Gabber Music Guide: 4 Notable Gabber Artists

Gabber music is a subgenre of hardcore techno that emerged in Dutch music clubs in the early 1990s. Gabber—also called gabba, Rotterdam hardcore, or early hardcore—uses fast tempos (at upwards of 190 beats per minute), shouted vocals, distorted bass drum pulses, and frenetic energy. It borrows from other styles of electronic music including new beat, techno, and acid house.

Originally confined to the dance clubs of Holland, the gabber scene has since expanded around Europe and the United States. It has also inspired fashion subcultures in cities ranging from Amsterdam to New York City. The word “gabber” is a Dutch slang term that roughly translates to "friend.” The people who dance to the music are themselves known as gabbers as well.

The following characteristics help distinguish gabber from other forms of electronic dance music.

1. 1. Dutch origins: Gabber began as a subset of Rotterdam's hard dance culture in the early 1990s. It flourished alongside related styles like happy hardcore and hardstyle. Eventually, the music expanded to Amsterdam and other European capitals.
2. 2. Frenetic energy: Gabber tracks tend to be played between 140 and 220 BPM. It often features distorted kick drums sampled from hip-hop and produced on Roland TR-909 drum machines.
3. 3. Accompanying style subculture: Gabbers stand out within broader rave culture for their specific fashion aesthetics. These include tracksuits, bomber jackets, polo shirts, and the Nike Air Max line of footwear. Some gabbers also wear army boots.

Gabber music has grown from a niche electronic music genre to a key influence on today's hardcore dance music.

• Rotterdam roots: Gabber music emerged in Rotterdam dance clubs in the early 1990s. Its original purveyors came from the world of acid house, new beat, and techno music. They emphasized fast tempos, distorted kick drums, and shouted vocals to create a rave atmosphere of constant energy. Key artists of the era included Paul Elstak and Lenny Dee, who owned Rotterdam Records and Industrial Strength Recordings, respectively.
• Industry support: Dutch music promoters ID&T helped popularize gabber music via events called Thunderdome parties. In the United States, the Drop Bass Network introduced gabber to audiences on the other side of the Atlantic. London's 121 Centre played host to the Dead by Dawn gabber parties. In Rotterdam itself, the Parkzicht and the Energiehal were the gabber venues of choice.
• 2010s revival: Gabber dimmed in popularity toward the end of the twentieth century. By the 2010s, it made a comeback thanks in part to the British online platform Boiler Room. Today gabber music is often presented under the broader banner of hardcore. It appears on compilations and playlists alongside happy hardcore, speedcore, and industrial hardcore.

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