Have you ever danced and felt the electric vibration of bass jumping through the pulse of your fingertips, into your blood-stream, and straight to your heartbeat? Or were you in the car, listening to the radio, when a particular song came on that fascinated you? Was it so loud that it made you wonder where the beat came from? What it was? Most likely, it was from Dubstep.

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music, or EDM, that consists of powerful bass lines, booming syncopated drum and rhythm elements, percussion patterns, occasional vocals, and sub-bass frequencies. Its creation has been influenced by past genres such as drum and bass, reggae, jungle, and broken beat, to name a few. Often played in clubs and other dance-centered environments, it is no wonder that this intriguing music genre has enchanted individuals throughout the world.

Its origin lies in 1998 London, England – when UK producers decided to fuse dub remixes and 2-step-garage, another EDM music genre, in order to create a unique sound that would soon come to be called “Dubstep,” a merge of “dub” and “2-step.”

Over time, into the late 2000s, this power ball genre’s reach began to transcend from the UK over into international waters. Today, Dubstep has officially skyrocketed into mainstream success, presenting a new genre of music that continues to wow audiences everywhere.

You can recognize a Dubstep track through its syncopated rhythms and a speedy, high tempo that ranges from approximately 138 to 142 beats per minute. One distinguishing feature, in particular, is its wobble bass. A wobble bass is an extended bass note that is created by utilizing a low frequency oscillator to manipulate volume, filter cutoff, and alter the sound.

This genre has become so revolutionarily popular that several music artists have added traces of Dubstep into their own songs. For example, Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble,” Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me,” and Alex Clare’s “Too Close” each have Dubstep undertones.

Some leading artists of this genre include Skrillex, Chase & Status, Skream, Flux Pavillion, Bassnectar, Nero, and Zomboy.
According to dubstep.net, the top Dubstep songs of all time include “Circles” by KDrew, “Bullet Train” by Stephen Swartz ft. Joni Fatora, and ”Burn” by Ellie Goulding (Glow Team Remix).
So, now you know what Dubstep is, where it came from, and who has begun to use elements of it in their own music. Enjoy the music and Listen up– because the legacy of this genre is just beginning.