Customer Reviews

Breaking Atoms

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Main Source never received the acclaim that like-minded artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Gang Starr and Brand Nubian received in the mainstream music community. But in the world of hip-hop, Breaking Atoms is one of the most acclaimed albums of all time. Thanks in great part to the masterful production and plethora of beats that have been jacked by so many other artists. Large Professor is a solid MC and the rhymes are good, but it is the beats that set the album apart. From the opening "Snake Eyes" to the closing remix of the classic "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball", you are playing guess that beat. The album has an overall sonic richness that has rarely been matched in the annuals of hip-hop. The album is also notable as it features the first time that either Nas & Akinyele appeared on a record as they both guest on "Live At The Barbecue" which is curiously one of the weaker songs on the album. For anyone who thinks hip-hop started with Jay-Z, Outkast or Eminem, you should try to find this album, which is unfortunately currently out-of-print.

Breaking Atoms (Wild Pitch/EMI 1991)

Before Main Source albumdebuted in 1991, Large Professor was most known as a producer. It was him who learned DJ Premier how to use his SP1200, and he had worked with greats like Eric B. & Rakim and Kool G Rap & Polo before he tried rappin' himself. Together with K-Cut and Sir Scratch - two relatively unknown DJ's from Toronto, Canada - Large Pro delivered an impressive record, and Breaking Atoms almost became an instant classic.

Today it may seem a little absurd to have two DJ's and one rapper, but that time as you may know DJ's played an illustrious role (in a rap-group) The whole Main Source is credited as producers here, but I think Large Pro did most himself. Well-known jazz- and soul-samples are all over this record, and he cuts and loops in known style. The result was a pleasant listen and refreshing soundpicture, and the production was this records truly strength. Many should nod their head when you hear great songs as "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball" and "Just Hangin' Out" (which samples both "Bam Bam" and "90% Of Me Is You".) Besides there was unusually many breaks here - a trend which have disappeared along time ago (with the exception of Timbaland.) When it comes to the vocal, LP delivered the goods. He showed universality by talkin' `bout everything from love ("Looking At The Front Door") to senseless violence ("Peace Is Not the Word To Play"), but we also got a great dose with just spittin', like on "Large Professor" and "Live At the Barbeque". This song have become a classic with a big C, when both Nasty Nas and Akinyele did their record-debut. Nas' verse is legendary and should be curriculum for all hip-hop heads.

Large Professor left Main Source only a couple of years later and was replaced by the freestyle-rapper Mikey D. This new trio tried to follow up with an album in 1994 (F*** What U Think), but it ended when the record-company wrecked the project (the record did get an unofficial release though) Main Source never achieved the same status as their "spiritual-brothers" in A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr and Brand Nubian, probably because of their short career together. Breaking Atoms is a classic, and the production-style to Large Pro was goin' to be one of the most influential outward the 90's. Here you can hear how it all started!

Like the Sex Pistols, Main Source dropped only one album that was hailed as a classic before breaking up, the only difference being that Main Source would later resurface without Large Professor. And did they drop a classic. With Large Professor on the mic and Sir Scratch and K-Cut on the tables, nothing could go wrong. The production is top-notch with slow, funky grooves on such tracks as "Just Hangin' Out" and upbeat, jazzy instrumentals on the classic "Looking At The Front Door". Large Professor proves that he can both produce and MC as he displays a nice flow and drops nice verses. Nas also makes his debut on the classic posse cut "Live At The Barbeque". It took me awhile to find this and I would suggest that you pick it up now. Main Source broke up soon after dropping their classic "Fakin' The Funk" (which sadly isn't on here) and reformed with Mikey D replacing the Large Professor. However, it just didn't seem the same. Don't sleep; pick this up ASAP.

First this aint a review of one of the best produced albums ever in hip hop, but on this lousy realese only.

If you perhaps have lost your old "Breaking Atoms" on VINYL or CD, or you might sold the copy as i did in the old days (Stupid me), then dont buy this lousy japanese reissue. They have removed some bits before and between the tracks. For examble is the piano solo in the snake eyes intro cut off, CUF OFF why would someone do that? That intro IS Snake Eyes!! So i see no reason to own this copy, so dont rip yourself off.

This is a 1991 classic by Main Source, who consisted of Large Professor, Sir Scratch, and K-Kut. This album has some of the excellent production here by the trio. When you take Extra P's lyrical ability and Scratch & Kut's skills, you have one excellent album. When you have a song like "Large Professor" with rhymes like "You got kicked in the *** by the man with the eyes of glass..." you can't debate the lyrics on this album. "Looking At The Front Door" (which happens to Extra P in '92) is a song about relationships. "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball" is great song placing cops and crimals as an analogy for a game of baseball. The classic song on here would be "Live At The BBQ" which features Nas, Joe Fatal, and Akinelye. Excellent song. Another excellent song on here was "Scratch & Kut" full of jazziness and turntablism.

