[2026] Iconic and Popular Songs for Super-Cool Breakdance [Breaking]
Born in the South Bronx of New York in the 1970s, the street dance known as breaking.
Also widely known as breakdancing, breaking has deep ties to music—especially hip-hop—and has played an important role in street culture.
More recently, it was officially recognized as a competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Some younger people may have become interested in breakdancing after watching the Olympics.
For those readers, this article rounds up essential classic tracks that are inseparable from the history of breaking.
We also feature many of the songs used at the Paris Olympics, so be sure to check them out!
Playlist
| [2026] Iconic and Popular Songs for Super-Cool Breakdance [Breaking] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Breaker’s RevengeArthur Baker | play_arrow | A pioneer of electro hip-hop, Arthur… |
| 2east | Mama Said Knock You OutLL Cool J | play_arrow | This track features an intense beat and powerful rap... |
| 3east | Ch-Check It OutBeastie Boys | play_arrow | A New York hip-… formed in 1978 |
| 4east | Break WomanDJ Fleg | play_arrow | A powerful force that shakes the breakdance floor… |
| 5east | Give It Up Or Turnit A LooseJames Brown | play_arrow | Known by the nickname “Mr. Dynamite,” he/they… |
| 6east | SlamOnyx | play_arrow | The underground hip-hop scene, huh... |
| 7east | Dancing in the MoonlightToploader | play_arrow | The English rock band Topload… |
| 8east | Maria TambiénKhruangbin | play_arrow | A bewitching sound suffused with exotic fragrance... |
| 9east | Happy SoulDave Cortez & The Moon People | play_arrow | Sharp drums and Latin percussion surge and swirl, then suddenly cut short… |
| 10east | Juice (Know the Ledge)Eric B. & Rakim | play_arrow | The 1992 film “Juice”… |
| 11east | Brooklyn is BurningHead Automatica | play_arrow | A Brooklyn-based rock band, … |
| 12east | Funky LoverEruption | play_arrow | Forged in mid-1970s London f... |
| 13east | PoisonKool G Rap & DJ Polo | play_arrow | Legendary duo from Queens, New York... |
| 14east | KillingThe Apples | play_arrow | A brass-and-turntable ensemble from Israel... |
| 15east | Squeeze MeKraak & Smaak | play_arrow | A trio of producers/DJs from the Netherlands… |
| 16east | Beggin’Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | play_arrow | Emerging from New Jersey in the 1960s... |
| 17east | Don’t Sweat The TechniqueEric B. & Rakim | play_arrow | Alright, this song is also by the old-school old man... |
| 18east | Bring The PainMethod Man | play_arrow | This track is defined by its powerful beats and aggressive flow… |
| 19east | Hot MusicSoho | play_arrow | An electr... that instantly amps up the party vibe |
| 20east | ScenarioA Tribe Called Quest | play_arrow | An American hip-hop group formed in 1988… |
| 21east | It’s Just BegunThe Jimmy Castor Bunch | play_arrow | Formed around Jimmy Castor... |
| 22east | BegginMadcon | play_arrow | Breakdancing, just like an MC battle, … |
| 23east | Roof OffLaura Vane & The Vipertones | play_arrow | A cross-border ... spanning the UK and the Netherlands |
| 24east | Dope on PlasticUptown | play_arrow | It was released by Tommy Boy in 1989... |
| 25east | Yellow SunshineYellow Sunshine | play_arrow | The low-centered drums and rough, wild guitar suddenly... |
| 26east | Listen to MeBaby Huey | play_arrow | Psychedeli… born in Chicago in the 1970s |
| 27east | The SpaniardMR WIGGLES | play_arrow | From the South Bronx of New York to the world... |
| 28east | Flesh FailuresJulie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity | play_arrow | The British singer, who was also active as an actress, … |
| 29east | The BreaksKurtis Blow | play_arrow | Mr. Kurtis Blow relea... |
| 30east | The WitchThe Bamboos | play_arrow | The Australian soul band, The Ban... |
| 31east | RockitHerbie Hancock | play_arrow | A familiar song from variety shows, a classic track... |
| 32east | Ain’t Got Time To Waste feat. YZAiM | play_arrow | Funky electro music and hi... |
| 33east | The MexicanBabe Ruth | play_arrow | The backgound music used in breakdancing is ofte… |
| 34east | It Takes TwoRob Base & DJ E-Z Rock | play_arrow | The intro feels nice! If anything, it's more like… |
| 35east | Hippy Skippy Moon StrutMighty Show Stoppers | play_arrow | Insanely cool, deep funk... |
