bass music
What is Dubstep?
Half-time bass music defined by wobbling sub-bass and sparse drum patterns.
Dubstep is a UK bass genre that emerged in early-2000s South London, particularly through DMZ, FWD>>, and the Tempa label. The original sound centred on 140-BPM half-time drums, deep sub-bass, dub-influenced reverb, and sparse arrangements; producers like Skream, Benga, Mala, and Loefah defined the canon. The genre split in the late 2000s: a "deep" UK strain continued the meditative original aesthetic (Mala, DMZ), while a US-led "brostep" branch (Skrillex, Excision, Datsik) added aggressive mid-range "wobble" basses and festival-stage builds. Today both branches coexist — UK deep dubstep on labels like Deep Medi and Tempa, US/festival dubstep through Wakaan, Disciple, and Lost Lands. Dubstep also seeded grime, future garage, and bass house.
- Tempo
- 138–142 BPM (half-time feel)
- Origin
- South London, early 2000s
Signature Dubstep artists
- Skream
- Benga
- Mala
- Skrillex
- Excision
- Subtronics
Notable Dubstep record labels
- Deep Medi
- Tempa
- Disciple
- Wakaan
- Never Say Die
