When the intercultural awareness and rich history of drums meet the somatic thump of bass, it reverberates through your feet and carries you for days. Drum and Bass is more than a rave-scene music genre; it’s a history lesson. Wander through the jungle to discover more about the genre, its history, and meet the Pond5 Artists that will help you tell your raver’s fantasy with their original DnB music tracks.
What is Drum and Bass Music
With influence from several genres and living under the rave subculture umbrella, Drum and Bass can be difficult to define to the untrained ear. Commonly called DnB, D&B, or D’n’B, this electronic dance genre is built around fast, intricate breakbeats.
Tracks typically range between 165 and 185 beats per minute, but they rarely use a straightforward four-on-the-floor pattern. Instead, the second kick usually hits just after the third beat, creating a slightly off-kilter rhythm. The drums themselves are often constructed by layering sampled “breaks,” frequently pulled from classic funk recordings and then sped up.
History
Drum and Bass first emerged in the UK during the 1990s, growing directly out of the Jungle scene. Some argue that the terms are interchangeable, but most agree that Drum and Bass is an evolution. How we got to Jungle music is a long, rich history. However, the basic genre milestones began with Jazz, which led to Reggae, which led to Ragga, which led to Jungle. Each genre left its mark on the next.
As early as the 1970s, the phrase “drum and bass” was sometimes used to name dub versions of Reggae songs. Reggae also often sampled the phrase ‘strictly drum and bass make you wind up your waist’.
Here is a brief timeline from the inception of the genre to today:
Late 1980s – Late 1990s
UK rave culture exploded in the late 1980s, with Jungle and Hardcore genres forming the blueprint for what would become Drum and Bass. Breakbeats, dub basslines, and sound-system culture lay the groundwork.
In the mid-nineties, Jungle morphed into DnB. Producers like Goldie, LTJ Bukem, and Roni Size began pushing Jungle into darker, faster, more intricate territory, moving toward what would soon be called Drum and Bass. Goldie’s Timeless (1995) and Roni Size/Reprazent’s New Forms (1997) help solidify DnB as a serious, standalone genre.
By the late 1990s, Drum and Bass reached new audiences with radio support and awards recognition.
Modern DnB
The early 2000s saw the most mainstream success for DnB, and it began to evolve into new subgenres like Neurofunk, Jump-up, and Liquid DnB. Labels like Hospital Records, Metalheadz, and RAM Records supported new talent, which diversified the sound and spread it globally.
DnB artists blurred the genre lines by working with mainstream Pop, Hip-hop, and EDM stars in the 2010s. Artists like Chase & Status and Netsky helped introduce DnB elements to new audiences.
Streaming became the main way to listen to music in the mid-2010s, and online platforms made DnB more accessible worldwide. This accessibility fueled an explosion of bedroom producers and smaller labels.
Despite some mainstream success, DnB has mostly remained underground but has endured for decades due to its loyal fan base. The community aspect of the genre keeps it alive. Festivals dedicated to DnB (such as Let It Roll and Hospitality on the Beach) draw international crowds.
Characteristics
- Drums: Unsurprisingly, drums play a crucial role in Drum and Bass. The drums are often constructed using breakbeats, which are rhythmic loops or segments of tracks. Producers chop up and rework classic drum loops like the “Amen Break” into tight, energetic patterns that often feel unpredictable and explosive. This focus on rhythm gives DnB its signature intensity and dancefloor drive.
- Bass: The second most important aspect of Drum and Bass is, you guessed it, bass. Deep, powerful basslines, whether they’re smooth and rolling or distorted and growling, give each track its physical impact, creating vibrations you can feel in your chest and driving the energy of the music.
- Sampling: Sampling ties everything together. DnB has always relied on creatively reusing snippets of other tracks, especially drums, as previously mentioned, along with vocals, sound effects, and melodic fragments. These elements add texture, character, and history to every track, connecting the genre to its roots while keeping it forward-thinking.
Meet your Drum and Bass Pond5 Artists for 3 creative uses in your projects
- Kesokid – A Pond5 Artist since 2013 with a catalogue of over 800 tracks. If you’re looking for something happy and upbeat, you’ve come to the right place. Liquid Future Drum And Bass keeps things moving and makes you feel like you’re floating. This track could elevate your video game to the next level.
- HamelshamMusic – A Pond5 Artist since 2021 with an eclectic mix of about 200 tracks in their catalogue. The track, Racing Shadows (Full Version) Drum And Bass Dnb Edm (Energetic Dance Music) would be a great choice as the theme for a podcast full of twists and turns. The opening riff has space to set up your intro before it drops into the full beat.
- EwaySounds – A Pond5 Artist since 2017 with over 400 tracks. Uplifting Drum And Bass oozes summer. The perfect accompaniment to your summer festival promo video. Imagine shots of happy gatherers soaking up the summer sun, visiting vendor booths, sampling products, and playing games.
- HeddyPrasetya – Megatruh – has elements of Neurofunk (it’s darker)
Explore our exclusive minicollection of original Drum and Bass tracks and discover the perfect sound to power your next creation. Ready for inspiration? Subscribe to Pond5 today and bring the pulse of Drum and Bass into your next creative project.