Archive
Browse all 100 legendary breakbeats in our collection
Showing 100 of 100 breakbeats
Blow Your Head
Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s
1974
Funk/Jazz-Funk
105 BPM
One of the greatest funk tracks of all time featuring a neck-snapping uptempo breakbeat that became one of the most sampled tracks ever. Fred Wesley's trombone work combined with the tight J.B.'s rhythm section created an irresistible groove.
Cold Sweat
James Brown
1967
Funk
122 BPM
The birth of funk itself. James Brown's 1967 revolutionary recording created the first drum break in music history and established the rhythmic template that would become hip-hop's foundation. Clyde Stubblefield's legendary drums and the iconic 'Give the drummer some!' moment changed music forever.
Different Strokes
Syl Johnson
1967
Chicago Soul
117 BPM
The Chicago soul classic that became hip-hop's foundational bridge between soul and rap. Syl Johnson's message about individuality and Morris Jennings' seven-second drum crack created the blueprint for countless hip-hop classics, from Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power' to Wu-Tang Clan's hardcore anthems.
Funky President
James Brown
1974
Political Funk
105 BPM
James Brown's direct response to the post-Watergate political landscape became hip-hop's most politically charged breakbeat. Allan Schwartzberg's groove-heavy drumming created the foundation for countless conscious rap anthems and political protests in sound.
It's a New Day
Skull Snaps
1973
Underground Funk
110 BPM
The holy grail of crate-digging culture. This mysterious funk trio (later revealed as The Diplomats) created one of hip-hop's most coveted breaks, with their identity remaining unknown for decades. The innovative 'wallet snare' technique and single-take recording session produced underground funk perfection.
Mary, Mary
The Monkees
1967
Manufactured Pop Rock
125 BPM
The ultimate example of hip-hop's democratic sampling philosophy. Run-DMC transformed a song from a manufactured TV band into an authentic hip-hop classic, proving that creativity lies in transformation rather than source material. This bold choice expanded hip-hop's palette and demonstrated the genre's power to find value in unexpected places.
Scorpio
Dennis Coffey
1971
Detroit Funk-Rock
116 BPM
The Motown session guitarist's psychedelic funk masterpiece that bridged Detroit soul, rock guitar, and hip-hop culture. Featuring nine overdubbed guitars and innovative wah-wah techniques, this crossover hit became one of hip-hop's most sampled guitar-driven breaks.
UFO
ESG
1981
South Bronx Post-Punk
118 BPM
Four sisters from the South Bronx created the perfect bridge between post-punk and hip-hop. Recorded in three spare minutes of studio time, this minimalist masterpiece became one of the most sampled tracks in history, sampled 560+ times by everyone from Public Enemy to J Dilla to Miles Davis.
