All My Homies Hate Skrillex
One of the most important musical genres of this century is dubstep, an electronic music spin-off that originated in South London in the early 2000s. According to Wikipedia, dubstep was originally a “half-step club genre in which big bass is played at around 140 beats per minute”. But of course it’s much more than that.
Dubstep arose out of a conscious “rejection” and breakaway from Uk Garage, the EDM/club genre that defined the upbeat and extravagant spirit of mid to late 90’s UK. Uk Garage Music takes people out of the ‘gray’ Britain shaped by the austerity measures of the 80s, into a colourful, vibrant and aspirational lifestyle characterized by extravagant fashion, luxury and wealth. It’s escapism at its best, people are just “extra” – well dressed, driving to clubs, drinking the best champagne, living a life of luxury.
In the early 2000s, the first dubstep artists and pioneers emerged. The sound they produced made it clear that dubstep was indeed a divisive genre that rejected escapism and flashy British garage sounds. Dubstep is darker, more intense, slightly grumpy and brooding. The music embraces the “grey” – accepting and reveling in the harsh reality of isolation and alienation that prevailed in post-9/11 Britain – without trying to escape it.
The ads and marketing materials also make it clear: dubstep is different. The visuals that accompany the new release—album covers, photo shoots, and more—showcasing a new generation of musicians—they seem ordinary.
Over the next decade, from 2000 to 2010, dubstep flourished, fueled by DJ/artists such as Mala, Skream, Coki and Burial. Their beats liven up parties and raves with deep resonant tracks that, while dark and moody, deliver moments of transcendent, almost religious optimism and hope that unexpectedly lift listeners’ spirits. Many thought it was best heard over gigantic raves blaring from gigantic speakers, but at its artistic peak, dubstep made an impact wherever it was heard for the first time.
However, between 2008 and 2010 a few dubstep derivative genres emerged, such as Purple Music, Dubstep Tear Out, and Bro-Step, which featured melodic intros and modulated basslines. Bro-Step has become very popular around the world thanks to a Los Angeles-based dubstep DJ/producer named Skrillex. Due to its popularity, Skrillex’s music is now the “definitive” dubstep – albeit very different from dubstep’s original incarnation. He took dubstep in new directions, making it more popular and attracting new listeners.
“What’s changed in the dubstep scene can’t be reduced to a specific song, mix CD, or artist.” New musical experiments and innovations produced new sounds that attracted new listeners. So, despite the title, Skrillex probably doesn’t deserve all the hate. He just helped make the inevitable happen. The transition to dubstep happens from within and is part of the natural evolution and development of any art form.
