Yo, B-boys and B-girls! You feel that? It’s not just the beat from your headphones—it’s the pulse of history. The foundation of breaking isn’t just in the concrete of the Bronx or the wooden floors of battles; it’s in the grooves, the samples, and the futuristic synths of the music that drives it. Today, we’re diving deep into the crates to explore the genre-bending tunes that have fueled our culture from day one.
The Original Blueprint: Funk & Soul Breaks
It all started here. In the early 70s, DJs like Kool Herc identified the "get down" part of a record—the breakbeat—and isolated it. This wasn't just about music; it was an engineering feat that created a new art form. These breaks provided the raw, percussive, and often gritty foundation for dancers to showcase their skills.
- The Incredible Bongo Band - "Apache": Arguably the most important breakbeat of all time. That bongo intro is a call to arms for any breaker. It’s the sound of a challenge being issued.
- James Brown - "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose": The Godfather. The funky drummer pattern is the backbone of countless breaks. It’s pure, unadulterated rhythm.
- Jimmy Castor Bunch - "It's Just Begun": That iconic opening riff is the soundtrack to a thousand top rocks and footwork sequences. It’s dramatic, building, and impossibly funky.
These tracks weren't made for breaking, but they were perfected by it. They taught us about rhythm, tension, and release—the essential elements of a killer set.
The 80s Revolution: Electro Funk Enters the Ring
Then came the machines. The Roland TR-808 drum machine and the synths of pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force fused the energy of funk with the futuristic sounds of science fiction. Electro was born, and it changed breaking forever.
Electro was faster, harder, and electronic. Its synthetic basslines and robotic melodies created a new aesthetic—cyberpunk on the dance floor. This was the sound of the future, and breakers were its astronauts.
- Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - "Planet Rock": The big bang. Sampling Kraftwerk and setting the template for everything that followed. This is the anthem.
- Hashim - "Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)": That squelching bassline is instantly recognizable. It’s a relentless, driving track designed for power moves and fast footwork.
- Man Parrish - "Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don't Stop)": A chaotic, energetic masterpiece of buzzing synths and crashing drums. Pure, uncut energy.
Electro didn't just give breakers new music; it gave them an identity. It was weird, it was electronic, and it was uniquely ours.
The Modern Fusion: Genre-Bending Beats of Today
The story didn't end in the 80s. The spirit of sonic exploration is alive and well. Today's producers and DJs are digging through crates—both physical and digital—to create new hybrids that respect the past while pushing the sound forward. Here’s what’s fueling battles and sessions now:
- Breakbeat & Ghetto Funk: Producers like The Allergies or Featurecast take funky soul samples and layer them with massive, breakbeat-heavy drums and modern basslines. It’s classic break energy with a polished, dance-floor punch.
- Electro Bass / Ghettotech: The spiritual successor to 80s electro. Artists like Jensen Interceptor or DJ Deeon push tempos higher with distorted 808 kicks, skittering hats, and aggressive synth stabs. It’s raw, underground, and built for footwork and power.
- Synthwave & Retro-Futurism: Acts like Lazerhawk or Perturbator tap into the same sci-fi, cinematic vibes that defined early electro but with a modern production sheen. Perfect for creating a dramatic, atmospheric vibe in a cypher.
Digging in the Digital Crates: How to Find Your Sound
You don’t need to be a crate-digging purist to find incredible music, but you do need curiosity.
- Streaming Deep Dives: Don’t just listen to algorithms. On Spotify or YouTube Music, start with a classic track you love and dive into the "Fans Also Like" or similar artist radio. You’ll travel from 70s funk to modern funk revivalists in a few clicks.
- Bandcamp is Your Best Friend: Search tags like #breakbeat, #electrofunk, #ghettofunk, and #synthwave. You’ll find thousands of independent artists making incredible music specifically for the dance. Support them directly!
- Listen to Battle DJs: Pay attention to who’s spinning at major battles. Follow them on SoundCloud or Mixcloud. They are the true curators on the front lines, blending classics with undiscovered gems.
The relationship between breaker and music is a sacred conversation. It’s a call and response that started with funk's raw soul, evolved through electro's synthetic revolution, and continues today in countless digital fusion labs. So put on your headphones, find a beat that moves you, and add your chapter to the story. Remember, the best track for breaking isn’t the rarest or the most classic—it’s the one that makes you have to move.
Now go practice.
