Developed in the mid-'90s, big beat is a combination of hip-hop, techno, rock, and R&B. Breakbeat-oriented rhythms, fat basslines (generally sampled off '70s funk records) and manipulated electronic elements were amplified for a much heavier, bigger, and beat-driven variant of breakbeat. Artists such as Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook) and Propellerheads experimented with dance music's two sworn enemies, rock and breakbeat, creating a bassier electronic-drum sound. The Chemical Brothers, on the other hand, brought in the use of acid synths and drum machines, such as the 303 and 808, to the style referred to as "chemical beats."

Notable Artists: The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Propellerheads