Hardbass

Hardbass or hard bass (Russian: хардбас(с), tr. khardbas(s)[lower-alpha 1], IPA: [xɐrdˈbas]) is a subgenre of electronic music that originated from Russia during the late 1990s, drawing inspiration from UK hardcore, UK hard house, bouncy techno and hardstyle. Hardbass is characterized by its fast tempo (usually 150–175 BPM), donks, distinctive basslines (commonly known as "hard bounce"), distorted sounds, heavy kicks and occasional rapping. In several European countries, so-called "hardbass scenes" have sprung up,[1] which are events related to the genre that involve multiple people dancing in public while masked, sometimes with moshing involved.

From the mid-2010s, hardbass frequently features as an Internet meme, accompanying gopniks, squatting, alcoholic habits and poverty as the central stereotypes of the Russian and Slavic lifestyle.[2] The memes gained international fame after the premiere of the video "Cheeki Breeki Hardbass Anthem", based on the first-person shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game series, as well as the "Slavic Train" meme which depicts an ER2 train bouncing up and down on rough railway tracks, while passengers are seen dancing to hardbass inside.