NEW Dubstep vs OLD Dubstep
 

The dubstep genre has changed over the last 6+ years. Whats your take on the evolving genre. Do you like the newer pew pew type of dub, or the Dank wobbles that use to echo your brain matter?

This is a comment forum. Wanting to know your thoughts on how dubstep has evolved and what you think of it.

all dubstep is terrible

Back when the music could have been called UK Garage, Grime, Dub and 2-Step, it was great. Now, it has the potential to be great, but most of the focus goes into the wrong things. The best thing about the realness that was evolving in the UK was the vibe. It didn't rely on anything other than that, and the gallop of the beat. Since then, the focus has shifted to other aspects that, while they could be considered evolutions, they're not evolving from the same place.

Personally, I don't appreciate what most people call "brostep". I do, however, enjoy the roots. And if there are people out there that can't tell the difference between then and now, then I feel sorry for them.

I'm not even sure what dubstep really is. I've heard a cross-section of music described as dubstep, but I don't really don't see a common link, except perhaps the use of off-tempo electronic rhythms with an aggressive bass line. But at least twenty sub-genres of electronic music have the same musical characteristics.

I wonder about the use of the word "dub" in dubstep because none dubstep music I've heard has any sort of resemblance to the dub music that has it's roots in the Jamaican dancehalls in the Seventies.

To confuse matters even more, the All Music Guide places a baffling array of seemingly unrelated artists in the dubstep genre such as: Burial, Kode9, James Blake, Cooly G, Gil Scott Heron, Allison Moyet, Korn (???), Mount Kimbie, Scientist, Ikonika, and Eskmo.

According to AMG, "dubstep" is a sub genre of "jungle/drum 'n' bass" genre which is a sub-genre of "electronic" music. The proliferation of pop music genres over the past 2 decades is enough to confuse even the most avid fan.

There are over 50 sub-genres of electronic music alone and I feel stupid because I need a PhD in musical taxnomy to understand all of the subtle distinctions within the science of musical classification. It's all electronic music to me.

I don't even want to get into sub-genres of pop & rock music because there's nearly 500 sub-genres of pop and rock. It appears that someday in the near future, every rock band will have it's own unique musical sub-genre.

I think music company executives & music retailers are responsible for creeping expansion of genre nomenclature, in the past 20 years. Genre has become a marketing tool used by music company executives and music retailers to target specific demographic groups to sell music to.

For example nearly anyone over the age of 40 knows what techno music is, but fewer 40+ folks know what drum 'n' bass or jungle music is. And almost no one over the age of 40 knows what dubstep music is. That's because the term "dubstep" is used almost exclusively to market music to 18-30 year old demographic of music buyers.

In 2002 the magazine XLR8R put out an issue about the emergence of dubstep. I still have the copy that I bought on the stands, having never heard of dubstep.

http://timelessmusic.ru/wp-content/u...3-XLR8R-60.png

Here the magazine writes that a BBC Radio 1 DJ credits XLR8R with coining the term, although the writer of the article is not sure if that's correct.

Anyone paying attention to electronic music since the early 00s can easily tell the difference(s) among dubstep that has been made since then. Like Freebase said, it's not a linear progression of a certain sound.

In that issue of XLR8R many unknown DJs are written about. One duo that definitely helped start the 'genre' (and one of my personal favorites) is Horsepower Productions. I consider them 'old' dubstep, although they don't represent the entire early scene which I think stems from a pretty simple equation: UK garage + Dub + 2-Step. But even that simple combo yields extremely varied results.

Here's a song HP made in 2004


And one in 2009


'New' dubstep is less easy to define because there are so many styles incorporated into the music that gets that tag. I think what Freebase called 'brostep' is generally what people think of when they hear the word now. Like this Zomboy stuff from, I think, 2013 (I personally think it sounds awful)



Of course there's a lot more than that coming out currently. Tempa is a label that has released reliably good stuff both old and new.

I agree 100 percent.
The newer "dubstep" is only incorporating 2 things from traditional Dubstep, and that's the tempo and beat structure, and even that is only to an extent. Everything else is derived from genres such as Electro, Drum & Bass, etc. When you think about it, today's Dubstep can't really be classified as Dubstep if we're looking at roots, but an offshoot of it. Much in the way that we can't simply call a Neurofunk tune "Drum & Bass" while thinking of the kind of Drum & Bass we had in the '90s.

