Breaking
Breaking
Discover the originals of 7 well-known break tracks spun by DJs worldwide
Digging through crates of vinyl to find that one sample that gets the dancers and the crowd moving is part of daily life for a good DJ. Listen to seven dope examples from the world of breaking music.
There was a time when DJs guarded the original names of the tracks from which they sampled their breaks like internationally sensitive secrets, so that no other DJ apart from themselves could spin that particular section of the song. Breakers would go on long internet searches, trying to find the original names of the tracks they heard played by certain DJs, but usually never found them. Then technology caught up and other DJs, dancers or anyone could simply use music-identifying apps to find out the names of the songs being spun. But for those still wondering about the names of some of the classic breaks, here's 7 of them to look up and listen to, in their original form:
1. Pam by Crazy Elephant
Crazy Elephant were a short lived American pop band and the break from their track Pam was made famous by DJ Renegade. Even though the original track is a lot slower in tempo, and has an indie sounding vibe to it, as soon as you hear the original you'll recognise the sample straight away. The actual sampled break of the track, which Renegade used, comes in at about 1m 4s, but Renegade also sampled and mixed from the whole song. He made it famous at jams at the UK B-boy Championships where, in the 2006 final battle of Drifters (Korea) vs Pockemon (France), Renegade dropped the break to kick off three extra rounds that went down after the judges came to a tie. Back then the only clue anyone had to the original track were the few actual lyrics Renegade left in before mixing into the break.
2. Overture from Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar was a 1970s rock opera and on first listen to this track it's hard to believe that it actually contains a well-known break. But after two minutes of epic, dramatic, chase-like music, the track completely changes to a guitar-lead rhythm that every breaker will know, and usually listens to in shock when they realise the actual break that comes from this track. The break itself only lasts for 53 seconds before going back to a dramatic finish of the song finish, but any seasoned breaker will definitely know the loop of those 53 seconds well.
3. Rocksteady by Aretha Franklin
Written and sung by one of the gospel queens of soul and R 'n' B music, Aretha Franklin released the track Rocksteady back in 1971 on her album Young, Gifted and Dangerous. A smooth rhythm that flows with Aretha's soulful voice, at three minutes into the song the track breaks, the drums pick up and 'Rooock, Steady!' Is repeated a number of times during the energetic break. This is the part that all breakers will recognise having gone off to many a time at a competition and in a cypher.
4. You're Hip, Miss Pastorfield by Fred Karlin
For years DJ Skeme Richards brought this track to the ears of breakers everywhere. As soon as that beginning 'click-clack' dropped in a competition at which Skeme was spinning, everyone knew the tune that was about to go off.
A fast-paced, saxophone-led, jazz track with guitars, drums and other instruments vibing together, the whole song is one big crazy ride for any breaker, and many have been inspired to kill their round when they've had the chance to come out to this song; including B-boy Morris in the semi finals of the 2011 World B-boy Classic competition in Holland, and B-boy Focus in the finals of the 2010 Circle Kingz competition in Switzerland.
The track itself is by American composer Fred Karlin and was a part of the original soundtrack score to a film called Up The Down Stair Case, released in 1967.
5. Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter by Nina Simone
The actual, original of this song was written by Alline Bullock and sang by Ike and Tina Turner in 1970, but it's Nina Simone's 1974 version of the song, with its funky, soulful drums and guitar, that made the track a classic on the breaking scene. When Nina sings 'always rapping about the same old thing,' at about 2m 20s into the track the break that drops next is the loop that all breakers will know. And just before the track ends, at about 4m 40s into it, Nina sings the line again 'Allllways rapping about the same old thing!' And again a break drops. This time with less drum power than the first one in the track, but the ending break will still be a familiar loop to breakers.
6. Apache by The Incredible Bongo Band
This track is actually a cover of a more Western-movie-sounding version by Jerry Lordan, released in 1960. But his version wasn't very popular until famous party and breaks DJ Kool Herc sampled the break from the track and made it into an instant classic by playing it at hip-hop parties for breakers to dance to.
It's one of the most famous break tracks and it also can keep breakers moving from the beginning to the end of its song, but the actual break drops at about 1m 45s into the track.
7. Funky Nassau by Beginning of the End
A track made by the funk group Beginning of the End on their 1972 album Funky Nassau, this is another song that has had breakers dancing to its full length, for years. But at about one minute into the song the line, 'listen to the drummer playing this beat,' cues a heavy drum pounding break that has also fired up many breakers and competitions over the years. And with lyrics that also ask you to listen to the bass man's groove, the guitar, and the deep honk bring it on home, this song isn't just about the break, it's also about the lyrics.
