raverr
People ask me this at camp all the time, usually around 3 a.m. Here's the version I give, from someone who started in '90s warehouses and has been chasing low end ever since. Genre lines are blurry and people argue about them constantly. Treat this as a map, not a law.
Dubstep
Dubstep grew out of UK garage and dub around the early 2000s. The original sound is spacious: half-time drums around 140 BPM, deep sub bass, lots of room in the mix. It's heavy, but it breathes. Plenty of today's "dubstep" is louder and busier, but that roomy, rolling feel is the root.
How the crowd moves: nodding, swaying, a slow skank. More head and shoulders than feet.
Brostep
"Brostep" is the nickname for the louder, mid-range-heavy, aggressive style that blew up in the US around the early 2010s. Think screaming, growling synths and big, theatrical drops. Some people use the word as a dig. Plenty of fans wear it proudly.
How the crowd moves: jumping, moshing, big reactions on the drop.
Riddim
Riddim is a branch of dubstep built on repetition. Simple, bouncy, stripped-down patterns that loop and wobble and hit the same way again and again, on purpose. The repetition is the point. It's hypnotic once you lock in. I wrote more on it in what is riddim.
How the crowd moves: headbanging. Lots of it. Hence our My Chiropractor Loves Riddim hoodie.
Quick comparison
| Dubstep | Brostep | Riddim | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Deep, spacious, rolling | Loud, aggressive, theatrical | Repetitive, bouncy, hypnotic |
| Focus | Sub bass | Mid-range growls | Looping wobble patterns |
| Crowd | Nod and skank | Jump and mosh | Headbang |
Does it matter what you call it?
Not really. What matters is whether it moves you. The bass heads I know listen to all three, plus drum and bass, wonky and whatever got sent to them last week. That's why our shop is organized by vibe: dubstep clothing, riddim, wub, and the headbanger collection.
Tees are $32 ($36 for 2XL and up), hoodies $64 ($68 for 2XL and up). Shipping is $4.95 for tees, $6.95 for hoodies, free on orders of $75 or more.
FAQ
What is the difference between brostep and dubstep?
Dubstep is the original UK sound: spacious, sub-heavy and half-time. Brostep is the louder, aggressive, mid-range-heavy American style that took off in the early 2010s.
Is riddim a type of dubstep?
Yes. Riddim is a subgenre of dubstep built on simple, repetitive, bouncy patterns.
What should I wear to a riddim show?
A light tee you can sweat in, closed-toe shoes, earplugs and a hoodie for the line. Skip loose hats and long scarves if you plan to headbang.