Broken beat is an electronic music genre which can be characterized by syncopated rhythm typically in 4/4 metre, with staggered or punctuated snare beats and/or hand claps.

It first appeared in the 1990s and was pioneered by IG Culture. Appearing in the western parts of London, the genre is also referred to as West London, mainly because Goya Music's offices were in London's Ladbroke Grove, W11, as were most of the participating artists studios.

Artists in this area mostly have a drum and bass, house, hip hop, techno or acid jazz background. As a result of these various influences, broken beat is sometimes considered more sophisticated than regular dance music, on the scale of jazz, soul or funk.