234 Dope Bboy Songs That Will Make You Move Your Feet

It was the year 2007.

And if you knew anything about 2007… YouTube exploded as the new platform to watch videos in this period.

And of course, it was the sweetest piece of news for us bboys.

We finally didn’t have to rummage through our grandfather’s Playboy collection just to find that one random bboy windmill VHS tape.

And if you had searched “bboy” on YouTube then…

You would have discovered Red Bull BC One 2005 and saw Lilou battling Hong 10 in the finals — the finals that created gigantic fan bases for the both of them.

And YOU would also have noticed these 2 highly-revered bboys dance to incredibly weird electronic music.

Songs that you knew instinctively weren’t for bboys. Songs like this.

And if you had any musical sense or rhythm, you would have noticed the painfully obvious fact that they were dancing off beat.

Which years later… You’ll discover that the music was actually dubbed over because Red Bull didn’t buy the copyrights to the original tracks.

I’m not suggesting that Hong 10 and Lilou are wack dancers that don’t dance to the music, nor that Red Bull is screwed up for not purchasing them copyrights.

What I’m saying is…

If that was your first impression of bboy music…

Congratulations! You are not the ONLY ONE.

 

The Songs That Revolutionized the 20th Century

Frustrating, isn’t it?

When you just started to learn breaking, and swam into a sea of unknown, you realised one crucial fact:

You didn’t know what type of music bboys danced to!

As you headed down to practice to try your first ever 6-step, you didn’t know what music to play.

Was it pop music? How about EDM? Maybe hip hop?

Feeling lost, you plugged in the audio jack of your speakers into your phone, and pressed shuffle to initiate that training session…

Rihanna.

I mean, how could you have known..? How could anybody? Growing up in the modern generation… Funk was a relatively unknown and unpopular genre. And let’s not even talk about jazz. Not to mention salsa and good ol’ James Brown.

The worse thing was,

We didn’t have anybody or anyplace to ask.

And, there wasn’t any way to know which are the genres or songs that bboys and bgirls dance to.

There wasn’t any way to know which are the classic songs that everyone should know and learn by heart.

After all, these are the songs that started off the entire hip hop culture.

These are the songs that inspired the original dancers to react and move their bodies – forming the foundation of breaking.

YET,

It’s as if someone told you that there were bricks available around you for you to build your house. But you didn’t know where the hell those bricks were lying about!

I previously created a list of 157 bboy songs, but it was not enough to satisfy the cravings of bboys.

So, with the help of bboys and DJs worldwide, I curated a gigantic list of bboy songs for you to practice and jam to.

(I’ll like to give a shout out to the people who have contributed to this list — they include Jia Han, Dylan, Olie Sung [UK Bboys], DJ Jebel, DJ Nobunaga, DJ Chief, our blog commenters, Brownout, Laura Vane & The Vipertones and Lack of Afro!)

Check out the YouTube playlist here.

