The Amen Break has been used in countless songs and remixes, with estimates suggesting that it has been used in over 5,000 tracks.
The Amen Break is often considered one of the most important samples in the history of hip-hop, with many producers and DJs citing it as a major influence on their work.
The Winstons, the group who recorded the original Amen Break, have been credited with creating one of the most widely used samples in music history, but they have not received significant financial compensation for its use.
There have been several efforts to raise awareness about the importance of the Amen Break and to give credit and compensation to The Winstons for their role in creating it.
Because of its widespread use, the Amen Break has been extensively remixed, looped and manipulated, resulting in the creation of
different variationsand sub-genres of the break.
The Amen Break has been used in popular TV shows and movies,
such as ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘The Big Lebowski’, and also in video
games like ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ and ‘Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4’.
The Amen Break has also been used in political campaigns, such as the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016
The Amen Break has been the subject of several documentaries and articles, which explore its history, cultural significance and
impact on the music industry.
The Amen Break has been used in many different cultures around the world, and its influence can be heard in the music of
many different countries.
The Amen Break is still widely used today, and continues to inspire new generations of musicians and producers.
In summary, the Amen Break is considered a one of the most important and widely used samples in the history of popular music. Despite its widespread use, the original creators of the sample, The Winstons, have not received significant financial compensation for it. The Amen Break has been the subject of much debate and discussion in the music industry, and continues to be an important and
influential sample in the music of today.
Mantronix and the Amen Break
Mantronix was an American hip-hop and electro-funk group formed in the early 1980s by DJ Kurtis Mantronik. The group was known for its use of drum machines, samples, and turntablism, and was considered one of the pioneers of early hip-hop. Their music featured heavily the use of the Amen Break, which was a staple in many of their tracks and helped to establish the group as one of the early innovators of the genre.
Mantronix's first album, "Mantronix: The Album," released in 1985, featured the Amen Break prominently in many of its tracks, including the hit single "Bassline." The use of the Amen Break in this song, helped to establish Mantronix as one of the leading groups in the emerging electro and Miami bass scene, and helped to bring the Amen Break to a wider audience. Mantronik's use of the Amen Break in his music was heavily influenced by his experiences as a DJ, and his interest in funk and soul music.
Mantronix's use of the Amen Break was not limited to hip-hop and electro-funk, they also used it in other genres such as house, techno, and breakbeat. They were known to cross-reference the Amen Break with other artist, which helped to bring different styles and influences into the hip-hop genre.
Mantronix's influence on the Amen Break in hip-hop music has been significant, and they have been credited with helping to establish the Amen Break as a fundamental element of the genre. Their work has been highly influential on other hip-hop producers, and their use of the Amen Break has been an important reference point for many other artists.
Despite Mantronix's music career was relatively short-lived, their influence on the use of the Amen Break in hip-hop and electronic music has been widely recognized. Their use of the Amen Break in their music was an important part of their artistic journey, and has helped to shape the genre as a whole.
In conclusion, Mantronix was an American hip-hop and electro-funk group formed in the early 1980s by DJ Kurtis Mantronik. The group was known for its use of drum machines, samples, and turntablism, and was considered one of the pioneers of early hip-hop. Their music heavily featured the use of the Amen Break which helped to establish the group as one of the early innovators of the genre. Mantronix's influence on the Amen Break in hip-hop music has been significant, and they have been credited with helping to establish the Amen Break as a fundamental element of the genre. Their work has been highly influential on other hip-hop producers, and their use of the Amen Break has been an important reference point for many other artists.
Hip-Hop and the Amen Break
Hip-hop is a genre of music that originated in the African American community in the Bronx, New York City, in the 1970s. It is characterized by its use of a strong beat, rapped vocals, and the use of samples, loops and turntablism. The Amen Break has played a significant role in the development of hip-hop music, and its use has been a defining element of the genre since its inception.
