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Breaking Atoms
Breaking Atoms
Studio album by Main Source

Released

July 23, 1991

Recorded

May 1990 - March 1991

Studio

Homeboy Recording Studios
(New York City, New York)
Power Play Studios
(Long Island, New York)
Libra Digital Studio
(Long Island City, New York City)

Genre

Jazz rap, East Coast hip hop, Conscious hip hop, Golden age hip hop, Alternative hip hop

Length

46:14

Label

Wild Pitch Records / EMI Records

Producer

Large Professor, Pete Rock (co.)

Main Source chronology

Next

Fuck What You Think (1994)

Breaking Atoms is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Main Source. It was released on July 23, 1991 through Wild Pitch Records and EMI Records. Recording sessions took place at Power Play Studios, Homeboy Recording Studios and Libra Digital Studio in New York City from May 1990 to March 1991. Production was handled primarily by Large Professor, with co-production from Pete Rock. It includes guest appearances from Nas, Joe Fatal and Akinyele. Breaking Atoms is distinguished stylistically by its incorporation of jazz and soul music samples. The album has been highly regarded by music writers due mostly to its production, with its heavy and original use of sampling influencing hip hop producers for a considerable portion of the 1990s.

The album peaked at #40 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. Breaking Atoms released the singles: "Peace Is Not the Word to Play", "Watch Roger Do His Thing", "Just Hangin' Out" and "Lookin' At the Front Door" (which both singles made it to Hot Rap Singles landing at #11 and #1, respectively). Upon Its release, Breaking Atoms received critical acclaim from music critics.


Track listing[]

All songs produced by Main Source, except for "Vamos a Rapiar", produced by Main Source and co-produced by Pete Rock.

No. Title Performer(s) Time
1. "Snake Eyes" Large Professor 3:30
2. "Just Hangin' Out" Large Professor 4:10
3. "Looking at the Front Door" Large Professor 4:10
4. "Large Professor" Large Professor 3:08
5. "Just a Friendly Game of Baseball" Large Professor 3:22
6. "Scratch & Kut" - 2:57
7. "Peace Is Not the Word to Play" Large Professor 3:07
8. "Vamos a Rapiar" Large Professor 3:59
9. "He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)" Large Professor 3:34
10. "Live at the Barbeque" Nas, Joe Fatal, Akinyele, Large Professor 4:35
11. "Watch Roger Do His Thing" Large Professor 4:22
12. "Just a Friendly Game of Baseball (Remix)" Large Professor 4:02

Notes

  • Bass performed by Anton Pukshansky.
  • Track 11 features keyboards performed by Robert "J.D. Drumsticks" Stevenson.


Samples[]

Snake Eyes

  • "Getting Nasty" by Ike Turner and The Kings of Rhythm
  • "Watermelon Man" by Johnnie Taylor
  • "Sweetback's Theme" by Melvin Van Peebles feat. Earth, Wind & Fire
  • "Mighty Mighty" by Jesse Anderson

Just Hangin' Out

  • "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy
  • "90% of Me Is You" by Vanessa Kendrick
  • "I Turn My Back on Love" by Skull Snaps
  • "Season of the Witch" by Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Stephen Stills

Looking At the Front Door

  • "You're Getting a Little Too Smart" by The Detroit Emeralds
  • "Think Twice" by Donald Byrd
  • "Chick A Boom" by The Pazant Brothers and The Beaufort Express
  • "Baby Don't Cry" by The Third Guitar

Large Professor

  • "The Champ" by The Mohawks
  • "High as Apple Pie-Slice II (Long Version)" by Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band

Just a Friendly Game of Baseball

  • "Pot Belly" by Lou Donaldson
  • "Mongoose" by Elephant's Memory
  • "Love That's America' by Melvin Van Peebles
  • "The Boss" and "You Mother You" by James Brown

Scratch & Kut

  • "Feel Like Making Love" by Bob James
  • "N.T." by Kool & the Gang

Peace Is Not the Word to Play

  • "T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care)" by MFSB
  • "Gettin' Down for Xmas" by Milly & Silly
  • "Britches" by The Meters

Vamos a Rapiar

  • "Repeat After Me" by The Three Sounds
  • "The Message From the Soul Sisters" by Myra Barnes

He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)

  • "Hey Joyce" by Lou Courtney
  • "Down and Dirty" by The Nite-Liters
  • "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins

Live at the Barbeque

  • "The Man Tries Running His Usual Game but..." by Melvin Van Peebles feat. Earth, Wind & Fire
  • "In the Land of Milk and Honey" by Vicki Anderson
  • "Nautilus" by Bob James

Watch Roger Do His Thing

  • "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic
  • "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone

Just a Friendly Game of Baseball (Remix)

  • "Didn't I Fool You" by Ruby Andrews
  • "It's Your Rock" by Fantasy Three
  • "Kool Is Back" by Funk, Inc.
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