Ever wonder why dubstep is produced in 140 bpm? Skream has the answer

Dubstep originated in the early- to mid-2000s, pioneered by artists like Hatcha, Loefah, Kode9, Skream, Benga, Coki, and labels like Big Apple and Tempa. Early on, it was pushed heavily by pirate radio stations like RinseFM, which has since become instrumental in the rise of the genre, as well as BBC Radio 1.

It began out of influences from 2-step and dub reggae, as well as jungle, broken beat, and grime. But why was dubstep made in 140 bpm (in halftime, of course)? According to Skream, the answer is surprisingly simple: it was just the original load up tempo on Fruity Loops 3, a popular DAW at the time.

As a popular DAW, it was also the program of choice for grime and 2step, which only further contributed to the influence that carried over into dubstep.

 

Photo via Christelle de Castro / Red Bull Content Pool