Dubstep originated in the late 1990s in south London as a combination of genres like dub reggae, 2 step, garage, and drum and bass. It features dark, heavy basslines and slower tempos relative to earlier influences. Dubstep gained mainstream popularity in the late 2000s through the internet and artists like Skrillex bringing it to American audiences. It has since become a globally popular genre played at major festivals, with artists like Skrillex and Nero winning Grammys for their dubstep music.