History
Breakstep, or breakbeat garage, came from the UK garage scene s1s2. It also influenced the rise of dubstep s1. The style grew out of 2-step garage s1. It dropped the soulful parts of garage s1. It used slower drum and bass basslines s1. The shuffle of 2-step was replaced by a straight breakbeat pattern s1. The style broke through in 1999 with DJ Dee Kline's 'I Don't Smoke' s1. The record sold 15,000 copies before it was licensed to a major label s1. It reached number 11 in the UK chart in 2000 s1. DJ Zinc's '138 Trek' mixed drum and bass with UK garage tempo s1. The club night Forward in London hosted producers such as Zed Bias and Oris Jay s1. Breaks producers such as DJ Distance were also involved s1. Breakstep was short-lived, but its sound fed into early dubstep s1. It is remembered as a bridge between garage and dubstep s1.
Sound
- A straight breakbeat instead of 2-step shuffle
- Downtempo drum and bass basslines
- A darker, less soulful mood
- UK garage tempo around 136 beats per minute
- Heavy sub-bass
Key figures
- DJ Dee Kline — Producer behind the breakstep breakthrough record
- DJ Zinc — Drum and bass producer who made a breakstep hit
- Zed Bias — Producer linked to the Forward club night
- Oris Jay — Producer also known as Darqwan
Labels
- Rat Records — London , 1999
- Hotflush Recordings — London , 2003
- Destructive Recordings — London , 2004
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: UK Garage , Nu-Skool Breaks , Drum and Bass
Sources
- Breakstep — Wikipedia
- Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture — Soft Skull Press (2013)