BPM by genre

Grime

Curated by se7en beatlab · updated September 2026

Urban · 2 subgenres mapped

140 BPM typical

Range: 138–142 BPM

Grime is locked to a tight pocket: the genre runs at 140 BPM, with tracks rarely straying outside 138–142 BPM. That tempo is the DNA of the sound, fast enough for double-time MCs but rooted in a half-time swing that gives the beat its menace.

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Typical structure

Most grime instrumentals are loop-based and built for radio sets or clashes, cycling 8 or 16-bar sections with a stripped intro, a main riddim, and dropouts that strip back to drums and bass so MCs can reload and switch flow.

Subgenres

Subgenre Typical Range
Classic grime 140 139–141
Eskibeat / instrumental 140 138–142

Production notes

Build the drums around 140 BPM but let the kick and snare breathe in half-time (the backbeat hits like a 70 BPM beat), so the syncopated hats and stabs ride the full grid on top. Grime bass is its signature: a square or sine sub played as a hard, riff-like sequence, often detuned or with a fast portamento glide between notes rather than long sustained tones. Keep the palette cold and digital, eski-style synth stabs, string hits, gunshot or sword-clash FX, and tight 8-bit textures cut against the sub. Leave deliberate space in the arrangement so the MC has room; grime instrumentals are sparse on purpose, and overcrowding the mix kills the bounce.

Related genres

Drill
Dubstep
UK Garage

More in this family

Moombahton
Reggaeton
RKT

FAQ

What tempo does grime sit at?
Grime sits at a typical tempo of 140 BPM, with most tracks falling in a 138–142 BPM range. Classic grime runs 139–141 BPM (typically 140), and eskibeat or instrumental grime stays in the 138–142 BPM band, also centered on 140.
Is grime the same tempo as dubstep?
Yes, they share the same 140 BPM home and both lean on a half-time feel, which is why the two scenes overlapped in early-2000s London. The difference is in the role of the beat, grime is built to carry MCs, so the drums and bass leave more space for vocals.
Why does grime feel faster than 140 BPM?
The double-time hi-hats and rapid MC flows push the perceived speed up, even though the kick and snare often sit in a half-time 70 BPM pulse underneath. That tension between the fast top end and the slow backbeat is what gives grime its drive.
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