The Amen Break was first used in hip-hop music in the early days of the genre, when DJs began to use it as a foundation for their beats. The Amen Break's strong, driving beat and powerful energy made it an ideal sample for hip-hop music. It was used as the basis for many early hip-hop tracks, including Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" and Mantronix's "Bassline."
Hip-hop's use of the Amen Break was not limited to the early days of the genre. It has continued to be used in hip-hop music throughout the years, and it has been particularly prominent in the genres of old-school hip-hop, electro, and Miami bass. Many hip-hop producers continue to use the Amen Break in their music today, and it remains a staple of the genre.
The use of the Amen Break in hip-hop music has had a profound impact on the genre and has helped to establish it as a distinct and powerful form of music. The Amen Break's strong beat and energy have been key to the development of hip-hop music, and it has played an important role in the genre's evolution.
In conclusion, the Amen Break has played a significant role in the development of hip-hop music. It was first used in hip-hop in the early days of the genre, and its strong, driving beat and powerful energy made it an ideal sample for hip-hop music. The Amen Break has been a defining element of hip-hop music since its inception and continues to be used in the genre to this day. Its use has helped to establish hip-hop as a distinct and powerful form of music, and it has played an important role in the genre's evolution.
Techno and the Amen Break
Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit, Michigan in the United States in the mid-to-late 1980s. It is characterized by its repetitive beats, use of technology and futuristic themes. The Amen Break has had a significant impact on the development of techno music and its use has been a defining element of the genre.
The Amen Break was first used in techno music in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when techno producers began to incorporate it into their tracks. The Amen Break's strong, driving beat and powerful energy made it an ideal sample for techno music. It was used as the basis for many early techno tracks, including tracks by artists such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson.
Techno's use of the Amen Break was not limited to the early days of the genre. It has continued to be used in techno music throughout the years, and it has been particularly prominent in the sub-genres of Detroit techno, acid techno, and experimental techno. Many techno producers continue to use the Amen Break in their music today, and it remains a staple of the genre.
The use of the Amen Break in techno music has had a profound impact on the genre and has helped to establish it as a distinct and powerful form of music. The Amen Break's strong beat and energy have been key to the development of techno music, and it has played an important role in the genre's evolution.
In conclusion, the Amen Break has had a significant impact on the development of techno music. It was first used in techno in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and its strong, driving beat and powerful energy made it an ideal sample for techno music. The Amen Break has been a defining element of techno music since its inception and continues to be used in the genre to this day. Its use has helped to establish techno as a distinct and powerful form of music, and it has played an important role in the genre's evolution.
The Amen Breakbeat has been featured in countless songs and remixes,
here are some popular breakbeat / records:
"Amen Brother" - The Winstons
"Planet Rock" - Afrika Bambaataa
"Bassline" - Mantronix
"The Big Beat" - Billy Squier
"The Incredible Bongo Band" - Apache
"King of the Beats" - Mantronix
"Bring the Noise" - Public Enemy
"It's a New Day" - Skull Snaps
"Funky Drummer" - James Brown
"Think (About It)" - Lyn Collins
"Good Vibrations" - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
"The 900 Number" - The 45 King
"The Payback" - James Brown
"The Bridge" - MC Shan
"Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)" - Run-DMC
"Nautilus" - Bob James
"The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" - GMF
"Apache" - Incredible Bongo Band
"Atomic Dog" - George Clinton
"The Message" - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
"Funky President (People It's Bad)" - James Brown
"The New Style" - Beastie Boys
"The Crown" - LL Cool J
"The Show" - Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
"Rebel Without a Pause" - Public Enemy
"The Breaks" - Kurtis Blow
"Rapper's Delight" - The Sugarhill Gang
"Eric B. Is President" - Eric B. & Rakim
"Fight the Power" - Public Enemy
"It Takes Two" - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
"Ain't No Half Steppin" - Big Daddy Kane
"The Show" - Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
"Bring the Noise" - Public Enemy
"The Breaks" - Kurtis Blow
USA and the Amen Break
The Amen Break has played a significant role in the development of popular music in the United States, particularly in the genres of hip-hop, techno, and drum and bass. The sample, which was first popularized in the early days of hip-hop, has been used extensively in American music, and it has been an important element in the evolution of these genres.
