Breakbeat Classics: From the Roots to Recent Hits [2025]

Think (About It)Lyn Collins

Think (About It)

This is a track by Lyn Collins, an American singer whom James Brown called the “Female Preacher.” The shouted “Yeah! Woo!” and the drums you hear in this song are, in fact, the very elements that changed the course of later hip-hop and dance music.

It’s said to be one of the most sampled recordings in the world, and it continues to breathe its spirit into countless hits even today.

Listen to this track and you’ll think, “So this was the secret behind that song’s coolness,” opening a new door to music.

You won’t be able to resist moving to a beat that’s loved across generations.

King of the BeatsMantronix

Mantronix – King Of The Beats

An explosive track from Mantronix, the New York group that boldly declares the drums to be the true star! Producer Kurtis Mantronik crafts complex, powerful rhythms that are nothing less than the “King of the Beat.” Featured on the classic 1988 album In Full Effect, the track is also famous for being one of the earliest to incorporate a historic drum break.

It’s no wonder it had an enormous impact on later music and has been sampled in over 200 songs.

Ready to dive into the intense whirlwind of beats that changed hip-hop history?

Sing a Simple SongSly & The Family Stone

Sly & The Family Stone – Sing a Simple Song (Official Audio)

A classic soul masterpiece.

Sly & The Family Stone—this track, later famed for its drum breaks—falls under funk and rare groove.

Many of you have probably heard it somewhere before, right? From American funk, pop, and soul to R&B and hip-hop, it influenced and helped shape a wide range of music.

It’s often said that there’s music from before their sound was born, and music from after—spoken of as a definitive turning point.

Straight Outta ComptonN.W.A

N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton (Official Music Video)

This is a signature track by the American hip-hop group N.

W.

A that hurls anger at society and the realities of the streets.

As pioneers of gangsta rap, they channel pride in their hometown and a defiant stance against authority over aggressive, heavy breakbeats.

Boldly sampling funk, the track’s innovative sound sent shockwaves through the music scene at the time.

It serves as the title track of the classic album Straight Outta Compton, later becoming the theme song of the 2015 biographical film and achieving the remarkable feat of entering the U.

S.

charts 26 years after its release.

You may find your soul stirred by their fight against injustice.

The Funk Hits the Fan (feat. Eddie Bo)Plump DJs

The Funk Hits the Fan (feat. Eddie Bo)

A seminal breakbeat track that fully samples Eddie Bo’s classic album “If It’s Good to You, It’s Good for You,” Eddie Bo being a key figure in New Orleans’ R&B scene from the 1950s to the 1960s.

Created by the unit that supported the scene from its early days—Andy Gardner and Lee Rous, the UK duo Plump DJs—this song became a trailblazer for the genre.

Their style is diverse, and each album offers a different concept to enjoy.

No Good (Start the Dance)The Prodigy

No Good (Start the Dance)

The track that makes you feel like you’re blindly running through a dark jungle is The Prodigy’s “No Good (Start The Dance).” This song incorporates syncopated breakbeats, giving the music a dynamic sense of movement.

The siren-like synthesizer sound ignites your survival instincts and floods your brain with adrenaline.

It feels like a track that could deliver doping-level effects when used during training or studying!

ElektrobankThe Chemical Brothers

Elektrobank

When you hear “big beat,” many people probably know exactly what that means.

In Japan, it was even called “digital rock” in the late 2000s—some of you might remember that.

The Chemical Brothers were very popular in Japan, and they still are today.

They’re a duo—Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons—who keep releasing new music actively.

This is a track released in 1997 that incorporated UK rave culture while updating the sound in a modern way for its time.