DNB Spotlight presents: Sub Zero & Shabba D

Sub Zero

It's prime time for Sub Zero.

You've seen him smash up some of the most prestigious parties in the business and drop some of the most savage dancefloor-focused tunes you've ever heard. But all that's merely the aperitif for what's next.

Over the last decade and a half, we've seen him give the high-energy Sub Zero treatment to the likes of Boomtown, Printworks, Warehouse Project, Rampage and a roll-call of other destination locations around the world. And he's dropped music on some of the hottest labels DnB has to offer, including Crucast, Born on Road, DnB Allstars, Low Down Deep and many more.

And, of course, we all know about his G Dub project with Original Sin, a team-up which helped define the sound of contemporary jump-up from the noughties to the present day with heaters like 'Tink Ya Bad' and 'Back in Business', as well as huge remixes for the likes of J Majik & Wickaman and Twisted Individual.

But there's even more to the story.

Drawing influence from sources as disparate as film soundtracks and the foundation junglism of Goldie and LTJ Bukem, Sub Zero has a musical vision that moves beyond sub-genre limitations, without ever losing focus on that raw rave energy. Remix work for artists like Camo & Krooked, Sigma, and Funtcase, as well as a proliferation of solo tunes have made Sub Zero's presence felt on all sides of the scene.

Now, Sub Zero is connecting with a whole new audience, scoring a Beatport number one with 'Haunted' and blowing up across TikTok. Cementing that success even further, watch for a series of huge collaborations, including excursions into vocal DnB that are set to ignite festival season while showing off all-new facets to his style.

We all thought Sub Zero was at the top of his game. It turns out, he could elevate it even further. Whatever's next for this pioneering deejay and producer, you won't want to miss it

Shabba D

It's been quite a journey so far.

From his first appearance as the youngest mic man on the circuit to his current status as one of the defining voices of UK rave music, Shabba has accrued a CV full of unmatchable achievements.

There's the legendary Shabba and Skibadee SaS combo which tore up dances in the nineties, eventually leading to the world-conquering behemoth SaSaSaS. Spawning hundreds of imitators and regularly name-checked as an influence by the elite of UKG and grime artists, Shabba's place in the pantheon of British mic talent was assured from early.

But it's always been about more than just the bars. Above and beyond his ultra-catchy lyricism and rave-hyping stage presence, Shabba's talents stretch across all aspects of the scene. As a promoter, he's been behind some of DnB's most iconic brands, most recently his Off Da Hook project. And he's been instrumental in creating opportunities and platforms for others, as evidenced by his Higher Level crew, a hand-picked selection of some of the hottest new gen artists around.

You see, that's one of the things that makes Shabba special. He creates musical connections. Between one generation and the next, between one genre and the next, between one style and the next. He's had a thirty year career without ever being consigned to the old skool and he's still connecting with the latest crop of DnB ravers. He's even connecting music to his other passion of fishing with his Rods, Reels & Bass web series. No wonder acts as disparate as the Sex Pistols and the UKG Allstars have called on Shabba to bring some hype to their stage shows.

And of course, he's got an ever-growing discography. His 2021 'True Colours' EP, released on his own Higher Level imprint, featured a host of emcee talent including Mr Traumatik, Endo, Swifta and Skamma, laying out the blueprint for a new era of vocal-focused drum 'n' bass music.

With a booking diary as rammed as ever, iconic status across the whole UK urban music scene, the ability to roll out authentically on anything from classic jungle to upfront jump up or pretty much anything else, and with an entrepreneur's attitude, it's time to get very excited for what Shabba's got for us next.

The levels are about to get even higher.