Happy hardcore evolved from rave music around 1991–1993, as the original house music-based rave became faster and began to include breakbeats, evolving into breakbeat hardcore. The speed is usually between 145 and 195 beats per minute.
In the UK, happy hardcore was at its peak between 1994 and 1997, evolving into 4-beat.
Development of Happy Hardcore
By mid-to-late 1992, Hardcore breakbeat (which was fast becoming jungle) had started to dwindle into the 'Dark Side'. All of the 'cheesiest' elements of the hardcore scene (chipmunk vox, choruses, euphoria—inducing pianos, mentasm stabs, etc.), which were being blamed for the lead-up to commercialization of the music, had started to be eliminated by the new breed of ravers, who wanted to take the music back to the underground with darker, more minimal tracks.
Some producers (e.g. Orca, Slipmatt, DJ Slammer, Mystery Man, DJ Vibes and Wisdokta etc), however, were simply not having this. Once hardcore was back on its feet after such a terrible demise, it picked up from where it left off and the production of breakbeat hardcore as it used to be continued. There were a few minor changes however. There were now polyrhythmic breakbeats, half-speed dub-bass and no 4/4 kick drum (which attracted many black ravers, who promptly introduced MC's into the scene). But, apart from this, the E-rush of hardcore continued for quite some time, just as the music was still getting faster and faster.
Dark side and the happier tunes were being played together at the same raves, the same pirate stations, etc. But then one tune was released in mid-93 which changed things forever.
Slipmatt's 'SMD 1' was quite a culture shock to most of the ravers. It was not euphoric and it was most definitely not dark. It cubed up the intensity of the most happiest, cheesiest, treble elements of rave and was loved by some and hated by many. It also reintroduced the 4/4 kick drum, had fewer snare breaks and a more techno-influenced bassline. It had a profound influence on the whole of the hardcore scene. After several months, the darker tunes were dying and being replaced by the bittersweet nature of 'ambient jungle / 'drum n bass'. Some of the once happier tunes had darkened up a bit and turned the bass right up and 'ragga jungle' and 'jump -up jungle' itself had arrived. The other happy ravers (still using the jungle-style rhythms for a while) gradually took Slipmatt's lead and 'happy hardcore' was born.
This was the beginning of the end for the 'ardkore scene. The tunes were so different. By late 1994, Happy Hardcore had broken away from Jungle (which was now accepted by the mainstream) and had its own network of DJ's (Slipmatt, DJ Force Vibes & Wishdokta, Styles, Higher Level) labels (kniteforce, Slammin Vinyl) and clubs/raves (Die Hard, United Dance), although it did still run in parallel with the jungle underground.
It was rejected by the dance mainstream and had its own media and pirate radio. The nostalgia of the raves lived on.
the following section has been starred out because of the absurdity. 1 person dies from 1 pill, yet hundreds of thousands do not. More people die from alcohol poisoning.
Who wrote this anyhow? ~"With attitudes to the rave scene still unchanged, happy hardcore had a very long way to go before ever even thinking about achieving commercial success"~ Whoever thought we wanted to achieve commercial success? I'd say most ravers are opposed to this view.