"The Payback" was inspired by the film of the same name and represents James Brown's cinematic period, showing how funk became connected to film and media culture that would later influence hip-hop's visual aesthetic.

The song runs over 7 minutes in its full version, featuring multiple break sections that became separately sampled elements.

James Brown wrote the song specifically for the blaxploitation film 'The Payback' starring Fred Williamson.

The track represents the evolution of funk toward the cinematic themes that would become central to hip-hop's street narratives.

Multiple different break sections from this track have been sampled, making it one of the most versatile breakbeat sources.