The Break Down #1: Detroit Emeralds – “You’re Getting a Little Too Smart” By Frost Gamble

“The Break Down” analyzes classic breaks and how they were used in Hip Hop over the years.  We also

During hip-hop’s golden years, a producer wasn’t judged by how many plug-ins, rack modules or keyboards he had – it was all about having a deep record collection to sample from. Drum breaks were of particular importance as the foundation for countless classics. In this series, I’ll look back at important drum breaks and how they were used by producers and artists over the last 20 years.

The Detroit Emeralds began as a vocal group, consisting of four brothers from Little Rock, AR – but by the time their 1973 Album I’m In Love With You dropped – they were down to two brothers, Ivory and Abrim Tilmon, plus band mate James Mitchell. The album’s cover makes it easily recognizable – emerald green border, emerald green suits – it looks something like a funky box of Lucky Charms. And Side A, Track 3 gives us one of the most recognizable drum breaks of all time. You’re Getting… hasn’t been used as much as say, Impeach the President or Amen, but the crisp snare, clean kick and open hi hat featured in the first four bars have been the basis for several great hip-hop songs.

The Detroit Emeralds – You’re Getting A Little Too Smart

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Master Ace – Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

To my knowledge, Marley Marl was the first to use this break on wax, for Master Ace’s “Keep Your Eyes On The Prize” off Marley’s ‘In Control Volume 1”. Ace was featured on 3 tracks on that landmark tape, and it would be almost two years before his first full-length LP (Take A Look Around) would drop. Keep your Eyes… is a positive, uplifting track – typical of that era – with Marley looping up the You’re Getting… melody as well as the drums.

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Main Source – Looking At The Front Door

Large Professor is on damn near everybody’s top 5 of all time list, and this track is a good example of why. Extra-P takes the drum loop and speeds it up, adding a shaker over top to give it a very different vibe. The main melody sample comes from “Think Twice” by Donald Byrd, with a vocal sample “Chick a Boom” by the Pazant Brothers and the Beaufort Express. As a bonus, check out Third Guitar’s “Baby Don’t You Cry” for the ill drum & vocal breakdown at the end of Main Source’s classic.

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Pazant Brothers and the Beaufort Express -Chick a Boom

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Donald Byrd – Think Twice

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Third Guitar -Baby Don’t You Cry

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Common – The Light

Dilla’s influence is all over Common’s 4th LP, Like Water For Chocolate, and on “The Light”, he flips those Too Smart drums into a beautiful track, combined with Bobby Caldwell’s soulful “Open Your Eyes”. If “Looking At The Front Door” is about how bad a relationship can be near its end – well, “The Light” is basically the opposite.

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Bobby Caldwell – Open Your Eyes

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Raekwon – Incarcerated Scarfaces

I love all these joints so far; but in my opinion, I saved the best for last. Raekwon’s Incarcerated Scarfaces is one of the standout cuts (well… really… they all stand out) off the epic Only Built For Cuban Linx. Just as the Purple Tape redefined the MC game for much of the 90’s, RZA simple use of the break with an stab from Koko Taylor’s “Wang Dang Doodle” redefined -or at least reminded us – of how an ill drum break can bring out the best in a real MC.

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Koko Taylor – Wang Dang Doodle

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Other Uses Worth Checking Out Again:
Chill Rob G – “Motivation”
Nas – “Silent Murder”
Keith Murray – “The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World”
Pete Rock & CL Smooth – “Tell Me”