"The Breaks" Handwritten Lyrics by Kurtis Blow

"The Breaks" handwritten lyrics by Kurtis Blow

Written on the back of the master tape reference sheet for the song, “Good to Go,” are Kurtis Blow’s original, handwritten lyrics for “The Breaks.” This sheet of paper reveals glimpses into Blow’s songwriting process. For example, at some point, he partially crossed out the popular lyric: Throw ya hands in the air, wav’ ‘em like you just don’t care, and substituted Throw ya hands in the sky, wav’ ‘em from side to side. Built on a rhythm track similar to the Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” recordings and live performances of “The Breaks” featured humorous lyrics, an enthusiastic background audience whose members can be heard laughing and shouting in true party spirit and culminated in the now-classic call-phrase: Everybody in the house say ‘Ho! 

One of the biggest hits of 1980, “The Breaks” was the first 12-inch hip-hop single to receive a gold record award by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).  Peaking at Number 4 on the R&B charts, the song also successfully crossed over into the pop arena, reaching Number 87 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles list and played an instrumental role in the rise of hip-hop party culture throughout the United States. 

Kurtis Blow went on to accomplish many other firsts including being the first rap artist to star in a national television commercial (Sprite, 1986), making the first rap video (“Basketball,” 1984), and acting in a soap opera (One Life to Live, 1991). He is also the founder of the International Hip-Hop Museum