UK hardcore

UK hardcore is a broad term to describe the evolved United Kingdom rave hardcore lineage 4/4-kick drum and breakbeat fueled sound, which emerged around the start of the 1990s and grew in strength during the 21st century.

History of UK Hardcore

Early Hardcore producers such as the Prodigy, Hyper-On Experience, DJ Jonny B and Sonz of a Loop da Loop Era evolved in a period where Techno was developing a harder edge, exploring the complex breakbeats that would later manifest themselves as Jungle and the subsequent development of Drum and Bass. The stylistic influence of techno including the movie, cartoon and media samples, and powerful synthesizer-based breakdowns characterised this earlier form of UK Hardcore, which some believed to have hit its first peak in 1992. For example, some fan websites go so far as to hyperbolically proclaim "1992 was the best year for music, EVER!"

With the diversity in sound available to producers rising with the onset of progressively more advanced computer and music production systems, electronic music was evolving at a rapid pace during this period. Hardcore, Techno, and Drum and Bass began split during this intense period of creativity, spinning off the genres Ragga and Darkside.

The United Kingdom-based rave hardcore scene of the 1990s encompassed several native styles through the years, techno and hardcore being the respective dominant genres in the North and South of the country for much of this period.

Happy Hardcore evolved from hardcore music in the early 1990s. Its characteristic 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore. It should be noted that the term UK Hardcore refers to the evolution of the Happy Hardcore sound and not a general term for Hardcore(Gabber or Techno)that comes from the UK.

Through a combination of factors, hardcore had taken a new musical direction towards the latter half of the 1990s. It now had little musical resemblance to its origins, generally becoming more vocal-based and at times producing cover versions of popular songs. This sound attracted a younger audience in the UK. Elsewhere at this time, this particular sound had found a new worldwide audience in places such as Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States.

Producers looked to regenerate the United Kingdom rave hardcore music scene towards the end of the 20th century, taking influence from many different styles whilst trying to leave the late 1990s happy hardcore image behind. Their sound was called UK Hardcore; it has seen new producers enter the scene. This current sound similarly has also found followers from all corners of the globe.

Hardcore also received its own special in 2004 on BBC Radio 1 entitled "John Peel Is Not Enough" named after a CLSM track of the same name.

Artists

Noted DJs and producers

UK DJs & Producers
* Hixxy
* Re-Con
* Dougal
* Gammer
* Breeze
* DJ Sy
* Chris Unknown
* Darren Styles
* DJ Force
* Kevin Energy
* Brisk
* Ham
* Slipmatt
* UFO
* Billy Daniel Bunter
* CLSM
* Marc Smith
* Scott Brown
* DJ Seduction
* Stu Allan
* Joey Riot
* Fracus
* DJ Kurt
* JAKAZiD
* Al Storm
* Squad-E
* Ultrabeat
* Supreme
* Sunset Regime
* Lost Witness

Australia
* DJ Weaver
* Darwin
* The Acolyte/Orbit1
* Suae
* S3RL

USA & Canada
* Frisky
* Hujib
* No Left Turn
* Crackerjack
* Dupont
* Reese
* Ian K
* Cloudskipper
* Milo
* Beloved

Japan
* DJ Sharpnel
* M-Project
* No+Chin
* DJ Technorch
* DJ Chucky
* DJ Champ
* RaverRose
* REDALiCE
* kenta-v.ez.
* DJ Shimamura
* Hirojack
* Teranoid

MCs

*Whizzkid
*Wotsee
*Storm
*Marley
*Casper
*Sharkey
*Odyssey
*Smiley
*Si The Sigh
*RizlaDizla
*Robbie Dee
*Ribbz
*Spenno
*Rude
*Friction
*Static
*Madman
*Enemy
*Knight

Labels

* All Around The World (AATW)
*Blatant Beats
*Camel Records
*CLSM
*Ruff Trixx
*Evolution Records
*Essential Platinum
*Infinity Recordings
*Kniteforce
*Lethal Theory
*Next Generation
*Nu Energy
*Nukleuz
*Maximum Impact
*Quosh
*Raver Baby
*Junkbox Records
*Turbulence Hardcore (THC)

Events

*CandyBall
*Fusion
*HTID
*Elation
*Slammin Vinyl
*Hardcore Heaven
*Uproar
*Helter Skelter
*Raindance
*North
*Freeformation
*Vibealite
*Raverbaby
*Happy Nation*
*Dizstruxshon
*Uprising

External links

* http://www.raversonly.com - Home of New York's finest Happy Hardcore event: Candy Ball
* http://www.ush.net Home of the biggest UK Hardcore Website, with active discussion forums.
* http://www.renegaderadio.co.uk Live streaming radio station for the rave scene
* http://www.hardcoreproducer.org Discussion on UK Hardcore, Releases and events plus get tips on how to produce it.
* [http://www.ravelinks.com/forums/happy-hardcore-music-links/ Happy Hardcore Music Archive]
* http://www.UKast-fm.com Free streaming hardcore radio
* http://www.happyhardcore.com News and discussion on all types of hardcore, mostly UK Hardcore
* http://uproar-events.com Website of one of the UK's biggest Hardcore events
* http://www.krafty.info/ News About Events From Uk Based Promotors Vibealite
* http://www.kraftyradio.com Hardcore Radio ran by one of the biggest UK-based promotors, Vibealite.
* http://www.Narcotikradio.co.uk
* http://www.htid.co.uk
* http://milo.happyhardcore.com North American Hardcore Artist
*http://www.junkboxrecords.co.uk
*http://www.darrenstyles.co.uk