| 36east | Full Moon feat. CommonArmand Van Helden | play_arrow | Speed garage, house music… |
| 37east | Apache (Grandmaster Flash Mix)Incredible Bongo Band | play_arrow | A funky number where bongos and brass shine. |
| 38east | How GeeBlack Machine | play_arrow | If you're a dancer, you've probably heard it at least once... |
| 39east | Get Off feat. Street StylerMr. Bass | play_arrow | If you're looking for some offbeat background music, check out this '… |
| 40east | You’re Hip Miss PastorfieldFred Karlin | play_arrow | The Ame... who has left behind many famous songs in numerous feature films |
| 41east | Canned HeatJamiroquai | play_arrow | Jamiroquai, who are hugely popular in Japan as well! Their songs… |
| 42east | Set It OffBig Daddy Kane | play_arrow | This is a true classic in breakin'! It's easy to dance to… |
| 43east | Dancing MachineThe Jackson 5 | play_arrow | Since it has an impressive intro, showcase… |
| 44east | I Know You Got SoulBobby Byrd | play_arrow | A major success from the 1950s through the 1990s… |
| 45east | I Feel for You – RemixChaka Khan | play_arrow | The diva of the soul and funk scene—her… |
| 46east | Buffalo GalsMalcolm McLaren | play_arrow | People who immediately get it when they hear the name Malcolm McLaren… |
| 47east | Made You LookNas | play_arrow | Characterized by a powerful beat and striking phrases, this co… |
| 48east | Paid In Full (Seven Minutes Of Madness – The Coldcut Remix)Eric B. & Rakim | play_arrow | In hip-hop, there’s the Golden Age hip… |
| 49east | Let The Sunshine InJames Last | play_arrow | German composer James Last... |
| 50east | Going Back To CaliLL Cool J | play_arrow | As expected, his tracks are insanely slick… |
| 51east | U.F.OESG | play_arrow | A distinctive funk beat and a simple melod... |
| 52east | Break DownTony B | play_arrow | Because in breakdancing, hitting the beats (musical accents) is highly valued... |
| 53east | BOOM!The Roots | play_arrow | Characterized by a powerful, energetic beat… |
| 54east | Think (About It)Lyn Collins | play_arrow | Lyn Collins’s globally sampled track |
| 55east | Straight Outta ComptonN.W.A | play_arrow | A legend you can't avoid when talking about hip-hop... |
| 56east | Beat Box (Diversion 1)Art Of Noise | play_arrow | A big, intricately chopped piece crafted with masterful use of the sampler... |
| 57east | The CreatorPete Rock & CL Smooth | play_arrow | Known to those in the know, a legendary hip… in New York |
| 58east | I Can Do This – Uptown MixMonie Love | play_arrow | This is a catchy funk! Brea— |
| 59east | Planet RockAfrika Bambaataa | play_arrow | The founding father of hip-hop, Afrika Bambaataa… |
| 60east | Fight The PowerPublic Enemy | play_arrow | Public Enemy, who pioneered the hip-hop scene… |
| 61east | Rapper’s DelightThe Sugarhill Gang | play_arrow | Funky hip-hop. By the way, “Hi… |
| 62east | The Rockafeller SkankFatboy Slim | play_arrow | This track, when it comes to old-school hip-hop, is... |
| 63east | Get On The Good FootJames Brown | play_arrow | Once I start introducing JB’s songs, there’s no end to it… |
| 64east | Funkier Than a Mosquito’s TweeterNina Simone | play_arrow | Here comes a track that epitomizes the very essence of funk and soul... |
| 65east | Electric KingdomTwilight 22 | play_arrow | Known as a pioneer of electro-funk… |
| 66east | Police WomanHenry Mancini | play_arrow | ...skillfully incorporating elements of funk and soul. |
| 67east | The Learning (Burn) ft Big Noyd & Vita [JAY-Z Diss]Mobb Deep | play_arrow | The duo with an alluring low, deep voice, Mob De… |
| 68east | Beats To The RhymeRun-D.M.C. | play_arrow | King of hip-hop, call and response… |
| 69east | R-9Cybotron | play_arrow | Electro music from Detroit… |
| 70east | Sound of da PoliceKrs-One | play_arrow | With gritty sampling and razor-sharp breakbeats... |
| 71east | Love The Life You Live (Pt. 1 & 2)Kool and The Gang | play_arrow | A legendary fan with a career spanning over 50 years… |
| 72east | So Whatcha Sayin’EPMD | play_arrow | As a legend in the hip-hop scene... |
| 73east | I’ll Be (ft. JAY-Z)Foxy Brown | play_arrow | A leading figure in New York’s hip-hop scene... |
| 74east | It’s Like ThatRUN DMC, Jason Nevins | play_arrow | In the music video, they look like they're having fun dancing in a circle... |


play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow