Breaks

Breaks, or breakbeat, is an electronic music genre defined by its highly syncopated, binary rhythms and intense polyrhythms, creating a "broken beat" feel that contrasts with the steadier pulse of genres like house. Its origins lie in the funk and soul music of the United States, where early hip-hop DJs, notably DJ Kool Herc, pioneered the technique of isolating and looping instrumental "breaks" from existing records. Iconic artists whose work heavily influenced or exemplified early breaks include James Brown, Herbie Hancock, and Lyn Collins. This rhythmic foundation became crucial to the development of hip-hop and later spawned diverse electronic subgenres like drum and bass and big beat.