brostep

Brostep emerged in the late 2000s as an aggressive, maximal evolution of dubstep that polarized the electronic music world. Pioneered primarily by American producers like Skrillex, this subgenre strips away dubstep's original dark, minimalist UK garage roots in favor of mid-range "growling" basslines, metallic synth squeals, and explosive drops designed for arena-scale impact. Where classic dubstep emphasizes sub-bass pressure and spacious two-step rhythms, brostep cranks everything into the red—layering distorted wobble bass with rock-influenced aggression, often incorporating elements of electro house's four-on-the-floor drive and EDM's festival-ready production sheen.

The term itself started as internet shorthand (sometimes derogatory) to describe dubstep's migration from underground UK raves to American mainstream consciousness, but the sound carved out its own identity through relentless energy and sheer sonic brutality. Brostep tracks typically feature harsher timbres, faster tempos, and more abrupt dynamic shifts than their dubstep cousins, prioritizing visceral impact over atmospheric tension. Producers like Virtual Riot, Eptic, and MUST DIE! pushed the genre's technical boundaries with increasingly complex sound design, while labels like Monstercat and Never Say Die became epicenters for the style's continued evolution.

Love it or hate it, brostep redefined what bass music could sound like in the 2010s, introducing millions to electronic music's heavier possibilities and spawning countless subgenres. If you crave bass that feels like a physical assault, drops engineered for maximum adrenaline, and production that treats subtlety as optional, brostep delivers with unapologetic intensity.