Breaking Atoms is the debut album of American/Canadian hip hop group Main Source, released July 23, 1991, on Wild Pitch Records. Production was handled by the group, primarily by member Large Professor, and took place during 1990 to 1991 at Homeboy Studio, Power Play Studios, and Libra Digital in New York City. Recorded during the golden age of hip hop, Breaking Atoms is distinguished stylistically by its incorporation of jazz and soul musicsamples.[1] 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.
"Peace Is Not the Word to Play" Released: October 22, 1991
The album has been widely regarded by writers and music critics as a significantly influential album and has been noted for debuting rapper Nas, who appears on the track "Live at the Barbeque".[2][3] His contribution to the song was sampled on "The Genesis", the intro track to his debut album Illmatic (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.
Breaking Atoms was produced using the E-mu SP-1200.[1]Allmusic'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."[1] RapReviews also notes that the beats are the cornerstone of the record.[4] Dan Nishimoto of PopMatters considers the album's sampling to be "neatly layered, its subject matter is modest, and its overall tone is simply well executed fun."[5] In his book Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide, Oliver Wang writes that Large Professor as a producer "thinks in complete song structure, never focusing on one single element—a loop, a break—but always juggling them in unison."[6]
Upon its release, Breaking Atoms received critical acclaim. J the Sultan of The Source 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."[8]Entertainment Weekly's James Bernard wrote that "Main Source may not break much new ground, but [it] offer[s] 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."[7]
Since its initial reception, the album has received retrospective acclaim from writers and music critics. AllMusic writer Steve Huey declared it "one of the quintessential cult classics in hip-hop history".[1] In 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, 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."[2]PopMatters' Dan Nishimoto called it "deliberately smart and rough" and praised the varied scope of its production and sampling.[5]RapReviews notes that many acknowledge Breaking Atoms to be on a similar level to Nas' Illmatic (1994) and A Tribe Called Quest's first three albums.[4]
Accoladesedit
SoundProof magazine lists the album at number sixteen in "The Top 20 Toronto Albums Ever" and About.com's Henry Adaso lists it at number twenty in the "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums".[9] In 1998, The Source selected the album as one of its 100 Best Rap Albums.[10] Initially giving a four-and-a-half out of five "mic" rating,[8]The Source gave the album a five "mic" rating in a retrospective list of "5 Mic Hip-Hop Classics" in its 150th issue.[11]
breaking, atoms, debut, album, american, canadian, group, main, source, released, july, 1991, wild, pitch, records, production, handled, group, primarily, member, large, professor, took, place, during, 1990, 1991, homeboy, studio, power, play, studios, libra, . Breaking Atoms is the debut album of American Canadian hip hop group Main Source released July 23 1991 on Wild Pitch Records Production was handled by the group primarily by member Large Professor and took place during 1990 to 1991 at Homeboy Studio Power Play Studios and Libra Digital in New York City Recorded during the golden age of hip hop Breaking Atoms is distinguished stylistically by its incorporation of jazz and soul music samples 1 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 Breaking AtomsStudio album by Main SourceReleasedJuly 23 1991Recorded1989 1990StudioHomeboy Studio Power Play Studios Libra Digital New York New York GenreEast Coast hip hop alternative hip hopLength46 14LabelWild PitchEMIProducerMain SourcePete RockMain Source chronologyBreaking Atoms 1991 Fuck What You Think 1994 Singles from Breaking Atoms Looking at the Front Door Released October 25 1990 Watch Roger Do His Thing Released 1990 Just Hangin Out Released May 14 1991 Peace Is Not the Word to Play Released October 22 1991 The album has been widely regarded by writers and music critics as a significantly influential album and has been noted for debuting rapper Nas who appears on the track Live at the Barbeque 2 3 His contribution to the song was sampled on The Genesis the intro track to his debut album Illmatic 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 Contents 1 Music 2 Reception 2 1 Accolades 3 Track listing 4 Personnel 5 Singles 6 Chart history 6 1 Album 6 2 Singles 7 References 8 External linksMusic editBreaking Atoms was produced using the E mu SP 1200 1 Allmusic 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 1 RapReviews also notes that the beats are the cornerstone of the record 4 Dan Nishimoto of PopMatters considers the album s sampling to be neatly layered its subject matter is modest and its overall tone is simply well executed fun 5 In his book Classic Material