In the early days of hip-hop, the Amen Break was used as the foundation for many tracks, and it helped to establish the genre as a distinct and powerful form of music. Artists such as Afrika Bambaataa and Mantronix were among the first to use the Amen Break in their music, and their work was highly influential on other hip-hop producers. The Amen Break's strong beat and energy helped to establish hip-hop as a genre, and it has played an important role in the genre's evolution.
The Amen Break has also been used extensively in techno music, particularly in the sub-genres of Detroit techno and acid techno. The sample's strong, driving beat and powerful energy made it an ideal sample for techno music, and it has helped to establish the genre as a distinct and powerful form of music. Artists such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson were among the first to use the Amen Break in their techno music and their work was highly influential on other techno producers.
In drum and bass, The Amen Break has been used extensively and has become a staple of the genre. The sample's strong, driving beat and powerful energy made it an ideal sample for drum and bass music and it has helped to establish the genre as a distinct and powerful form of music. The Amen Break's use in drum and bass has been particularly prominent in the United States, with American producers and DJs such as Goldie, LTJ Bukem, and DJ Craze.
In conclusion, the Amen Break has played a significant role in the development of popular music in the United States, particularly in the genres of hip-hop, techno, and drum and bass. The sample was first popularized in the early days of hip-hop, and it has been used extensively in American music. It has been an important element in the evolution of these genres and continues to be widely used in music production today. The Amen Break's strong beat and energy have been key to the development of these genres, and it has played an important role in their evolution.
Europe and the Amen Break
The Amen Break has played a significant role in the development of popular music in Europe, particularly in the genres of drum and bass, jungle, and breakbeat. The sample, which was first popularized in the United States, has been widely used in European music, and it has been an important element in the evolution of these genres.
One interesting aspect of the Amen Break's use in Europe is the way it has been incorporated into different musical styles and sub-genres. For example, in France, the Amen Break has been used in the production of hard techno, with artists such as Amelie Lens and Charlotte de Witte incorporating it into their tracks. In Germany, the Amen Break has been used extensively in the production of experimental and avant-garde electronic music, with artists such as Monolake and Elektrochemie LK using it in their compositions. Belgium has also seen the Amen Break being used in the production of experimental electronic music, with Raveyards and DJ Overdose being notable examples of artists that have incorporated it into their music.
Another interesting aspect of the Amen Break's use in Europe is the way it has been used in the production of music that has a strong emphasis on live performance. For example, in the UK, the Amen Break has been used extensively in the production of live drum and bass and jungle performances, with acts such as DJ Hype and Grooverider using it in their live sets. In France, the Amen Break has been used in
the production of live techno performances, with Amelie
Lens and Charlotte de Witte being notable examples of
artists that have incorporated it into their live sets.
The Amen Break is a six-second drum sample from the song
"Amen, Brother" by the 1960s funk and soul group
The Winstons. It is considered one of the most widely used
and influential drum breaks in popular music, having been
used in countless songs across various genres.
Origins of the Amen Break
The Amen Break was first recorded in 1969 as a B-side to The Winstons' single "Color Him Father." The song was a moderate hit, but it was the drum break, played by drummer Gregory C. Coleman, that would become the real star. In the early days of hip-hop, DJs began to use the Amen Break as a foundation for their beats, leading to its widespread use in the genre.
The Amen Break in Hip-Hop
The Amen Break quickly became a staple in hip-hop music, particularly in the genres of old-school hip-hop, electro, and Miami bass. It was used as the basis for many early hip-hop tracks, including Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" and Mantronix's "Bassline." Many hip-hop producers continue to use the Amen Break in their music today.
