The Breaks

The Breaks is a critically acclaimed 1980 hit single by Kurtis Blow from his self-titled debut album. It peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first certified gold rap song for Hip Hop, and the second certified gold 12 inch single in the history of music.

Lyrics and structure

"The Breaks" repeats the word "break" (or any of its homophones) eighty-four times over six and a half minutes. It features six breakdowns (seven including the outro) while there are three definitions for "break," "to break" or "brakes" used in the released. Unlike most hip-hop songs which sample prerecorded funk, the funk beat in this song is original (contrary to some statements that believe it sampled "Long Train Runnin'" by The Doobie Brothers). It has, in turn, been sampled by other, including the 2005 reggaeton single, "Chacarron Macarron" by El Chombo.

Recognitions and usage

The single hit #87 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #4 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, and #9 on the U.S. Billboard dance chart. It sold over 500,000 copies, becoming only the second 12-inch single to earn a gold certification from the RIAA, following "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. The background beat of this album was used in Organized Rhyme's song "Check The O.R." In 2008, the song ranked #10 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs. The song has also featured in few games: the 2002 game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the 2005 game True Crime: New York City, the 2006 game Scarface: The World Is Yours and 2011 Kinect game Dance Central 2.

The Breaks (novel)

The Breaks is a 1983 novel by Richard Price.The Breaks was Price's fourth novel.

Overview

Peter Keller, a young liberal arts graduate, moves back into his father's apartment in Yonkers after failing to get into law school and quickly self-destructs.

References

The Breaks (2016 film)

The Breaks is an 2016 American television hip-hop drama film that chronicles the life of three friends during the early 1990s hip-hop scene. The film stars Wood Harris, Mack Wilds, Afton Williamson, David Call and legendary rapper Method Man. Inspired by journalist Dan Charnas' book "The Big Payback", The Breaks was written and directed by Seith Mann and executive produced by Mann, Charnas, and Maggie Malina, along with Susan Levison and Bill Flanagan.

The Breaks premiered on VH1 on January 4, 2016.

Cast

References

External links

The Breaks at the Internet Movie Database