Drum and bass (DnB) is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged as part of the British rave scene in the early 1990s. It is characterized by fast breakbeats, typically 165-185 beats per minute, with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, samples, and synthesizers. Old-school DnB usually included an MC providing vocals, and some styles, such as jazz-influenced DnB, also include melodic instruments soloing over the music.
DnB is popular in continental Europe, with the Czech Republic currently hosting the largest drum and bass festival in the world, LET IT ROLL, with an annual attendance of approximately 30,000. The genre is also encountered in Slovakia, and local producers in both countries are becoming well known worldwide. Hungary has an emerging DnB scene centered in Budapest, with frequent DnB gigs and festivals on the Danube.
Some of the best-known DnB musicians include:
- Netsky: a Belgian DnB music producer who is regarded as a pioneer of the genre, with heavy incorporation of liquid funk, trap house, and drumstep.
- Sub Focus: an English DnB producer who has been active since the early 2000s and has released several successful albums and singles.
- Goldie: an English musician, DJ, and actor who is considered one of the pioneers of DnB and has been active since the early 1990s.
- LTJ Bukem: an English musician and producer who is known for his jazz-influenced DnB and has been active since the early 1990s.
- Roni Size: an English musician and producer who won the Mercury Music Prize in 1997 for his album "New Forms," which is considered a classic of the DnB genre.
DnB mixes are also popular on platforms like YouTube, with many DJs and producers sharing their own mixes and remixes of popular songs.
