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''Breaking Atoms'' is the first album by American/Canadian
hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
group Main Source, released in January 4th, 1991 on
Wild Pitch Records Wild Pitch Records was an American Golden age hip hop record label, started in 1987 by Stuart Fine, that was eventually distributed by EMI. Artists who released records on the label included Gang Starr, Chill Rob G, Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smoot ...
. It was produced by the group, primarily by member
Large Professor William Paul Mitchell (born March 21, 1972), better known by the stage name of Large Professor (also Extra P. and Large Pro), is an American rapper and music producer. Based in New York City, he is known as a founding member of the underground ...
, with recording sessions taking place during 1990–1991 at Homeboy Studio, Power Play Studios, and Libra Digital in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. ''Breaking Atoms'' is distinguished stylistically by its incorporation of
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
and
soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in African-American culture, African-American African-American neighborhood, communities throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps ...
samples. The album has been highly regarded by music writers due mostly to its production, whose heavy and original use of sampling influenced hip hop producers for a considerable portion of the 1990s. The album has been widely regarded by writers and music critics as a significantly influential album and has been noted for debuting rapper
Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air (S ...
, who appears on the track "Live at the Barbeque".Scholtes, Peter S
Review: ''Breaking Atoms''
. ''
City Pages ''City Pages'' was an alternative newspaper serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area. It featured news, film, theatre and restaurant reviews and music criticism, available free every Wednesday. It ceased publication in 2020 due to a ...
''. Retrieved on 2009-08-15.
His contribution to the song was sampled on "The Genesis", the intro track to his debut album ''
Illmatic ''Illmatic'' (stylized in lowercase) is the debut studio album by the American rapper Nas, released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992 and 1993 at Chung ...
'' (1994). ''Breaking Atoms'' has been recognized as one of the most important records in hip hop history, and was out of print in the United States after the demise of Wild Pitch Records in 1997. It was reissued on April 22, 2008, through Fontana Distribution.


Music

''Breaking Atoms'' was produced using the
E-mu SP-1200 The E-mu SP-1200 is a sampling drum machine designed by Dave Rossum and released in August 1987 by E-mu Systems. Like its predecessor, the SP-12, it was designed as a drum machine featuring user sampling. The distinctive character of its so ...
.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
's Steve Huey writes that the album's acclaim lies mostly in its production, which popularized a number of now widely imitated techniques. Huey describes that the "intricately constructed tracks are filled with jazz and soul samples, layered percussion, off-kilter sampling effects, and an overall sonic richness." ''RapReviews'' also notes that the beats are the cornerstone of the record. Dan Nishimoto of ''
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'' considers the album's sampling to be "neatly layered, its subject matter is modest, and its overall tone is simply well executed fun." In his book ''Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide'', Oliver Wang writes that
Large Professor William Paul Mitchell (born March 21, 1972), better known by the stage name of Large Professor (also Extra P. and Large Pro), is an American rapper and music producer. Based in New York City, he is known as a founding member of the underground ...
as a producer "thinks in complete song structure, never focusing on one single element—a loop, a
break Break or Breaks or The Break may refer to: Time off from duties * Recess (break), time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties * Break (work), time off during a shift/recess ** Coffee break, a short mid-morning rest ...
—but always juggling them in unison."Wang, Oliver
Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide
(published 2003), p. 34,


