Billy Squier was a rock musician from Wellesley, Massachusetts, and when he recorded "The Big Beat" in 1980 for his debut album Tale of the Tape, he had no idea he was creating one of hip-hop's most important drum breaks. The track opens with a thunderous, wide-open drum pattern — simple, powerful, and unmistakable. In the rock world, the song was a moderate hit. In the hip-hop world, it became a foundational text.

Run-DMC were among the first to sample "The Big Beat," using it to help establish the rock-hip-hop crossover sound that would define their career. The break's heavy, straightforward groove worked perfectly with aggressive rap delivery, and its rock origins gave it a rawness that funk breaks couldn't always provide.

Jay-Z's "99 Problems" (2003), produced by Rick Rubin, brought "The Big Beat" roaring back into mainstream prominence decades after its original release. The break has been used by everyone from Eminem to Kanye West to Alicia Keys, making it one of the few rock breakbeats to maintain relevance across multiple eras of hip-hop.