Jazzstep

Late 1990s: Expansion and subgenres

Additional subgenres emerged in mid-1990s including techstep, influenced by techno and science-fiction aesthetics. Parallel to these, more melodic and accessible forms like liquid funk emerged, pioneered by artists such as High Contrast and Calibre. Drum and bass became more polished and technically sophisticated in the mid-late 1990s. Subgenres such as hardstep, jump up, ragga, jazzstep and what was known as intelligent drum and bass emerged. Roni Size & Reprazent's album New Forms (1997) won the Mercury Prize, signalling wider critical recognition. Drum and bass began to expand its reach from pirate radio to commercial stations and gain widespread acceptance in the late 1990s, when darker styles such as neurofunk developed.