Breakbeat Classics: From the Roots to Recent Hits [2026]

DittoNewJeans

NewJeans (뉴진스) ‘Ditto’ Performance Video

Have you ever held that aching wish to tell the one you like, “I feel the same way”? This song by NewJeans, the Korean group that debuted in 2022, pierces straight through the heart of that frustrating, tender feeling of love.

The soothing Baltimore club beat is like the very sound of the protagonist’s trembling heart.

As they grow anxious about a vague relationship and keep waiting, endlessly, to hear the same words from the other person, many listeners will surely find their own experiences reflected there.

Released ahead of the single “OMG” in December 2022, it became the fastest entry by a K-pop artist on the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100—proof of its soaring popularity.

Whether it stirs up bittersweet memories of youth or keeps you company on nights spent worrying about love, this song will surely be there, gently by your side.

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.

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.

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?

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.