What are the best songs for breakdancing?

May 13, 2005 9:43 AM

I'm looking for the best songs ever recorded for breakdancing. Old Skool especially (I.e. "Beat Box" by Art of Noise or "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock)
posted by jeremias to Media & Arts (16 answers total)

It's Like That - Run DMC
posted by Jairus at 10:25 AM on May 13, 2005

On a relatively nu-skool tip, anything by Jackal & Hyde. See if you can preview Seek & Destory or their Go Bang! remix somewhere.
posted by mnology at 10:47 AM on May 13, 2005

These are a lot of the electro classics that I play:

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Looking For The Perfect Beat
Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock
Cybotron - Clear
Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music
Egyptian Lover - Egypt, Egypt
Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock
Freestyle - The Party Has Just Begun
Grand Master Flash - Scorpio
Jamie Jupitor (Egyptian Lover) - Computer Power
Newcleus - Jam On It
Planet Patrol - Play At Your Own Risk
Pretty Tony - Jam The Box
Shannon - Let The Music Play
Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom
Twilight 22 - Siberian Nights
World Class Wreckin' Cru - Juice
posted by p3t3 at 10:50 AM on May 13, 2005

I have nothing to add, because p3t3 already added them all. Excellent list, my friend.
posted by felix at 10:57 AM on May 13, 2005

Also there was an old record label called Street Sounds that put out a series of (now highly saught after) compilations called "Street Sounds Electro" which highlighted many classics of the old breakdance electro.
posted by p3t3 at 10:57 AM on May 13, 2005

Mantronix!
posted by Succa at 11:05 AM on May 13, 2005

Al-Naafiysh (The Soul), by Hashim is pretty much the only thing I can think of not posted.
posted by bobot at 11:06 AM on May 13, 2005

"Tour de France" by Kraftwerk? I seem to remember that was on one of those breakdance compilations.
posted by kindall at 11:10 AM on May 13, 2005

^Kraftwerk reminded me of a related anecdote (if thats allowed on askmefi):

I saw Grandmasterflash on a music panel at some symposium and someone asked him about Kraftwerk; his response was basically "Oh yeah, I used to play those records when I wanted to go to the bathroom or talk to the ladies. All the other records only had a couple minutes that are good for dj's, but that kraftwerk stuff was already edited to just the beats".. gave me a bit of a laugh :)

Also Kraftwerk - "Numbers" is a good one
posted by p3t3 at 11:17 AM on May 13, 2005

Yeah, anything Kraftwerk. On the same note, but for a newer sound, anything Orbital.

and what p3t3 said.
posted by rxrfrx at 11:45 AM on May 13, 2005

The first song that came to mind for me was (as Jairus said) Run DMC's "It's Like That" - some guy named Jason Nevins did a remix; the video used to play on MTV and featured two squads having a breakdance contest. Although that makes me think of Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By" - with the whole video being pretty much some guy breakdancing to the song.

Sadly, I never have learned to breakdance, so I don't know what works well and doesn't. But judging by some of the previous suggestions, I would also throw in Daft Punk, and maybe even some Fatboy Slim.

Ooh! Ooh! And what about the soundtrack to Breakin'? And Breakin' 2: The Electric Boogaloo!?

Sorry.
posted by attercoppe at 6:41 PM on May 13, 2005

There's a double CD I have called Electro Breakdance - The Real Old School Revival that has alot of the songs mentioned in this thread on it. It's a great compilation.
posted by rfs at 8:30 PM on May 13, 2005

Break Machine!
posted by mr.marx at 9:09 AM on May 14, 2005

"Rapper's Delight" - Sugar Hill Gang
posted by SisterHavana at 9:29 AM on May 14, 2005

Warp 9 - Light Years Away
Kilowatt - Kil-o-watt
Spoonie Gee - Monster Jam
Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom
Two Sisters - B-Boys Beware
posted by hydrophonic at 9:44 AM on May 14, 2005

The Jonzun Crew!
posted by vronsky at 11:45 AM on May 14, 2005