Echoes and bass, transforming reggae into sonic space. 65–85 BPM.
Dub is a subgenre of reggae that emerged in Jamaica around 1968. It involves remixing existing recordings by emphasizing drum and bass, adding heavy echo, reverb, and other effects. Dub producers like King Tubby and Lee "Scratch" Perry pioneered the genre, which has influenced electronic music and hip-hop.
The defining artists of Dub — the names that shaped the sound. Tap to hear on Spotify.
The classic anthems and current essentials that define Dub.
Dub is characterized by a deep, pulsating bassline and a stripped-down drum pattern, often with a heavy kick and snare. The mix is spacious, with instruments and vocals fading in and out through the use of echo and reverb. Tracks often feature sudden drops, phasing, and filter sweeps, creating a hypnotic, psychedelic atmosphere.
The rhythm is typically steady and slow (65-85 BPM), with a strong emphasis on the offbeat. The bass is the foundation, often played with a deep, round tone. Effects like spring reverb, tape delay, and phasers are applied to drums, horns, and vocals, giving dub its signature "space echo" sound.
Dub originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s, pioneered by sound engineers like King Tubby and Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock. It evolved from instrumental versions of reggae songs, with producers stripping vocals and adding effects like echo and reverb to create new, atmospheric tracks.
In the 1970s, dub expanded as artists like Lee "Scratch" Perry and Augustus Pablo pushed its boundaries, incorporating psychedelic elements and exotic instrumentation. The genre became a staple of Jamaican sound system culture, where DJs would toast over dub versions, laying the groundwork for dancehall and reggae rap.
Dub's influence spread globally, inspiring post-punk, electronic, and ambient music. Its production techniques—heavy use of space, delay, and bass—became foundational for genres like trip-hop, drum and bass, and dubstep. Today, dub remains a vital part of reggae's legacy and a touchstone for experimental producers.
How Dub is built — drum pattern, swing, and the sounds you need.
To produce dub, start with a reggae instrumental track (or stems). Focus on the drum and bass, then apply heavy compression to the bass for a consistent, thumping low end. Use a spring reverb and tape delay (or emulations) on the snare, hi-hats, and occasional instruments. Automate the delay feedback and filter cutoff to create dramatic sweeps and drops.
Typical BPM is around 70-80, with a swung, lazy feel. Use a 2-step or 4/4 beat with a rimshot or snare on the backbeat. Add effects like phaser, flanger, and dub siren. Sample reggae horns, organ, and guitar stabs. The key is to create space and movement—let the effects breathe and interact with the rhythm.
Hand-picked, updated weekly. Best for Chilling, Smoking, Late-night listening.
Every playlist on Dropo is hand-picked by real musicians, not algorithm-generated. We listen, we pick, we keep it fresh. About Dropo →