Dubstep Chronic-les Pt. 1: Dubstep as seen by Diox

[Dioxono777]

Originally posted to Facebook.com as a note:

If I tagged you in this you are probably a fan of the genre of music we have come to know as Dubstep. Now before I begin let me first explain my dub credentials. The first Dubstep I listened to was in the fall of 2008. The album was Dubstep Allstars No. 2 and the track was Skream - 0800. Since that time I have listened to countless dubstep arstist, AND since I was producing hip hop at the time I perfected my own wobbles and beats within 6 months. I have just released a track called "Feelin Deep" that I feel captures the art of "True Dubstep" you can listen to it here: http://soundcloud.com/dioxono/feelin-deep



When we say dubstep, we generally have an image in our head of crazy party music with ridiculous bass, and well that image isnt far off from the truth. When you actually dissect the word though you realize that it has its main roots in "Dub." Which as a genre, means heavy but bouncy bass and spacey trippy rhythms. Dub is not the best music to dance too. How the genre of Dub was created though, is where things begin to get complex. Dub relied heavily on recording sounds and warping the frequencies until the sounds were appealing to the ear. A technique that had not been used in recording at the time. People thought a clear channel for audio recordings was best, but Dub artists such as King Tubby, Lee Perry, Prince Jammy And Scientist thought different, and in alot of ways their out of the box thinking revolutionized recorded music. It allowed for such styles as Hip Hop and Electro to exist because these genres also rely on heavily warped sampled or synthesized sounds as well. In the UK around 2001 there seemed to be a sort of "Dub Renaissance" when all of the underground electronic arstist seemed to study the recording style of dub. Some of the early artist such as The Digital Mystiks (aka Mala and Coki) and other related DMZ artists such as: Loefah, Skream, Benga, Kromestar, Kode 9, Hatcha and N-Type, were the first to really use these elements in a new way and they called it "Dubstep"



The second root is the "Step." Now this is because the drum patterns in all dubstep are all 2step/Electro style rhythms that are half timed (If you ever take a crack at Djing you will realize this quickly because some tracks are made at 70 BPM while others are made at 140). This is also quite prevalent in dub however the relation to electro was not there. Before Dubstep, UK garage artists were already trying out different variants on the timing of 2step rhythms. Crossover artist such as Martyn, Pervelist and Horsepower Productions really brought this element to dubstep.



Now the a major influence on Dubstep that is not Mentioned in the word itself is Hip Hop/ UK Grime... This is where Dubstep becomes amazingly unique yet confusing as shit. Before you can link Dubstep to Hip Hop you must first learn about "Grime Rap." Grime is the representation of the Gritty Raw but yet Flashy gangsta rap style that we have created in America. In my opinion, they rock it better, but thats up for you to decide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTPfPJHDtTs . Popular Grime artist include: Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Kano, JME, D double E, and Tempa-T who I used for the example. The early dubstep and grime cultures sort of collided at first and you had grime producers making wobbles, and dubstep guys using Roland Drum Machine sounds for there drums along with dirtier saw wave basslines. This Fusion spurred almost a union between Hip Hop and Dubstep that some say has revolutionized the genre and others say has ruined it.



Popular artist today such as: Excision, Datsik, Rusko, Doctor P, Flux Pavillion, Trolley Snatcha and Skrillex seem to have taken that Grime style and turned it into the wobble centric diverse style of Electro that its known as today. In my opinion, some is good some is bad, although im starting to pick up on the formulaic feel that has plauged trance music since the 90's. I have a problem with artists who do the same fucking thing over and over again, especially when that thing is making sounds that sometimes aren't even musical (Listen to the track Doctor P - Big Boss and TRY and tell me its not offensive to the fucking ears) Also, the diversity doesnt seem to be a main theme in dubstep any more... If anything that aspect of it has become a sort of side show used in intros and transitions to lure you into the main WUB WUB, Lazer Bass, and Screech sound attraction. This is what truly bothers me at all, and I like some of the "Dirty Filthy Dubz" that the world has seemed to fall in love with. But I draw my lines.. and Big Phat Bass Might just ruin this genre I love..



I have more shit to rant about when it comes to this music... but that can be saved for a later time and date, this is part 1 after all ;b



dont be lazy, id love to see people respond to this with your different opinions, because the way we hold music in our hearts is very very important



until next time ;D,



luv, Diox

[pompende]

i appreciate your enthusiasm but it seems like you might be trolling or something.


regardless of your opinions, you state a bunch of stuff as fact that isn't true.

for instance, horsepower productions have never really been considered "crossover artists," and 0800 dub isn't even on Allstars 2.

[Dioxono777]

Allstars 3 :b im sorry i made a typo!

and what about horsepower doesnt crossover to garage? i play it in my garage 2step sets all the time

also I CLAIM NOTHING AS FACT! this is "Dubstep as seen by Diox" this is 100% opinion and im open to debate anything

this is... more or less a blog post that i could show my stupid little american dubhead friends why i got so pissed when they would post skrillex to my wall lol. I got a decent reaction on Facebook so I decided to see how it would fly here

[leeany]

had to put a quick link to this thread at the end of this blogpost I just wrote about dubstep. gave you a quick shout out at the end. the rest of my blogpost is in Dutch tho'

http://wobn.luminiscent.com/post/496453 ... p-manifest

[Dioxono777]

I translated it and read it, it solid man! big ups and thanks for the hype!!! xD