1. Incredible Bongo Band – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
2. Henry Mancini – Police Woman Theme
3. The Bamboos – The Witch
4. Soopasoul – Brand Nu
5. Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul – I’ve Got So Much Trouble On My Mind
6. Herbie Hancock – Rock It
7. Mr Wiggles – JB Style
8. Soho – Hot Music
9. Souls of Mischief – 93 ‘Til Infinity
10. Sapo – Been Had
11. The Haggis Horns – Pipe Bag
12. DJ Chief – Uh Oh
13. Rage Against The Machine – Renegades of Funk
14. Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
15. EPMD – Rampage (Remix)
16. NWA – Express Yourself
17. Pretty Purdie – Soul Drums
18. Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm – Funky Mule
19. Bobby Byrd – Hot Pants (I’m Coming, I’m Coming)
20. Johnny Pate – You Can’t Even Walk In The Park
21. The Meters – Same Old Thing
22. Nina Simone – Funkier Than A Mosquito’s Tweeter
23. Fred Wesley & The JBs – Blow Your Head
24. The Beginning of The End – Funky Nassau Pt. 1
25. The Beginner of The End – Funky Nassau Pt. 2
26. ShowBiz & AG – Giant In The Mental
27. Cypress Hill – Insane In the Membrane
28. The Magic Disco Machine – Scratchin’
29. Charles Mintz – Give a Man a Break
30. Chuck Carbo and The Soul Finders – Can I Be Your Squeeze
31. WAR – Me & Baby Brother
32. Billy Garner – Brand New Girl
33. Jesse Gresham Plus 3 – Shootin’ The Grease
34. Ray Baretto – Together
35. Joe Bataan – Latin Strut
36. DJ Chief – Rhythm Blunt
37. The Commodores – Keep On Dancing
38. Boris Gardiner – Melting Pot
39. KC & The Sunshine Band – Let It Go Pt1
40. Brand Nubian – All For One
41. Liquid Liquid – Cavern
42. Lyn Collins – Think About It
43. Roy Ayers – Brother Green (Disco King)
44. Roy Ayers – Aragon
45. The Fabulous Counts – Lunar Funk
46. Bobby Womack – Across 110th Street
47. Cheryl Lynn – Got To Be Real
48. Tom Jones – Looking Out My Window
49. Jackie Robinson – Pussy Footer
50. 7th Wonder – Daisy Lady
51. Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Penguin
52. Juice – Catch A Groove
53. Steven Perri & Zamaun – Street Scene
54. Adfunk – The Chance
55. The Button Down Brass – French Connection
56. Fendaheads – Sunrise
57. Johnny Pate – Shaft In Africa
58. K. Papworth – Hard Hitter
59. Boney M – Ma Baker
60. La Banda Salsa – Y Ata A Yo Yo
61. MFSB – Family Affair
62. Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – Conga
63. John Davis & The Monster Orchestra – I Can’t Stop
64. La Banda Salsa – Tacumbe
65. Candido – I’m On My Way
66. The Pace Setters – Freedom and Justice
67. Lee Chang Yui – Canon in D Remix
68. Samba Soul – Chove Chuva Ques Mas Que Nada
69. Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra – Sammy’s Theme
70. Mr Comicstore & Nicole Williams – Are You Ready
71. Up, Bustle & Out – Guitarra (Por La Revolucion)
72. De Wolfe Music Librairie – Party People
73. The Supremes – Where Do I Go From Here
74. A.Y.B Force – Hardboiled
75. Chicago – Street Player
76. Inoue Takayuki Band – Passion of Theme
77. Larry Coryell – Morning Sickness
78. Electric Indian – Raindance
79. I Gres – Restless
80. The Budos Band – Mas O Menos
81. Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me
82. Ron Carter – Baretta’s Theme
83. Quincy Jones – Money Runner
84. Walter Murphy – Flight 76
85. The Budos Band – Budos Rising
86. Dennis Coffey – Ride Sally Ride
87. Smoove – I’m A Man
88. Datarock – Fa Fa Fa
89. Chubb Rock – Treat ‘Em Right
90. Original Flavor – Can I Get Open
91. Barry White – You Gotta Case
92. Bus People Express – Augusta Georgia
93. DJ Lean Rock – Nitro
94. Respect – Soul Entertainer
95. DJ BlesOne – Them Team Theme
96. Mex – Way Of The Exploding Crate
97. Certain Ratio – Do The Du
98. Lefties Soul Connection – Code 99
99. DJ Lean Rock – Madafaka
100. All The People – Cramp Your Style
101. Henry Mancini – Streets of San Francisco
102. Cissy Houston – Somebody Should Have Told Me
103. Perez Prado – Circle
104. The New Mastersound – Coffee Provider
105. The Soul Snatchers – Get Yourself Together
106. Triple Threat – Morning Showers
107. Soopasoul – A Wild Mad Beat
108. BS 2000 – NY Is Good
109. Promoe – Off the Record
110. Mr. Scruff – Kalimba
111. Royce Da’ 59 – Boom DJ Premier
112. DJ Charlie Rock – Horse With No Name
113. Above The Law – Untouchable
114. Le Scratchfunk – The Go Off
115. John Hawksworth – Flash Barrier
116. Fort Knox 5 – Donde Estabas
117. Nina Simone – Save Me
118. Main Source – Fakin’ The Funk
119. Herbaliser – Gold Rush
120. The Underbelly – Red Flames
121. Superman Ivy – Yes Yes Y’all
122. Kovacs Kati – Szoli Ram Ha Hangosan Enekelek
123. The Roots – How I Got Over
124. Showbiz & A.G. – Fat Pockets
125. Freestyle Fellowship – Hot Potato
126. 6ix Toys – Voodoo People
127. Speak Low – This Letter
128. Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity – Indian Ropeman
129. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – War
130. Funky Bijou – Funky Bijou Anthem
131. The Quantic Soul Orchestra – Feeling Good
132. The Isley Brothers – Get Into Something
133. Brownout – Latin Asscape
134. Madcon – Liar
135. Banbarra – Shack Up
136. Boney M – Sunny
137. DJ Chief – Love To The Breaks
138. LTD – Love To The World
139. Mr Scruff – Get A Move On
140. Romanowski – Strudel Strut
141. Barrabas – Woman
142. The Bamboos ft. Alice Russell – Step It Up
143. The Bamboos – Happy
144. Ben & The Platano Group – Platano Split
145. Milton Hamilton – My Love Supreme
146. Broxie Makes – Untitled
147. Kylie Auldist – Ship In A Bottle
148. Peter, Bjorn & John – Young Folks
149. Snuky Tate – He’s The Groove
150. Willie Mitchell – The Horse
151. Kava – The Gambler
152. Stefano Torossi – Fearing Much
153. Banda Uniao Black – Na Palma Da Mao
154. Bobby Hughes Experience – Theme From Skidoo
155. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Alyo
156. John Schroder – Headband
157. DJ Lean Rock – Sneak Peak
158. Funky Bijou – Aie Caramba
159. DJ Tee – Alpha Team
160. Masters of Illusion – Bay Bronx Bridge
161. Hardnoise – Untitled
162. Naomi Davis & The Knights of the Forty First Street – Forty First Street Breakdown
163. The Blackbyrds – Blackbyrds Theme
164. Spencer Davis Group – I’m A Man
165. Spirit Of Atlanta – Freddie’s Alive And Well
166. Eddie Roberts & The Fire Eaters – The Lope Song
167. Knights Of The Turntables – Fresh Mess
168. Trouble – I Get Hype
169. Run DMC – Peter Piper
170. Stezo – Get Into His Move
171. Monie Love – I Can Do This (Downtown Mix)
172. Earth, Wind & Fire – Moment of Truth
173. Manzel – Space Funk
174. Rock Workshop – I Think It’s…
175. The 3 Knights – The Burial Proceedings over 3 Knights
176. Peppers – Stuffed Pepper
177. Wayne Cochran – Chopper’70
178. Ernie & The Top Notes – Dap Walk
179. Earth, Wind & Fire – Africano
180. Bobby Byrd – If You Don’t Work, You Can’t Eat
181. Buddy Rich – Countin’ Them Long White Lines
182. Incredible Bongo Band – Bongolia
183. The Vibrettes – Humpty Dump
184. Atmosfear – Dancing In Outer Space
185. Mike Berry – Dial My Number
186. Little Royal & The Swingmasters – Razor Blade
187. Kool & The Gang – Chocolate Buttermilk
188. Public Enemy – Fight The Power
189. Art of Noise – Beat Box
190. Tuff Crew – Wreck Shop
191. Mighty Show Stoppers – Hippy Skippy Moon Strut
192. Funky Bijou – Tu Vas Avoir Des Problemes
193. House of Pain – Jump Around
194. DJ Chief – Pajama Jam
195. Sweet Daddy Floyd – I Just Can’t Help Myself
196. In Search of Orchestra – Phenomena Theme
197. Original Tropicana Steel Band – Calypso Rock
198. William Stuckey – Disco Fly
199. All Directions – On Top Of It
200. Gerson King Combo – Mandamentos Black
201. Soseme Makonde – Manzara
202. Nico Gomez – La Lupita
203. Bobby Franklin’s Insanity – Bring It On Down
204. Melvin Sparks – Get Ya Some
205. The Lovers – Discomania
206. Pleasure – Celebrate The Good Things
207. Denton and Cook – Quiller
208. John G. Perry – Etude
209. Bjarne Rostvold & Perry Knudsen – Magonde
210. Karma – Funk De Mambo
211. Charly Antolini – Uela Uela
212. Barry Stoller – Design
213. Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc. – Ritual
214. Peter Reno – Silver Thrust
215. Please – Ego Trippin’
216. Geno Washington – Different Strokes
217. Grady Tate – Be Black Baby
218. Lowrell – Overdose
219. Ralph Carmichael – The Addict’s Psalm
220. Eddie Bo – Hook And Sling
221. Jackson 5 – Hum Along And Dance
222. Vernon Burch – Get Up
223. King Errisson – Well, Have A Nice Day
224. Jerry O – Funky Charge
225. The Turtles – I’m Chief Kamanawanalea
226. Magnum – It’s The Music That Made Us Do It
227. Tom Scott – Sneakin’ In The Back
228. Detroit Emeralds – You’re Getting A Little Too Smart
229. The Emotions – Blind Alley
230. Mel Brown – Swamp Fever
231. Professor Funk – Love Is Such A Good Thing
232. La Clave – Latin Slide
233. Blue Magoos – Can’t Get Enough Of You
234. Funkshone – Purification

I doubt anybody would have gotten to this part of the post without feeling tired. And it’s a good thing for me because I’ve done my part.

Why?

Chances are, you’ve clicked on the playlist. And I bet you were vibing and dancing to the music non-stop

Seriously…

Music is what makes 500 people at a bboy jam move together. Nobody is instructing them to move, except the music. And all I want to do is share the good vibes with you right here.

Every single nerve, muscle and bone is practically begging you to dance.

So, in the comments below, I want you to tell me:

Which bboy song has inspired you the most in this dance.

See you in the comments!

 

Peace,

Erin