Podcast 151: These Are The Breaks

Jul 6, 2009

History Lesson from Wikipedia:

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, hip-hop DJs (starting with Kool DJ Herc) began using several breaks (the part of a funk or jazz song in which the music "breaks" to let the rhythm section play unaccompanied) in a row to use as the rhythmic basis for hip-hop songs. Kool DJ Herc's breakbeat style was to play the same record on two turntables and play the break repeatedly by alternating between the two records (letting one play while spinning the second record back to the beginning of the break). This style was copied and improved upon by early hip hop DJs Afrika Bambaataa and Grand Wizard Theodore^. This style was extremely popular in clubs and dance halls because the extended breakbeat was the perfect backdrop for breakdancers to show their skills.

There are dozens of collections of breakbeats for disc jockeys to collect, including a wonderful set called Blue Note Breakbeats, specializing in sounds from that prestigious label. I stumbled across a set called Breakzilla Beats on Zona-Musical featuring more than few top jazz artists. And so, Podcast 151 is a shout out to their work, including the following songs, including the rappers who have sampled them.

Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Rain Dance" from Water Sign. Sampled by Erykah Badu - "On and On", Lil' Kim - "Crush on You", MC Eiht ft Techniec - "Me & My Bitch" and SWV ft Lil' Caesar - "Love Like This".

Monk Higgins - "Little Green Apples" from Extra Soul Perception. Sampled by GangStarr - "Code of the Streets"

Ahmad Jamal - "Ghetto Child" from Jamalca. Sampled by GangStarr - "The Illest Brother" and Hieroglyphics - "The Who".

Herbie Hancock -  "Fat Mama" from Fat Albert Rotunda. Sampled by Chi-Ali - "Step Up",  Mad Flava - "Bump Ya Head", Mellow Man Ace - "Babulu Bad Boy", Skoolbeats - "Fat Mama", and Tupac Shakur- "If My Homey Calls".

Milt Jackson - "Enchanted Lady" from Memphis Jackson. Sampled by De la Soul - "Dinninit", Large Professor - "I Juswannachill", Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "Carmel City",  Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "Escapism", and Third Eye - "360".

Idris Muhammed - "Crab Apple" from Turn this Mutha Out. Sampled by DJ Honda ft Syndicate - "Every Now and Then", Ghostface Killah - "Daytona 500", Grand Puba ft Mary J. Blige - "Check it Out", Jeru - "Mind Spray", K-Solo - "Renee, Renee", Kwest - "Blase Blase", Run-DMC - "Beats to the Rhyme", Schoolly D - "Black Jesus",  Shyheim - "Napsack", Syndicate - "Every Now and Then", and Tupac Shakur - "Crooked Ass Niggas".