Liquid funk — also called liquid drum & bass — is the most melodic and song-led drum & bass subgenre. Tracks pair classic D&B drums with jazz-influenced chord changes, soulful vocals, and warm sub-bass; the mood is contemplative rather than aggressive. The style consolidated in the early 2000s on Hospital Records and Fokuz and is most strongly associated with London Elektricity, High Contrast, and Calibre. Tempos sit at 170–175 BPM (the standard D&B tempo); what distinguishes liquid is the harmonic and emotional palette. The form is the most commercially radio-friendly D&B variant and frequently bridges drum & bass into adjacent listening contexts. Hybrid Minds, Wilkinson, and Etherwood are central modern figures.