[2026] Iconic and Popular Songs for Super-Cool Breakdance [Breaking]

It’s Just BegunThe Jimmy Castor Bunch

The Jimmy Castor Bunch – It’s Just Begun (Audio)

The Jimmy Castor Bunch is a six-piece funk band formed around Jimmy Castor.

Alongside Earth, Wind & Fire and James Brown, they were one of the leading acts who energized 1970s funk music and gained worldwide popularity.

Today, they are known as a seminal band that is frequently sampled, and their track “It’s Just Begun” remains a popular staple as background music for breakdancing.

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BegginMadcon

Madcon – Beggin

Like MC battles, breakdancing tends to favor old-school classics.

Because the focus is on tracks everyone knows and can get hyped to, old-school songs are especially valued.

Among them, Beggin’ is known as a relatively newer staple in breakdancing.

The performer is the rapper Madcon, who has been active since the 1990s.

Although it’s a work from the 2010s, its catchy, old-school-inspired sound is particularly striking.

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Roof OffLaura Vane & The Vipertones

Roof Off

Laura Vane & the Vipertones are a cross-border funk band spanning the UK and the Netherlands.

The group was formed in 2008 when Dutch funk DJs hit it off with British singer Laura Vane.

Their signature track is this song, which appears as the opening cut on their debut album, “Laura Vane & the Vipertones.” Released in August 2009, the record centers on ’60s–’70s soul-funk, delivering a dancefloor-ready sound where hard-hitting breakbeat-style drumming and robust horns surge in at once.

It’s a staple in the breakdancing scene and is often hailed as a B-boy classic.

Dope on PlasticUptown

Uptown – Dope on Plastic

The 12-inch single released by Tommy Boy in 1989 is still celebrated today as a masterpiece that epitomizes New York street hip-hop.

Boldly sampling multiple funk sources—most notably Kool & the Gang’s “Give It Up”—it fuses hard-edged breaks with high-energy raps for a true floor-igniting result.

Produced by Dante Ross and CJ Moore, it condenses the rough, dirty aesthetics of the mid-school era.

The track has continued to serve as a go-to soundtrack in clubs and battle circles, and is also known for its far-reaching influence that extended into the UK hardcore scene.

Its groove, woven from funky horn riffs and thick drums, is perfect for hitting accents in breakdance routines.

Yellow SunshineYellow Sunshine

Yellow Sunshine – Yellow Sunshine (Audio)

Low-center-of-gravity drums and raw, rugged guitars ignite everything at once, pushing your body forward in the spaces between the beats.

The track oscillates between the tension and exhilaration of competition, and its theme—speaking of an unyielding will to keep rising through the metaphor of aiming for the sun—pairs perfectly with breaking.

Recorded in January 1973 and included on the album “Yellow Sunshine,” it was tracked at Sigma Sound, where the solid ensemble of Karl Chambers, Roland Chambers, and Dexter Wansel forms its backbone.

It’s a strong recommendation for a battle’s first round, a footwork-focused round, and even the spotlight moments for power moves.

The experimental spirit of Philadelphia soul/funk-rock band Yellow Sunshine is distilled here.