The Hip Hop Album Guide Oliver Wang writes that Large Professor as a producer thinks in complete song structure never focusing on one single element a loop a break but always juggling them in unison 6 Reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 1 Entertainment WeeklyB 7 RapReviews10 10 4 The Rolling Stone Album Guide nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 2 The Source4 5 5 8 Upon its release Breaking Atoms received critical acclaim J the Sultan of The Source 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 8 Entertainment Weekly s James Bernard wrote that Main Source may not break much new ground but it offer s 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 7 Since its initial reception the album has received retrospective acclaim from writers and music critics AllMusic writer Steve Huey declared it one of the quintessential cult classics in hip hop history 1 In 2004 s The New Rolling Stone Album Guide 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 2 PopMatters Dan Nishimoto called it deliberately smart and rough and praised the varied scope of its production and sampling 5 RapReviews notes that many acknowledge Breaking Atoms to be on a similar level to Nas Illmatic 1994 and A Tribe Called Quest s first three albums 4 Accolades edit SoundProof magazine lists the album at number sixteen in The Top 20 Toronto Albums Ever and About com s Henry Adaso lists it at number twenty in the 100 Greatest Hip Hop Albums 9 In 1998 The Source selected the album as one of its 100 Best Rap Albums 10 Initially giving a four and a half out of five mic rating 8 The Source gave the album a five mic rating in a retrospective list of 5 Mic Hip Hop Classics in its 150th issue 11 The album was named as one of two jury vote winners alongside Buffy Sainte Marie s It s My Way of the Polaris Heritage Prize at the 2020 Polaris Music Prize 12 Track listing editAll tracks produced by Main Source except 8 co produced by Pete Rock No TitleLength1 Snake Eyes 3 302 Just Hangin Out 4 103 Looking at the Front Door 4 104 Large Professor 3 085 Just a Friendly Game of Baseball 3 226 Scratch amp Kut 2 577 Peace Is Not the Word to Play 3 078 Vamos a Rapiar featuring Joe Fatal 3 599 He Got So Much Soul He Don t Need No Music 3 3410 Live at the Barbeque featuring Nas Joe Fatal and Akinyele 4 3511 Watch Roger Do His Thing 4 2212 Just a Friendly Game of Baseball Remix bonus 4 02Personnel editCredits for Breaking Atoms adapted from AllMusic 13 Joe Fatal rap Akinyele rap Peter Bodtke photography Terry Clarke design cover art concept Amy Fine art direction Chris Gehringer mastering K Cut turntables Large Professor vocals Main Source producer mixing Tony Papa Michael engineer Nas rap Anton Pukshansky bass engineer mixing Pete Rock associate producer Sir Scratch turntablesSingles editTitle Single information Looking at the Front Door Released October 25 1990 B side Watch Roger Do His Thing Watch Roger Do His Thing Released 1990 B side The Large Professor Just Hangin Out Released May 14 1991 B side Live at the Barbeque Peace Is Not the Word to Play Released October 22 1991 B side Video Remix InstrumentalChart history editAlbum edit Chart 1991 Peakposition U S Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums 14 40 Singles edit Year Single Peak position 15 Hot Rap Singles 1990 Just Hangin Out 11 Looking at the Front Door 1References edit a b c d e Jacobs Qa id Breaking Atoms Main Source AllMusic Retrieved August 15 2009 a b c Relic Peter 2004 Main Source In Brackett Nathan Hoard Christian eds The New Rolling Stone Album Guide 4th ed Simon amp Schuster p 510 ISBN 0 7432 0169 8 Retrieved August 15 2009 Scholtes Peter S Review Breaking Atoms Archived February 26 2010 at the Wayback Machine City Pages Retrieved on 2009 08 15 a b c Mennella Dan June 22 2004 Main Source Breaking Atoms Wild Pitch Records RapReviews Retrieved August 15 2009 a b Nishimoto Dan Call and Response Pickin Up the Pieces Sampling from the Great Producers PopMatters Retrieved on 2009 08 15 Wang Oliver Classic Material The Hip Hop Album Guide published 2003 p 34 ISBN 1 55022 561 8 a b Bernard James April 19 1991 Breaking Atoms Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 21 2009 Retrieved August 15 2009 a b c Shecter Jonathan J the Sultan May 1991 Main Source Breaking Atoms The Source 20 56 Adaso Henry 100 Greatest Hip Hop Albums Archived 2009 09 04 at the Wayback Machine About com Retrieved on 2009 08 15 Staff 100 Best Rap Albums The Source Issue 100 January 1998 Kazeem August 4 2010 The Complete List Of 5 Mic Hip Hop Classics The Source Retrieved on 2010 12 23 2020 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize Winners Named FYI Music News November 16 2020 Credits Breaking Atoms Allmusic Retrieved on 2009 08 15 Billboard Albums Breaking Atoms Allmusic Retrieved on 2009 08 15 Billboard Singles Breaking Atoms AllMusic Retrieved on 2009 08 15 External links editBreaking Atoms at Discogs Album Review at Oh Word Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Breaking Atoms amp oldid 1212894365, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
