Which funk songs did DJ Kool Herc use for breakbeats at early hip-hop parties?

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To build his grooves and extend the percussive instrumental breaks at early hip-hop parties, DJ Kool Herc favored breaks from heavy funk songs, including:

  • "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" by James Brown
  • "Bongo Rock" by the Incredible Bongo Band
  • "Get into Something" by the Isley Brothers
  • "Listen to Me" by Baby Huey and the Babysitters1

By using two turntables and playing two copies of the same record, Herc was able to loop these breaks, creating a continuous flow of music that allowed guests to dance for longer periods of time. This innovative technique, which he called the "merry-go-round," provided the foundation for the hip-hop movement.12