The Amen Break in Other Genres
The Amen Break's influence can be heard in many other genres of music, including drum and bass, jungle, breakbeat, and trip-hop. It has also been used in rock, funk, and even pop music. In the 90s and 2000s, many electronic music producers started to use the Amen break as a foundation for their tracks, as well as in more experimental genres like IDM, footwork, and drill.
The Amen Break Around the World
The Amen Break has been used in music from all around the world, and it has been particularly influential in the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. In the UK, the Amen Break has been used in drum and bass, jungle, and breakbeat music, while in the US it has been used in hip-hop and Miami bass. In France, it has been used in the genre of French touch. Artists from these countries have been known to cross reference each other's use of the Amen Break, which has resulted in a global exchange of ideas and styles.
Amen Choppage
In terms of how the Amen Break beat is chopped, it involves taking the original drum loop and manipulating it by cutting
and rearranging the individual drum hits. This can be done manually by physically cutting the tape or digitally using a sampler or audio editing software. The result is a new, unique rhythm that can be used as the foundation for a new track.
In conclusion, the Amen Break has played a significant role in the development of popular music in Europe, particularly in the genres of drum and bass, jungle, and breakbeat. Its incorporation into different musical styles and sub-genres and its use in live performance are two of the most interesting aspects of its use in Europe.
Programming the Amen Break involves taking the original drum loop and manipulating it by cutting and rearranging the individual drum hits. This process is known as chopping and it can be done manually by physically cutting the tape or digitally using a sampler or audio editing software. The chopped Amen Break can then be rearranged to create new rhythms and beats, giving the producer a wide range of options for their production.
One way to chop the Amen Break is by using a digital audio workstation (DAW) and a sample editor. In the DAW, the Amen Break is loaded and the sample editor is used to select and chop the individual drum hits. These chopped samples can then be rearranged and programmed into new patterns to create new beats. This method is widely used by producers and DJs, and it allows for a high degree of precision and control
over the final product.
Another way to chop the Amen Break is by using a hardware sampler. Hardware samplers work similarly to software samplers, but they are standalone devices that can be connected to a mixing console or a computer. They can also be used to manipulate and chop the Amen Break in real-time, which allows for a high degree of creativity and improvisation.
Other notable breakbeats include the "Funky Drummer" break, which was used by James Brown and has been sampled by numerous hip-hop and electronic music producers. The "Apache" break, which was used by the Incredible Bongo Band, has also been widely used in hip-hop and
drum and bass music.
Despite its widespread use, the Amen Break will not be the "final amen" in terms of its influence on music production. As technology continues to advance and new samples and breaks are discovered, producers will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with breakbeat music. Additionally, new music genres will continue to emerge and evolve, and the Amen Break and other classic breakbeats will
continue to be an important part of the music landscape.
To chop an Amen Break beat and use it in a record,
ou will need a few basic tools:
A digital audio workstation (DAW) such as Ableton Live,
FL Studio, Pro Tools or (TRACKER) OctaMED, RENOISE.
The Amen Break in audio file format, which can be found online
or purchased from a sample library SD2 , AIFF, WAV , REX.
A sound editor or sampler plugin for your DAW, such as Native Instruments' Kontakt or Ableton's Simpler.
Once you have these tools, you can follow these basic steps:
Import the Amen Break audio file into your DAW.
Use the sound editor or sampler plugin to chop the beat into smaller pieces. This can be done by using the "slicing" function in the plugin, or by manually selecting and cutting the audio.
Once you have chopped the beat into smaller pieces, you can arrange them in your DAW to create a new drum pattern or rhythm.
Add other elements to your track, such as synths,
basslines,and vocals.
Mix and master your track to finalize it for release.
Note: The process of chopping a breakbeat can be complex and time consuming, it may take some practice to master it.
Please keep in mind that some samples may be copyrighted, it is important to make sure that you have the proper rights and licenses
to use them in your music before releasing it commercially.
Created with OpenAI 23.01.23
