Broken Beat

Broken Beat is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the late 1990s, blending elements of soul, jazz, hip hop, and funk. It is characterized by a “broken” drumbeat, with a heavy emphasis on syncopation and polyrhythms, and often includes samples from other genres. The style originated in the UK and is most closely associated with labels such as Compost, 2000 Black, and Ninja Tune. Broken Beat has roots in the Acid Jazz and Nu Jazz scenes of the early 1990s, but it really took off in the late 1990s and early 2000s when producers began to explore more experimental and electronic sounds. The genre has since become a major influence in electronic music and continues to evolve today.