In Drum & Bass, we started off with more Jungle type stuff, and it splintered off from there. Among other subgenres, we ended up with Techstep, which eventually evolved into what we know as Neurofunk today. While it's still all Drum & Bass, the distinction serves as an indicator. If I want to listen to some Liquid D&B, I know what to look for. If I want to listen to some Neurofunk, I also know what to look for. And if I want to listen to some Jump Up, or some Dark Step, I also know where to go. While they're all technically Drum & Bass, the attention to styistic difference serves a handy purpose.
So, in that respect, simply referring to everything Electronic that plays at 140BPM in half-time and includes some D&B sounding bass as Dubstep is probably a handicap for people that don't know the difference.

I don't care if they do or not... I just think they'd be better off knowing what the hell it is they're listening to.

Sure was, this is from 2003, they mention it on here and they didn't even know what sort of music it was - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiMZAPIfZxI

Dubstep and Grime are especially close though because they evolved at the same exact time from the same people, place and radio stations. One merged into Hip-Hop and the other developed into Brostep.

Also seems like Dubstep evolved from stoner music to pillhead music. Once it started to get popular the crowds and fan base changed. I'd say it's more like Dance music now.

I've heard very little creativity from the modern Brostep stuff tbh. The emphasis seems completely on how ridiculous you can make the bass sound or how aggressive you can make the snare or whatever. It's toss. Sukh Knight is sort of a hybrid of the two styles though and does it very well I think.

There is good stuff being made, but I cannot be bothered to sift through the massive amounts of shit to find it anymore.

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i'm very selective with dubstep... theres only a few that really do it for me.

i really liked the xilent - choose me dubstep song. i also liked the seven lions across the great divide track.

most dubstep however, is just nerve wracking i feel though.

Basically what has happened is that Dubstep is now commercialised and it is one of the few sub genres of Electronic music that has really become huge but of course that leads to a whole rash of inferior music and then it evolves again into something else with the original sound of dubstep almost obliterated but hey that's the mainstream for you.

I like some tracks from what is now classed as Dubstep but my heart is definitely in the original atmospheric sound of Dubstep.

Gavin B - I can certainly understand you not quite getting where the Dub aspect fits into the music but try giving Benga's Diary Of An Afro Warrior album a listen and you can certainly hear Dub even though it is distilled and the affinity to stripping down songs and putting them back together again with lots of effects which is part (only one admittedly) of what Dub is about.

Dubstep followed the trajectory of drum and bass. First it was weird and appealed to a relatively small group of fanatics. It had names like "suicide dub" and whatnot. Then your parents heard about it. Then it started making appearances on car commercials. As all this was unfolding, the treble got louder and louder and the form became formula. I like the older stuff, back when it was 2step and grime, because at least back then it was trying against all odds to be different. But I'm probably just old and jaded.

dear Engine, I tried to answer you a few minutes ago, via private message (thank you for you answer). But I couldn't, as it seems you have reached you maximum disposable number of private messages. So, please, let's continue the conversation via email (I already gave mine in my first message; please, give me yours). Thank you so much!

Its just an evolution! Nothing is terrible IMO I love it alll!

People can still make old dubstep or new dubstep LOL it doesnt matter!

I thought Skrillex created Dubstep a few years ago..

i actually like the new type of dubstep... i made some on my own..

You had to choose Zomboy to represent brostep didn't you?
He is a thief, he used loops for his bass sounds and drums (which are the core elements) and just says its his.

I think even brostep has subgenres at this point in time. Stuff from Circus Records is brostep but so is Skrillex and they sound different with the drum sounds and the amount of swing in the drums and the bass sounds.

Mt Eden, Datsik and Excision are all the pioneers of brostep.
Rusko started brostep.
12th Planet and Skrillex got brostep and dubstep in general into clubs.

I like all dubstep but the only part I don't like is the amount of wannabe producers copying skrillex's sound (e.g. zomboy)

Back in 2008 we used to party to a lot of N-Type and Skream. I loved that N-Type album but I forgot what it's called and I can't find it anywhere. I don't like most of the new stuff. Does anyone know of N-Type and where I can find his older albums?

The point is fuck the prevalence of brostep. So why wouldn't I use Zomboy to represent it?

Almost of all dupstep music sucks. I reckon thats because of commercialised. Same rhythm and sound. it has a few good music of that genre that i like. Im getting laught when see minecraft intro who include dubstep. WTF.. Nowadays dubstep is the favorite one genre of little children.

