drop
The climactic moment in electronic dance music where the bass and drums return after a buildup.
In Depth
The drop is the structural centrepiece of EDM, dubstep, and bass music. After a buildup strips away elements and increases tension through rising synths, drum rolls, and filter sweeps, the drop unleashes the full force of the bass, drums, and lead synth simultaneously. The drop delivers the physical and emotional payoff that dance floors crave. Producers spend enormous time crafting drops because they define a track's identity and impact.
Skrillex's Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (2010) popularised aggressive bass drops in mainstream culture, though dubstep producers in the UK had been developing the concept for years before.