breakbeat
A rhythmic pattern extracted from a funk or soul record, characterised by syncopated, non-four-on-the-floor drums.
In Depth
Breakbeats are the rhythmic foundation of hip-hop, jungle, drum and bass, and big beat. The term refers both to the drum break sections of funk records and to the chopped, rearranged drum patterns built from those breaks. DJ Kool Herc pioneered the technique of isolating and looping breakbeats at Bronx block parties in the 1970s, creating extended dance sections. Breakbeats are defined by their syncopation and human feel, distinguishing them from the steady pulse of house and techno.
DJ Kool Herc invented the breakbeat technique at a back-to-school party in the Bronx on August 11, 1973, a date widely considered the birth of hip-hop culture.