2-Step Garage
UK garage with a shuffled beat that leaves out the usual four-to-the-floor kick.
History
2-step garage, or 2-step, is a form of UK garage s1. Its main feature is a rhythm without the usual four-on-the-floor kick drum s1s2. The name describes the jittery, irregular rhythms that do not follow the old garage pulse s1. A typical pattern has syncopated kicks that skip a beat s1. The percussion uses shuffles, triplets, rimshots and woodblocks s1. The bassline is also syncopated s1. Keyboards, synthesizers and drum machines are the main instruments s1. Acoustic sounds are often added as samples s1. Vocals are usually female or male in an R&B style s1. Some producers cut up a cappella vocals and use them as an instrument s1. MCs also feature in the style s1. Shanks & Bigfoot's 'Sweet Like Chocolate' was a big hit s1. Zed Bias and Craig David also became well known s1. 2-step was the most popular form of UK garage around 2000 s1.
Sound
- A shuffled beat with skipped kicks
- Offbeat snares, rimshots and woodblocks
- Syncopated basslines
- R&B-style male or female vocals
- A tempo around 133 beats per minute
Key figures
- Zed Bias — Producer behind a 2-step anthem
- Shanks & Bigfoot — British duo behind a 2-step hit
- Craig David — British singer whose early hits used 2-step beats
- Artful Dodger — British garage act linked to the style
Labels
- Locked On — London , 1996
- Public Demand — London , 1997
- Wildstar Records — London , 1999
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: UK Garage , Speed Garage
Led to: Dubstep , Future Garage , Grime
Sources
- 2-step garage — Wikipedia
- UK Garage History: Speed Garage, 2-Step, Revival — The DJ Diaries