Neurofunk (commonly abbreviated neuro) is a subgenre of drum and bass pioneered by producers Ed Rush, Optical, Matrix, and MC/producer Ryme Tyme circa 1997/1998 in London, England as a progression of techstep. It was further developed by juxtaposed elements of heavier and darker forms of funk with multiple influences ranging from techno, house and jazz, characterized by consecutive stabs over the bassline and rhythmically structured by razor-sharp backbeats where highly nuanced, dark ambient atmospheric production is prominent. The prototype sound of the early evolution of neurofunk - diverging from its techstep counterpart - at its most creative period which defined the style, can be heard on the essential live mix by Ed Rush & Optical for Radio 1 (1998).