Breakbeat hardcore

Breakbeat hardcore (or rave) is a style of electronic music. It was an early 1990s offshoot of the Acid House scene of late 1980s Britain. It added a hip-hop influence with the addition of break beats, and increased the tempo. A strong reggae and ragga influence emerged in 1991/92, with Jamaican reggae samples used at normal speed layered on top of frenetic 150 to 170 bpm breakbeats. Example artists include Spiral Tribe, Nebula 2, SL2 and the early Prodigy.

Related Topics:
Rave - Electronic music - 1990s - Acid House - 1980s - Britain - Hip-hop - Break beat - Tempo - Reggae - Ragga - Spiral Tribe - Nebula 2 - SL2 - Prodigy

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The scene revolved around the M25 motorway (London's orbital motorway), and its audience was mainly urban teenagers and lower middle-class suburban teenagers with cars. The audience was very much multi-cultural, with black and white influences resulting in a unique sound. The scene expanded rapidly in 1991, with large raves of 30 to 50,000 people attending in open air venues around England, put on by Spiral Tribe and other free party soundsystems held at numerous locations up and down the length of England.

Related Topics:
M25 motorway - London - England

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The music itself very much reflected the scene's drugs of choice, Ecstasy, LSD and amphetamines, with its bombastic beats, manic synths, ear-piercing vocal shots and rumbling bass-lines. The music, although in retrospect poorly produced and amateur (part of its charm), was generally extrovert, uplifting, gritty and hypnotic. Uplifting piano riffs layered on top of frenetic breakbeats were one feature, which were juxtaposed alongside darker, grittier more techno like tracks.

Related Topics:
Ecstasy - LSD - Amphetamines - Techno

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The scene also spawned the idea of holding huge parties rather than small clubs.

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Between 1993 and 1994 the scene fragmented, and forked off into Jungle (Drum and Bass), and happy hardcore (4-beat). Jungle's sound was more focused on basslines, breakbeats and darker elements, while happy hardcore retained the manic synths, the 4/4 kickdrum, and happier vocals. By 1996, most 4-beat had dropped the breakbeats, while Drum and bass had long dropped the techno style synth stabs, further separating the styles.

Related Topics:
Jungle - Drum and Bass - Happy hardcore - 4-beat

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Important breakbeat hardcore artists include Acen, Micky Finn, Nicky Blackmarket, Two Bad Mice, Nebula 2, Nookie, and Spiral Tribe.

Related Topics:
Acen - Micky Finn - Nicky Blackmarket - Two Bad Mice - Nebula 2 - Nookie - Spiral Tribe

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More recently, breakbeat hardcore has also been referred to as oldskool.

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