And if you purchased the rerelease, you get more bonus tracks. The version I have is a little different tracklisting. The version I have doesn't have the song "Time" but has two remixes of "Peace Is Not The Word To Play", and "How Many Men Went Down", but everything else is listed. A favorite of mine would be "Think" which was sampled in the song "Scratch & Kut" mentioned earlier. "Fakin' The Funk" featuring Neek The Exotic, another dope song. The Brand New Heavies song "Bonified Funk" sort of reminds me of an earler Roots' song, which comes off good as well.

"Breaking Atoms" is a classic that would go to be the best of 1991. Unfortunately the sour relationship caused Extra P to move on from the group and produce song for other albums, like ATCQ's Midnight Marauders. It's a shame that things didn't go well, because I would have loved to hear more from this trio. Sir Scratch & K-Kut would hook up with Mikey D to make another album F*ck What You Think in 1994 (good luck finding that one). This is a perfect additon to your hip hop collection if you're a fan of 90's hip hop. Peace!

Lyrics: A

Production: A+

Guest Appearances: A+

Musical Vibes: A+

Top 5 Tracks:

1. Live At The BBQ (featuring Nas, Joe Fatal, and Akinelye)

2. Large Professor

3. Think

4. Sctatch And Kut

5. Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball

Honorable Mention Tracks:

1. Bonified Funk (featuring The Brand New Heavies)

2. Atom

3. Watch Roger Do His Thing

The other reviews will tell you about the incredible quality of this neglected masterpiece. What I want to tell you is that the Japanese label P-Vine has re-released it with several bonus tracks. Look for it at www.p-vine.com.

Don't let these leeches rip you off charging 40+ dollars for a CD. I don't care if it's rare and OOP those prices are stupid. Sandbox automatic has this CD for regular price.

I think this album has important historical value within the annals of hip-hop music. Upon initial release, The Source gave it 5 mic's and it was, I believe, the first album to get a perfect score. Almost every sample on every track has come up on other songs since. That shows that the Large Professor was ahead of his time. I can't help but feel that this album IS what hip-hop should have become. It showed that the genre could blossom into an art form, with intelligent lyrics over beautiful melodies. Production-wise, there were no synthesizers and no obvious loops like "More Bounce". The range of music sampled has not been matched since. On the lyrical front, we get a nice mixture. Social commentary AND battle-type rhymes all stirred into one sweet pot of gumbo. THIS IS HIP-HOP. Not gangsta's, not Bentley's, not stutters and hundred beats-per-second percussion. Sadly, this group is no longer together and the hip-hop world should have known to mourn. What makes this even worse is that this album is out-of-print. If you can find one, consider yourself blessed and scoop it up. You'll be eternally glad you did. P.S. This album marks the first appearance of Nas, then known as Nasty Nas, on the track "Live at the BBQ". As far as posse cuts go, it's right up there with "The Symphony". Main Source also did a cut called "Fakin' the Funk" on the "White Men Can't Rap" soundtrack. It's priceless. Finally, the Large Professor also appears on a posse cut called "Money in the Bank" with Freddie Foxxx and Kool G. Rap. The Large Professor produced the track along with co-producing other tracks on the album. It was originally released on "Wanted : Dead or Alive" by Kool G. Rap & D.J. Polo. It can also be found on a special two-album set on CD titled "The Best of Cold Chillin' : Kool G. Rap & D.J. Polo - Road to the Riches + Wanted : Dead or Alive". Not a classic song, but still solid. Also worth a look because Kool G. Rap was one of the best lyricists of his time, right up there with Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-ONE, and Chuck D. Largely unheralded then and now, the "Wanted: " album contains G. Rap's finest work.

While this album had a strange cover, it is one of the best unknown hip-hop CDs of the early 1990's. This is that incredible period from 1983-1992 before rap had begun to lose its way. Of course, RUN-DMC, Whodini, UTFO, and Salt and Pepa paved the way for groups like Main Source, but this album, is incredible nonetheless. Large Professor, the soul of the group, is incredible. Everything is here too: strong beats, unique samples, versatile lyrics, and music, music, music. There isn't a bad song here to tell the truth. This isn't the original album because some songs here are cuts from movies and anthologies. The album, "Breaking Atoms" is here in full. Best cuts on there are "Just Hangin' Out," "Watch Roger Do His Thing," and "A Friendly Game of Baseball." MC Nas, the Queens legend is here, and he is fierce. There is also "Fakin' the Funk" and "Bonafied Funk," two songs recorded after Main Source showed and proved on this album. True hip-hop fans know about this album. It is a throwback to a great time in hip-hop history. Large Professor is a super talent.

Man, there are only a few albums that give you the vibe of the time they were made in. Breaking the Atoms is one of them. I mean, it is all a matter of taste: 'how come you don't dig hiphop nowadays?' Well, when people pose me that question, I put on an album like this. Just listen to it, it has that 'gritty' vibe to it. No clean, synthetic beats, just that SP1200/S900-sound. I agree with other reviewers, "Live at the BBQ" is the best song on it, but what makes this album different, is that the other songs aren't inferior to it.