How Dubstep Music Evolved in the 50s
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How Dubstep Music Evolved in the 50s – A look at how the popular music genre of dubstep has its roots in the 1950s.
The Beginnings of Dubstep
Dubstep music has its origins in the late 1950s, when Jamaican musicians began experimenting with mixing American R&B and Jamaican ska and reggae. This new style of music, which came to be known as dub, was pioneered by producers like King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry. Dubstep emerged from this dub tradition in the late 1990s, when British producers began adding elements of 2-step and garage to the dub sound.
The first dubstep track is created
The first dubstep track is thought to have been created by Elgar William ‘Will’ Banks in 2002. The track, called ‘Gardenambo’, was heavily influenced by 2-step and garage music, which were popular at the time. Gardenambo is often credited as being the first dubstep track, although there are some who argue that it wasn’t actually dubstep, but rather a revival of 2-step.
The sound of dubstep begins to take shape
The sound of dubstep begins to take shape in the early 2000s, with producers and DJs in London experimenting with new ways to incorporate elements of Jamaican dub and 2-step into their music. This new style, which would come to be known as dubstep, takes cues from a range of sources, including UK garage, drum and bass, and even reggae and grime.
One of the earliest and most influential dubstep tracks is “Spliff Dub” by Bristol-based producer Leo Zero, which is widely considered to be the first dubstep track ever released. This track, along with other early tracks like “Benga Benga” by Benga and “Skeng” by The Bug, helped to define the sound of dubstep and set the stage for its future development.
The Rise of Dubstep
Dubstep music has its origins in the late 50s, and has since evolved into a popular genre of electronic dance music. The earliest examples of dubstep can be found in the work of Jamaican producers such as King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry. These producers began experimenting with new ways of manipulating the sounds of reggae music, which led to the development of dubstep.
Dubstep music becomes more popular
Since the early 2000s, dubstep music has been growing in popularity. This type of music is a mix of electronic and hip-hop, with a focus on bass and rhythm. Dubstep began in the United Kingdom, but has since spread to other parts of the world.
There are a few key factors that have contributed to the rise of dubstep music. First, the internet has made it easier for people to discover new music. With platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube, anyone can find and share dubstep tracks.
Second, there’s been an increase in the number of festivals and club nights that feature dubstep DJs. These events give fans a place to hear the latest tracks and see their favorite DJs perform live.
Finally, some mainstream artists have begun incorporating elements of dubstep into their own music. This has exposed the genre to even more people, and helped it gain mainstream appeal.
More and more artists begin to produce dubstep tracks
The early 2000s saw a steady increase in the number of artists producing dubstep tracks. In 2002, a pivotal moment in the history of dubstep occurred when Alex Patton, better known by his stage name Benga, released the track “Skanker” on the label Big Apple Records. This was one of the first dubstep tracks to gain mainstream attention, and it helped to propel the genre into the mainstream consciousness.
By the middle of the 2000s, dubstep had evolved into a form that was recognizably its own. The characteristic wobble bass sound had become firmly established, and producers began to experiment with different styles and tempos. Around this time, dubstep began to gain popularity outside of its native UK; in 2006, American record label Crossfire released a compilation album featuring tracks by some of the genre’s leading lights.
In the years since, dubstep has continued to evolve and mutate, spawning new subgenres and fusions with other styles of electronic music. Its influence can now be heard in everything from pop music to film scores. Thanks to its innovative sound and accessibility, dubstep has become one of the most popular genres of electronic music in the world.
The Present Day
Although the term “dubstep” wasn’t coined until the late 1990s, the genre’s origins can be traced back to the 1950s. At that time, Jamaican musicians began experimenting with electronic music, using primitive equipment to create dub plates—customized recordings of popular songs with the vocals removed. These early dubs were heavily influenced by American blues and R&B, as well as Jamaican ska and rocksteady.
Dubstep music has reached the mainstream
The term “dubstep” was first coined in the late 1990s, but the genre actually has its roots in the early days of reggae and dub music. In its earliest form, dubstep was a dark, underground sound that slowly began to gain popularity in clubs and on the internet. By the early 2000s, dubstep had reached the mainstream, with artists like Burial and Skream becoming household names.
Today, dubstep is one of the most popular genres of electronic music, with artists like Flux Pavilion and Nero regularly topping charts around the world. The sound has also inspired a new generation of producers, who are constantly pushing the boundaries of what dubstep can be.
The sound of dubstep has evolved
The sound of dubstep has evolved from the chilled-out, spacious productions of early pioneers such as Oris Jay and El-B, to the more maximalist, wobbly style associated with Skream and Benga’s FWD>> club night in London. These producers expanded on the sparse, sub-bass sound of early dubstep by adding more percussion and sounds from other genres such as 2-step garage and jungle.
