In Defense Of 'Fratstep:' An Open Letter To James Blake

In Defense Of "Fratstep:" An Open Letter To James Blake

By Chris Walker Mon., Dec. 5 2011 at 4:30 AM

They're probably listening to fratstep

See also:
*Porter Robinson: The Libertarian Dubstep Guy
*Wait, Now Korn Invented Dubstep?!

[Editor's Note: Fuck Guilty Pleasures celebrates the over-produced, commercial, artless, lowbrow music that we believe is genuinely worthwhile. Like, among the best music ever.]

Hear me out, James Blake. I like you, man, I really do. That minimalist, indie dubstep you're bringing over from England is first-rate, and that bass on "Limit to Your Love" is rad. But this fall you were in serious violation of the bro code when you spoke out against American dubstep in the Boston Pheonix. To refresh your memory:

"I think the dubstep that has come over to the US, and certain producers have definitely hit upon a sort of frat-boy market where there's this macho-ism being reflected in the sounds. It's a million miles away from the ethos of it. It's been influenced so much by electro and rave, into who can make the dirtiest, filthiest bass sound, almost like a pissing competition."

Being in a UCLA fraternity myself, I must disagree. First of all, let's just go ahead and call a spade a spade: you're talking about fratstep. In fact, you yourself inspired that term, which critics began using after the Phoenix interview in reference to songs produced by DJs like Excision, Datsik, and Skrillex. It tends to be more hard-hitting and less subtle than the kind you make. I suppose you could even call it brainless and throbbing.

And yeah, that "wub wub wub" you hear projecting from our house? Definitely fratstep. But you're reading too much into it, brah! I can assure you the music is not any sort of misogynist or philosophical statement. It's just part of the atmosphere of daily life on the row. The fratmosphere.

Sure, it might not be particularly intellectual. But that's not the point. Let me explain: I used to share your opinion about fratstep, actually. I'm more of a hipster than the other guys in the house, and I initially didn't understand the appeal.

But that was before I first heard fratstep at a Thirsty Thursday. That happened last spring, and it all suddenly clicked. It's the perfect music for when you're obliterated. Behold the overbearing bass and slow tempos, which ensure that no matter how much you've had to drink, your brain can still follow the beat. (The massive pounding in your chest helps.)

Tags:

Dubstep, Fratstep, James Blake

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Smohyee

Jesus the amount of pure hatred aimed at the fratmosphere is stunning. I can't help but think the most vocal of you people like to make huge sweeping generalizations based on a couple caricatures you saw in movies, or some dude who was mean to you one time.

Lnguye08

It's cause frat guys can't dance, that's why they listen to dubstep. This article made no sense.

Connor Irias

LOL i'm not sure if "it makes sense when you're drunk" is the best way to defend a genre of music... but good points nonetheless, bro. To each his own.

wcg

Lost opportunity here. He should be defending the producers not the dickheads who show up to the show. Datsik and Excision are good guys, they have their specific heavy sound which you can like or not. Some of the Brits are pissed this has taken off over here and their underground sound has been blown up.

Twisted

ha ha --- this is a joke... Blakey all the way.

Tybrainstemmer

hahah wow what a terrible arguement! If you like it, then listen to it- that goes for all music, but you sure aren't making all of us who are musically knowledgeable/ musicians think any more highly of frat culture. So maybe this kind of music is perfect for your current culture but that does not make it good music. And if bad music if perfect for your worldview and lifestyle, then maybe you're into a low brow culture hmm? I actually like the frat guys, yall are fun to get with drunk with and have fun parties ( sometimes) and people like clowns too, but only at the circus.... do you see yourself being 35 years old drinking natty lights and still immersed in the petty cult of immaturity and homo eroticism that is bro? sure hope not haha

Andrew Ramirez

i dont think you get what he ment, its a fad here. It'll will eventually die out because the abuse of dubstep, like you mentioned, you cant listen to it sober.... thats just sad. Once you cant listen to it drunk "dubstep" will be over and the stuff that deserves listening wont get the chance because of the crap thats out there.

HR say 1-2-3 CHARGE!

Why this is hilarious. Fratstep, brostep...thirsty thursday's. I support the frat injunction...if you look like a fratboy or walk with 2 or more young men that fit the profile you can be questioned and possibly detained by LAPD. These drinking college gangs must be stopped. I just kidding.

And...it's music. if it comes from your heart...pure. What is hip anyway? We're all just a moment away from a new perspective.

don't-bro-me

you are such a douchebag. don't try to make sense of the shit you and your closeted frat brothers all circle-jerk to.

keep hanging out at "thirsty thursdays" and being "more of a hipster than your brothers."

we are all laughing at you. King-Loser.

Chandler Tipton

lolololol, the people have spoken.

Blake: 1Frat boys: 0

J-Po

I'm with Blake

BOULDERBRO

"I can assure you the music is not any sort of misogynist or philosophical statement. It's just part of the atmosphere of daily life on the row. The fratmosphere."

Of course there is no intentional misogynistic philosophical statement that fratstep implies directly, it is almost entirely a subconscious inner-working kind of thing. It's adrenaline oriented and mostly aesthetically devoid. If any girl really likes Skrillex, "she's too young for you bro." On another note, you could argue Borgore's dubstep is fairly misogynistic, just listen to the lyrics kids. Furthermore, look up "pornstep"Ultimately, "fratstep" is a remarkable departure from the original nature of dubstep, which pertained to "space and bass." By space, I mean a significant separation of elements between sounds (i.e. kicks, snares, basslines, highs, LFO gradation, etc.), and by bass, I mean really low, low frequency sounds, which were the main highlight of the music that made dubstep, dubstep. But of course, technology and its effects upon cultural trends has caused this deviation, since the average listener usually uses a laptop speaker or iPod headphones that is unable to emit the full scale of what real dubstep had to offer. Thus, the more contemporary dubstep is not really 'bassful' at all, it is strongly contingent upon modified mid range sounds, overly-filtered by LFOs and not surprisingly enough, very noisy.Here is a great article about dubstep everyone should read:http://liquido.dk/index.php/12...