Nat a fan at of any lol

Dub step is pretty cool sometimes, usually when I'm really lit otherwise not so much haha

new dubstep is like 100times better

I use to like dubstep about five years ago but now it reminds me of the whole electronic music boom of the 90's, in that by the 2000 it had gotten really stale and commercial.

I don't know if I'm just getting old but brostep is one of the worst genres I've ever heard. It sounds like a gathering of douche bags farting in my face, while sampling bad hip hop songs.

Brostep = lame



Dubstep = chillin, Rastafari!

Sukh Knight - Beneath Your Blouse - YouTube

^ This is excellent


Skream ft. Trim - Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum - YouTube


Dark Tantrums & Trim - Notice Now - YouTube

I never really cared for the longevity of dub step like Flux, to close to hardcore techno throwbacks. I have always loved filthy drops, minamilistic glitch and trip hop but other than remixes its hard to find that melodic story feel AND those drops that are so dope.

I don't know a whole lot of dubstep, new or old, but as Ascended put it, a creative artist can make a great song in any genre.

A personal favorite, Broken Note has consistently put out ruthless tunes, often quite experimental.


Broken Note - Guillotine (Original Mix) - YouTube

Is this for real? New dubstep (mostly brostep) got nothing to the good old days djs/new ones that produce similar "old dubstep" sound.

Got to bring up Skream, DMZ records (mala, coki - Digital Mystikz), Kromestar, Silkie, Swindle, loefah, benga, distance, d1, n-type...

I don't even consider "old" dubstep to be dubstep in the first place. To me it is Dub. Some call it Future Dub. And of course, artists such as Mala, Skream, Digital Mystikz, Loefah, Mungo's Hi-Fi ecc. are way better than Dubstep (or "brostep", as it is called by many people) artists. Although, Dubstep has some funny and actually enjoyable tunes thanks to Liquid Stranger.

I think you'd be surprised, as is true with any genre if you look long enough you'll find something interesting, there's a lot of really talented new producers that really put a lot into interesting sound design, the label Ad Noiseam especially has been consistently releasing some pretty unique albums (among the occasional duds of course). The old classic dub styles are great, but there's always room to explore, and the great thing about new electronic music is that new technologies and more elaborate software programs allow artists to push the limits of a genre further and further.

Ahhhh! I love the tracks you posted, Epoch :) You and I have similar taste, at least in this genre. I love love love Bane.

big up for Misanthrop.. I especially love his track with Phace, "Desert Orgy", which is the craziest Drum and Bass track EVER. Btw, it's strange how the ones who pioneered Dubstep, I mean Hyperdub Records, are the same ones who pushed it to the newest and maybe the most interesting electronic genres of nowadays.. I mean, all that Future Garage, UK Funky, UK Bass, Wonky and Footwork scene

Misanthrop and Phace are fantastic, especially when working as a team. I've always considered Sidereal to be Misanthrop's most incredible track, if you haven't heard it I highly suggest you do hear it, some of the most remarkable production I've ever heard in my life. Just search it up on YouTube, I'd link it here but this isn't a drum & bass thread.

EPOCH, I'm surprised.. you're the first one I met here that didn't stop his search for music once discovered 60's Rock and who knows and aknowledges this kind of music.. I feel we're on the same wavelenght

I primarily listen to drum & bass, IDM, and experimental electronic music, I just happen to be listening to and posting a lot about classic rock at the moment. Maybe we ought to team up later and set sail into the electronica section on a pirate conquest of some sort.

ahaha sure. also, I saw u like instrumental Hip Hop too. I'm into black music in general, and for what concerns electronica, I prefer the UK scene.. I mean, beside DnB and breakbeat, I love UK Garage and all its sub-genres.. my favorites are Kode9 and The Spaceape, the latter died a few weeks ago.. (btw, I stop here.. don't wanna go OT ahaha)

How much of this have you heard? And do you enjoy the vocal stuff?

You lot should check Terror Danjah out btw.

I already checked him.. Well, I checked EVERYTHING that has been released by Hyperdub Records ahah. Yet, he's not among the ones I like the most.

I've heard a lot of stuff and yeah, vocal stuff is great. Especially when it comes to Dub Poetry and Spoken Word. (not to mention, my avatar is the late Dub poet Spaceape)

You don't rate him? That's fair enough bro. For me he is easily one of the legends, like top 5 of my all time producers.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZVES1D0Bi4

Have you heard Gremlinz?

Respect bro.