The Breaks Lyrics
[Intro]
Clap your hands everybody
If you got what it takes
'Cause I'm Kurtis Blow and I want you to know
That these are the breaks
[Hook 1]
Brakes on a bus, brakes on a car
Breaks to make you a superstar
Breaks to win and breaks to lose
But these here breaks will rock your shoes
And these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up!
[Verse 1]
If your woman steps out with another man
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And she runs off with him to Japan
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And the IRS says they want to chat
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And you can't explain why you claimed your cat
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And Ma Bell sends you a whopping bill
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
With 18 phone calls to Brazil
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And you borrowed money from the mob
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And yesterday you lost your job
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
Well, these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Clap your hands everybody
If you got what it takes
'Cause I'm Kurtis Blow and I want you to know
That these are the breaks
[Hook 1]
Brakes on a bus, brakes on a car
Breaks to make you a superstar
Breaks to win and breaks to lose
But these here breaks will rock your shoes
And these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up!
[Verse 1]
If your woman steps out with another man
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And she runs off with him to Japan
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And the IRS says they want to chat
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And you can't explain why you claimed your cat
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And Ma Bell sends you a whopping bill
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
With 18 phone calls to Brazil
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And you borrowed money from the mob
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And yesterday you lost your job
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
Well, these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up
[Bridge 1]
Throw your hands up in the sky
And wave 'em round from side to side
And if you deserve a break tonight
Somebody say alright! (All right)
Say ho-oo! (Ho-oo!)
You don't stop
Keep on, somebody scream! (Owwwww!)
Break down!
[Hook 2]
Breaks on a stage, breaks on a screen
Breaks to make your wallet lean
Breaks run cold and breaks run hot
Some folks got 'em and some have not
But these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Break down!
[Bridge 2]
To the girl in brown, stop messing around
(Break it up, break it up!)
To the guy in blue, whatcha gonna do?
(Break it up, break it up!)
And to the girl in green, don't be so mean
(Break it up, break it up!)
And the guy in red, say what I said
(Break it up, break it up!)
Break down!
Throw your hands up in the sky
And wave 'em round from side to side
And if you deserve a break tonight
Somebody say alright! (All right)
Say ho-oo! (Ho-oo!)
You don't stop
Keep on, somebody scream! (Owwwww!)
Break down!
[Hook 2]
Breaks on a stage, breaks on a screen
Breaks to make your wallet lean
Breaks run cold and breaks run hot
Some folks got 'em and some have not
But these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Break down!
[Bridge 2]
To the girl in brown, stop messing around
(Break it up, break it up!)
To the guy in blue, whatcha gonna do?
(Break it up, break it up!)
And to the girl in green, don't be so mean
(Break it up, break it up!)
And the guy in red, say what I said
(Break it up, break it up!)
Break down!
[Hook 3]
Brakes on a plane, brakes on a train
Breaks to make you go insane
Breaks in love, breaks in war
But we got the breaks to get you on the floor
And these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Break down! Yo!
[Interlude]
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
[Verse 2]
You say last week you met the perfect guy
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And he promised you the stars in the sky
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
He said his Cadillac was gold
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
But he didn't say it was 10 years old
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
He took you out to the Red Coach grill
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
But he forgot the cash and you paid the bill
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And he told you the story of his life
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
But he forgot the part about... his wife! Huh! Huh!
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
Well, these are the breaks!
Break it up, break it up, break it up!
Break down!
Brakes on a plane, brakes on a train
Breaks to make you go insane
Breaks in love, breaks in war
But we got the breaks to get you on the floor
And these are the breaks
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Break down! Yo!
[Interlude]
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!
[Verse 2]
You say last week you met the perfect guy
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And he promised you the stars in the sky
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
He said his Cadillac was gold
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
But he didn't say it was 10 years old
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
He took you out to the Red Coach grill
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
But he forgot the cash and you paid the bill
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
And he told you the story of his life
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
But he forgot the part about... his wife! Huh! Huh!
(That's the breaks, that's the breaks!)
Well, these are the breaks!
Break it up, break it up, break it up!
Break down!
About
Genius Annotation
Kurtis Blow’s classic song describes numerous unfortunate situations that people go through and have to deal with because, well, those are the breaks. Along the way he uses a variety of definitions of the word ‘breaks’ (and its homophone ‘brakes’).
This was the first rap song to have a chorus. And it was the first rap single to be certified Gold in August 1980.
In September 1980, “The Breaks” officially became the second rap single (the first released by a major label) to appear on the Hot 100, peaking at #87.
In 2012, Rolling Stone named it the #40 greatest hip hop song of all time).
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.The Breaks
- 3.Hard Times
- 4.Starlife
- 5.Tough
- 6.Daydreamin’
- 7.Party Time
- 10.AJ Scratch
- 11.Basketball
- 12.America
- 14.I’m Chillin’
Credits
Producers
Writers
Engineer
Label
Timbales
Clavinet
Piano
Arranger
Guitar
Electric Piano
Tom-Tom
Drums
Bass
Mastering Engineer
Assistant Engineer
Recorded At
Greene St. Recording, SoHo, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Released on
June 14, 1980
Songs That Sample The Breaks
The Taxman Cometh!! (Interlude) by MC Zappa, Scratch 22 (Jay-Rock's Theme) by Freestylers, Just the Way You Like It by Tasha Holiday (Ft. Ma$e), Why da Hell U Wanna Be a Basehead by G" Len (rapper), Love House by Samantha Fox, Chacarron by El Chombo, Hit List by Rodney O & Joe Cooley (Ft. General Jeff), El Vacilon Panameño by Carlito Y Mauricio, 1980 by The Hood Internet, Off The Wall by Tha Alkaholiks (Ft. Keith Murray), Loopzilla (Broadcast Version) by George Clinton, Loopzilla by George Clinton, Loopzilla (12" Version) by George Clinton, Check The O.R. by Organized Rhyme, Huevos Revueltos by Chancho En Piedra, Stop The Breaks by DJ Ron G (Ft. Killa Sin, KRS-One, The Notorious B.I.G., O.C. & Raekwon), History of Rap 2 by Jimmy Fallon (Ft. Justin Timberlake), AJ Scratch by Kurtis Blow, Breaker 1/9 by Common, Funkorama by Redman, No Brakes by E-Dubble, You Can Do It by Ice Cube (Ft. Mack 10 & Ms. Toi) & You Can Do It (Instrumental) by Ice Cube
Songs That Interpolate The Breaks
The Breaks by Nadanuf (Ft. Kurtis Blow), Ragots by Saïan Supa Crew, I'm Chillin' by Kurtis Blow, Nuthin' But Music by Krayzie Bone, If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) by Nas (Ft. Lauryn Hill), Check It Out by Wayne & Charlie (The Rapping Dummy), Brakes by De La Soul, Girl Like U by Snoop Dogg (Ft. Nelly), MC's Act Like They Don't Know by KRS-One, Double Trouble by The Roots (Ft. Yasiin Bey), Wifebeater by Xtra Naan, Viva Necro by Necro, Westside (Radio Edit) by TQ & Westside by TQ
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