February 4, 2007
The 30 Greatest Hip Hop Drum Breaks & Samples of All Time!
If you know me outside of the internet world, you know that I absolutely love lists. I make lists for things that I need to do when at home, on my way to work, at work, and even while I’m at the movies (watching The Pursuit of Happiness). There’s one list that I’ve been thinking of for the past three weeks and has caused me agony beyond reasonable comprehension… The top 10 drum breaks of all time! Can you imagine that such a thing might exist? After all we are talking about, at the most, a ten second snippet of a couple of kicks, snare, and maybe even some high hats. This is madness, right? Well, for over a fortnight I’ve tossed, turned, gritted my teeth, and had more arguments with myself than the American Psychological Association has deemed mentally healthy, but I’ve finally finished my list. The closest I was able to get it down to was the greatest 30 breaks with only the top 3 being in any particular order. So, here it is, for your listening and debating pleasure… The Crate
- Melvin Bliss - Synthetic Subsitution
- The Honeydrippers – Impeach The President
- Skull Snaps – It’s A New Day
- Little Feet - Fool Yourself
- Billy Squire – Big Beat
- Al Green – I’m Glad You’re Mine
- The Soul Searchers – Ashley’s Roachclip
- Power of Zeus – Sorcerer of
- Isley Brothers – Footsteps In The Dark
- Q65 – Get Out My Life Woman
- Jeff Beck – Come Dancing
- Mountain – Long Red (Live)
- Manzel –
- The Meters – Here Come The Metermen
- The Headhunters – God Made Me Funky
- Dexter Wansel – Theme From The Planets
- Young Holt Unlimited – Wah Wah Man
- James Brown – Funky President
- Orange Crush – Action
- Joe Tex – Papa Was Too
- Funk Inc. –
- Silhouettes – Fonky First
- Bad Bascomb – Black Grass
- The Turtles – I’m Chief
- Donny Hathaway – Magnificent Sanctuary Band
- Little Richard – The Rill Thing
- Funkadelic – Good Old Music
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21 Comments on The 30 Greatest Hip Hop Drum Breaks & Samples of All Time! »
February 5, 2007
HotMouth @ 7:57 am:
Dude.
This is f*cking hot.
My only hate is that the streams are only 12 seconds long.
I WANT 30 second clips.
A pod cast.
Something.
I HEART BREAK BEAT LISTS.
Gary VanLiew @ 8:50 pm:
Good choices. A few that should have been on here
William Bell- Born Under a Bad Sign
Jimi Hendrix- Flashing
Rolling Stones- Honky tonk Woman
EdwinStarr- Rapper Dapper clapper
Shaun @ 11:33 pm:
nice nie…….but i was wondering why the amen brother break isnt in there?….it is one of the most famous breaks as what i know of…….its being used is striaght out of compton nwa……plus the snares and kicks have been use in alot of dnb songs
February 6, 2007
1992 @ 3:36 am:
This list is completely FUBAR! You left out the #1 break of all time. Not only did you not make it #1 but its out of the list completely!!!! This is surly a crime! Punishable by being forced to stay awake in a chair while listening to said break for a week, no less.
Winstons, The “Amen Brother” (Metromedia MMS-117)
http://www.discogs.com/release/423956
This one record is so influential, it started a seperate dance music genre called Jungle or as it is called today, Drum & Bass. It was best used as the back beat of UK ‘Ardkore tracks pre-jungle such as in DJ Seduction’s “Come On”, Harmony & Extreme’s “Music”, and Carl Cox’s “I want you (forever)”
caddis @ 12:20 pm:
Hey there. The Skull Snaps are playing at the Knitting Facotry this Friday opening for Slick Rick. Also, would you be interested in interviewing Skull Snaps leader, Erv Waters, for your blog?
Caddis
block @ 9:32 pm:
THE WINSTONS: AMER BROTHER!
February 8, 2007
EyeGetzRaw @ 12:03 pm:
Aside from the aforementioned Winston Brothers….another glaring omission is James Brown’s Funky Drummer, which admittedly, is one of the most overused samples in Hip Hop history…but not without reason.
EyeGetzRaw @ 12:05 pm:
^^^*Winton’s Amen Brother*
felix @ 2:27 pm:
If i bought one of your sample packs, would it still work on my Mac running reason even though the download says windows only?
February 10, 2007
Scheme @ 12:49 am:
props on posting the skull snaps. just saw them (like, JUST saw them) at the knitting factory tonight before slick rick. they killed.
thanks for the sample wednesday mention as well. keep doing your thing. peace!
Scheme
Palms Out
February 18, 2007
the average man @ 12:08 pm:
“This list is completely FUBAR! You left out the #1 break of all time. Not only did you not make it #1 but its out of the list completely!!!! This is surly a crime! Punishable by being forced to stay awake in a chair while listening to said break for a week, no less.”
thought you were going to say Funky Drummer!
Long Red is str8 Pi$$ though
March 5, 2007
mike18xx @ 12:51 pm:
(Chuckle.)
http://rushmidi.com/wavs/kellys-heroes-burning-bridges.wav
mike18xx @ 1:04 pm:
More Eastwood beats:
http://rushmidi.com/wavs/dirtyharry-opening-scorpio.wav
http://rushmidi.com/wavs/dirtyharry-creed.wav
March 12, 2007
Angry Citizen @ 5:37 pm (Trackback)
Skull Snaps @ Knitting Factory | MP3
Now if you check my pulse it beats Skull Snaps. — Beastie Boys, Unite Last month, after Pigeon John graced the stage (more on his performance in a few days, seriously) and before Slick Rick blessed the crowd, everyone in
Skull Snaps @ Knitting Factory « Headless Ponch @ 7:05 pm (Pingback)
[…] But you don’t have to own a Skull Snaps record to recognize their immense contribution. Just listen to the opening drum pattern of It’s a New Day and your brain will start firing with recognition. For a comprehensive retrospective of the Skull Snaps, click here. Click here to read and listen to the Crate Kings 30 Greatest Hip-Hop Drum Breaks, with It’s A New Day coming in third. […]
March 23, 2007
Mark Kelly @ 6:33 am:
Good list but what about George McCrae I Get Lifted or Vernon Burch Get Up?
April 30, 2007
Mok @ 11:33 am:
I’m sorry but there’s no arguing this. 2000 rappers and dj’s can’t be wrong.
James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” is the IT!!!
After that, take your pick. How could you not have it in your top 30???
Trying too hard to be avant garde? Fess up!
June 4, 2007
MrCriplR @ 9:11 am:
I totally agree with your #1 spot, however Funky Drummer and Amen should be on the list. Although Amen is a bit over-rated, it’s a classic but it’s over-rated.
April 25, 2008
jaz @ 7:22 pm:
kick ass list man. i’m w/ hotmouth: i wish the clips were longer.
May 8, 2008
Sarah @ 4:37 pm:
Anyone know where I can find drum transcription for these???
May 16, 2008
T-GHETTO ENTERTAINMENT @ 9:35 pm:
Man, A Different World has sampled most of them beats. He’s made some himself with the wooden drums.