BPM by genre
Boom Bap
Curated by se7en beatlab · updated September 2026
Hip-Hop · 2 subgenres mapped
Range: 85–95 BPM
Boom bap — the sound of 90s East Coast hip hop — sits at 85–95 BPM, with 90 BPM as the classic pocket. The name is the groove: a hard 'boom' kick and a cracking 'bap' snare.
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Subgenres
| Subgenre | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Classic 90s boom bap | 90 | 86–94 |
| Modern / lyrical boom bap | 92 | 88–96 |
Typical structure
Intro (DJ scratch optional) → 16-bar verse → hook → verse → hook → outro. Verse-driven; the beat loops with subtle variation.
Production notes
Program a punchy kick on 1 and the 'and' of 2, and a hard snare on 2 and 4 with a little swing. Chop a soul/jazz sample for the melody, keep the bass simple, and let the drums hit dry and upfront. SP-1200/MPC-style sampling and slight quantize swing are key to the feel. 90 BPM is home base.
Related genres
More in this family
FAQ
How many BPM is boom bap?
What BPM did 90s hip hop use?
Planning a Boom Bap set? → DJ set planner (BPM, key & Camelot, printable)
Release notes
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