Breakbeat

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This article is about breakbeat, the electronic dance music genre. For the technique, and the meaning of the term with hip-hop and funk music see break (music).
Breakbeat
Stylistic originsRave, Techno, Hip-hop, Dancehall , Drum N bass / Drill N bass
Cultural originsmid-1990s, London, Brighton, Bristol
Typical instrumentsSynthesizer - Drum machine - Sequencer - Keyboard - Sampler - Laptop
Derivative formsBig beat
Subgenres
2Step - Hardcore - Breakcore - Brokenbeat - Drill n bass - Drum n' bass - Grime - Jungle - Nu skool breaks - Techstep
(complete list)
Other topics
Notable breakbeat artists

Breakbeat (breakbeats or breaks), are a collection of sub-genres of electronic music, chiefly exemplified by drum and bass and jungle, usually characterized by a non-straighted 4/4 drum pattern (as opposed to the steady beat of house or trance). These rhythms may be characterised by their use of syncopation and polyrhythms, which are prominent in all music of African origin, including much Afro-American music. Much breakbeat based music proceeds from the sampled drum parts of old funk and jazz records, see break.

In recent times, the term breakbeat has become synonymous for many with the genre of breaks music (sometimes known as nu skool breaks), which has become very popular within the global dance music scene, with DJs from a variety of genres, such as house and techno, working breaks tracks into their sets. This may occur because the tempo of breaks tracks (ranging from 115 to 150 beats per minute) means they can be readily mixed with these genres, whereas the comparatively fast speed of jungle and drum and bass (165-180 bpm) may have restricted the utility of these subgenres to DJs playing slower-tempo music.

Breakbeat (or funky breakbeat) may also refer to the music of bands such as Breakestra, who play funk and soul music with an emphasis on the elements that would become popular in hip-hop and later breaks-based music.

See also

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