Drum and bass (also written as "drum 'n' bass", "drum & bass" and commonly abbreviated as "D&B", "DnB" or "D'n'B") is a genre and branch of electronic music which emerged from rave and old-school jungle scenes in England during the early 1990s. The style is often characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 150–180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, sampled sources, and synthesizers. Founding Artists like Roni Size, Goldie, and LTJ Bukem played pivotal roles in shaping the early drum and bass sound. Founding Labels such as Moving Shadow, Good Looking Records, and Metalheadz were instrumental in pushing the genre forward during its infancy.
The popularity of drum and bass at its commercial peak ran parallel to several other homegrown dance styles in the UK, including big beat and hard house. Drum & bass incorporates a number of scenes and styles. A major influence on jungle and drum & bass was the original Jamaican dub and reggae sound. Another feature of the style is the complex syncopation of the drum tracks' breakbeat. Modern innovating artists like Noisia, Alix Perez, and Calibre continue to shape and evolve the drum and bass sound today. Innovative labels today such as Critical Music, Shogun Audio, and Hospital Records contribute significantly to the genre's ongoing development.
Drum and bass subgenres include breakcore, ragga jungle, hardstep, darkstep, techstep, neurofunk, ambient drum and bass, liquid funk, deep, drumfunk, funkstep, sambass, dnbnoise, and drill 'n' bass. From its roots in the UK, the style has established itself around the world. Drum & bass has influenced many other genres like hip hop, big beat, dubstep, house, trip hop, ambient music, techno, rock, and pop. Drum & bass is dominated by a relatively small group of record labels. The major international music labels have shown very little interest in the drum and bass scene. Drum & bass remains most popular in the UK, although it has developed scenes all around the world, in countries such as the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, Canada, Austria, and Australia.