Breakbeat (sometimes breakbeats or breaks) is a term used to describe a collection of sub-genres of electronic music,

 usually characterized by the use of a non-straightened 4/4 drum pattern (as opposed to the steady beat of house). 

These rhythms may be characterised by their intensive use of syncopation and polyrhythms.

 Traditionally, a 'break' is considered to be the part of a funk or jazz song during which the melody "breaks" to let the rhythm section, 

or soloist, play unaccompanied. Breakbeat (or funky breakbeat or broken beat) may also refer to the music of bands who play funk

 and soul music with an emphasis on the elements that became popular in hip-hop and later breaks-based music. 

This sound is characterized by slower tempos (80-110 bpm) and organic, "human" rhythms.

 It is sometimes differentiated by the term "broken beat".

 

In the mid 1970s Kraftwerk, released several songs [1] that would later become the blueprint for breakbeats. 

A few of those tracks were then used later to define the genre. Fast forward to the late 1970s and early 1980s, 

hip-hop turntablists, such as Kool DJ Herc, began using several breaks in a row to form the rhythmic base for hip-hop songs. 

Kool DJ Herc's breakbeat style was to play the same record on two turntables and play the break repeatedly by alternating between the two records. This style was copied and improved upon by early hip hop DJs Afrika Bambaataa and Grand Wizard Theodore.[2][dubious – discuss] This style was extremely popular in clubs and dance halls because the extended breakbeat provided breakdancers with more opportunities to showcase their skills.

In the early 1990s, acid house artists and producers started using breakbeat samples in their music to create breakbeat hardcore,

 also known as rave music.[chronology citation needed] The hardcore scene then diverged into sub-genres like jungle and drum and bass,

 which generally had a darker sound and focused more on complex sampled drum patterns. An example of this is Goldie's album Timeless.

 

In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore"[by whom?] emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to.

[dubious – discuss] Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave"[3]

 because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out, 

trance-like state that the standard, steady 4/4 beats of house enabled.

 

In recent times,[when?] the term breakbeat has become synonymous with the many genres of breaks music which have become popular within the global dance music scene, including big beat, nu skool breaks and progressive breaks. DJs from a variety of genres, including house and techno, work breaks tracks into their sets. This may occur because the tempo of breaks tracks (ranging from 110 to 150 beats per minute) means they can be readily mixed with these genres

Breakbeats are used in many hip hop, rap, jungle, and hardcore songs, and can also be heard in other music, from popular music to background music in car and jean commercials on the radio or TV. One of the largest Breaks nights north of London is Milton Keynes lead Beatcheck, set up in 2006

The Amen Break

The Amen Break, a drum break from The Winstons' song "Amen, Brother" is widely regarded as one of the most widely-used and sampled breaks among music using breakbeats.[5] This break was first used on "King of the Beats" by Mantronix, and has since been used in thousands of songs.[citation needed] Other popular breaks are from James Brown's "Funky Drummer" and "Give it Up or Turnit a Loose", The Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache", and Lyn Collins' "Think (About It)"