18 dubstep tracks you must hear

Skream - Midnight Request Line

Over the last couple of years, dubstep has had a massive surge in popularity, with at least one dedicated night taking place in the vast majority of the UK’s urban centres every month. In some cities, such as London, Bristol and Birmingham, it’s hard to avoid dark and heavy basslines if you’re out at the weekend.

This is most definitely dubstep’s time, then, but for those who are still unfamiliar with the genre’s sound (if not its name), we’ve put together this essential playlist of must-listen tracks. Once you’re heard this lot, you’ll have a much better idea of what dubstep is all about, and you might just be inspired to fire up your DAW and contribute to the genre yourself.

Let’s start with Skream’s Midnight Request Line: widely recognised as the first major crossover dubstep hit, this track helped launch the scarily young and prolific producer who’s also known as Olly Jones.

Midnight Request Line on YouTube

Benga & Coki - Night

One of dubstep’s most defining cuts, this crossover track from Benga and Digital Mystikz’ Coki has been played out by DJs across many genres.

Night on YouTube

Rusko - Cockney Thug

Huge track from the Leeds-born producer and DJ, featuring heavily shuffled beats, a colossal wobble bassline and amusing samples from Guy Ritchie films. What’s not to like?

Cockney Thug on YouTube

Caspa feat Beezy - Disco Jaws

Dub Police head honcho Caspa employs the hilarious rapping of Beezy on this somewhat tongue-in-cheek tune.

Disco Jaws on YouTube

La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Mix)

With a number of daytime plays from Radio 1, this has to be considered the best-known dubstep track ever.

In For The Kill (Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Mix) on YouTube

La Roux - I'm Not Your Toy (Nero Remix)

La Roux’s Elly Jackson is almost the standard choice for vocal dubstep remixes, and this one is top notch.

I’m Not Your Toy (Nero Remix) on YouTube

Chase & Status - Eastern Jam

Never mind Snoop Dogg’s Millionaire remix of this classic tune - check out the Indian-style vocals, chubby beats and massive bass drops of the original.

Eastern Jam on YouTube

Skream - Metal Mouth

Listen to this Skream track over a massive PA and you’ll be begging for mercy - it’s an absolutely savage monster of a tune that’ll bring out your bass face every time.

Metal Mouth on YouTube

Mistabishi - Printer Jam (Barbarix Remix)

There are plenty of memorable dubstep remixes out there, but this one is particularly noteworthy, with the huge bassline effortlessly switching into Mistabishi’s crazy cut-up printer samples.

Printer Jam (Barbarix Remix) on YouTube

Bar9 - Midnight

One of the hardest-hitting dubstep crews operating today, Bar9’s dark, jump-up style is constantly being dropped by dubstep DJs across the country.

Midnight on YouTube

16Bit - Chainsaw Calligraphy

About as mental as a dubstep track can possibly be – this 16Bit number takes the genre’s reputation for chainsaw-like basslines to its logical conclusion.

Chainsaw Calligraphy on YouTube

Benga - 26 Basslines

This stormer from Croydon-based producer Benga contains some great modulations - it’s a great example of how much impact a good b-line (or 26 of ’em) can have.

26 Basslines on YouTube

Pangaea - Memories

There have been a few artists trying out lighter but more intricate dubstep tunes recently, and Pangaea is certainly a rising producer worth watching.

Memories on YouTube

Burial - Untrue

Taken from his 2007 Mercury Prize-nominated album of the same name, Burial’s take on dubstep is full of shuffled beats, deep sub-bass and emotionally charged samples.

Untrue on YouTube

Pinch - Cave Dream

Planet Mu has been releasing some fine dubstep tracks over the last five years or so, and this one from Pinch demonstrates the label’s very high standards.

Cave Dream on YouTube

Jakes - 3kout

Representing Bristol’s vibrant yet dark dubstep scene, this wobblefest of a track comes from one of the H.E.N.C.H. crew’s finest producers.

3kout on YouTube

Darkstar - Need You

This rather cheeky tune features a very addictive bassline proudly emerging over shuffled beats. A good example of the fine work currently being put out by the Hyperdub label.

Need You on YouTube

Zomby - Gloop

Another Hyperdub artist, Zomby harks back to the videogame soundtracks of the ‘80s with his use of arpeggiated synth sounds in this subtly layered dubstep tune.

Gloop on YouTube

For a step-by-step guide to producing dubstep, check out the latest Computer Music Special, Make Dance Music (CMS42), which is on sale now.