Reception

Upon its release, ''Breaking Atoms'' received critical acclaim. J the Sultan of ''
The Source The Source may refer to: Film and television * ''The Source'' (1918 film), 1918 American drama directed by George Melford * ''The Source'' (1999 film), a 1999 documentary film about the Beat generation * ''The Source'' (2002 film), a 2002 scienc ...
'' hailed it as "New York hip-hop at its best", praising its "slamming beats and smooth, nod-your-head-to-this grooves thick with jazz-infused samples", as well as the "clever rhymes that you want to follow word-for-word." ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
''s James Bernard wrote that "Main Source may not break much new ground, but toffer a clever, quietly seductive collection in which the bass and drum tracks casually strut instead of stomp, and the sparse samples of guitar and horns allow the Large Professor's voice to take center stage." ''
The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local, regional, national, and international news. Founded in 1837, the newspaper was owned by Tribune Publi ...
'' said that "Main Source understands how to compliment the depth of its rhymes by stressing the complexity of its music". Since its initial reception, the album has received retrospective acclaim from writers and music critics.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
writer Steve Huey declared it "one of the quintessential cult classics in hip-hop history". In 2004's ''
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...
'', Peter Relic wrote that "From the candy-colored cover depicting the three members crowded around a fantasy science project to the uptempo beats and matching fast raps, it's a period piece whose meticulous presentation... make it an enduring pleasure from a bygone era." ''
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'' Dan Nishimoto called it "deliberately smart and rough" and praised the varied scope of its production and sampling.Nishimoto, Dan
Call and Response - Pickin' Up the Pieces: Sampling from the Great Producers
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
. Retrieved on 2009-08-15.
''RapReviews'' notes that many acknowledge ''Breaking Atoms'' to be on a similar level to
Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air (S ...
' ''
Illmatic ''Illmatic'' (stylized in lowercase) is the debut studio album by the American rapper Nas, released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992 and 1993 at Chung ...
'' (1994) and
A Tribe Called Quest A Tribe Called Quest was an American Hip hop music, hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985,Q-Tip< ...
's first three albums.


Accolades

''SoundProof'' magazine lists the album at number sixteen in "The Top 20 Toronto Albums Ever" and
About.com Dotdash Meredith (formerly The Mining Company, About.com and Dotdash) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, hom ...
's Henry Adaso lists it at number twenty in the "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums".Adaso, Henry
100 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums
.
About.com Dotdash Meredith (formerly The Mining Company, About.com and Dotdash) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, hom ...
. Retrieved on 2009-08-15.
In 1998, ''The Source'' selected the album as one of its 100 Best Rap Albums.Staff. "". ''The Source'': Issue 100. January 1998. Initially giving a four-and-a-half out of five "mic" rating, ''The Source'' gave the album a five "mic" rating in a retrospective list of "5 Mic Hip-Hop Classics" in its 150th issue. The album was named as one of two jury vote winners, alongside
Buffy Sainte-Marie Buffy Sainte-Marie (born Beverley Jean Santamaria; February 20, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and social activist. Sainte-Marie's singing and writing repertoire includes subjects of love, war, religion, and mysticism, and h ...
's '' It's My Way!'', of the Polaris Heritage Prize at the
2020 Polaris Music Prize The 2020 edition of the Canada, Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on October 19, 2020. The longlist was announced on June 15, 2020, with the shortlist following on July 15, 2020 and the winner announced on October 19, 2020. Due to the CO ...
."2020 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize Winners Named"
''FYI Music News'', November 16, 2020.


Track listing

*All tracks produced by Main Source, except #8 co-produced by
Pete Rock Peter O. Phillips (born June 21, 1970), better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapping, rapper. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, and is often mentioned along ...
.


Personnel

*Main Source – producer, mixing *Large Professor – vocals *K-Cut – turntables *Sir Scratch – turntables *Pete Rock – associate producer *Joe Fatal – rap *Akinyele – rap *Nas – rap *Peter Bodtke – photography *Terry Clarke – design, cover art concept *Amy Fine – art direction *Chris Gehringer – mastering *Tony Papa Michael – engineer *Anton Pukshansky – bass, engineer, mixing


Singles


Chart history


Album


Singles


References


External links

*
Breaking Atoms
' at
Discogs Discogs ( ; short for " discographies") is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Database contents are user-generated, and described in ''T ...

Album Review
at Oh Word {{Authority control 1991 debut albums Main Source albums Wild Pitch Records albums Albums produced by Pete Rock Albums produced by Large Professor Albums produced by K-Cut (producer)