The J.B.'s were the most renowned of James Brown's many backing bands (prev… Read Full Bio ↴The J.B.'s were the most renowned of James Brown's many backing bands (previously, the Famous Flames and the James Brown Band). The band provided musical support for the legendary singer and bandleader for the first half of the 1970s. The band stepped in to fill the shoes of Brown's previous band, who had walked out on him due to his arduous demands. The band's rhythmic foundation was initially provided by drummer Jabo Starks and teenage bass prodigy William "Bootsy" Collins and his guitarist brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins, both of obscure R&B outfit The Pacemakers. Also included in the original lineup was Brown's organist friend and longtime musical partner Bobby Byrd. The new outfit attracted musicians from Brown's previous bands and new players as the lineup shifted almost constantly throughout the early 1970s, before disbanding after the departures of Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker.

Breakin' Bread
The J.B.'s Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Hi-Tek cuts it up]
"It's like the A to be to the see, it's easy as.."
"1-2-3"
"DJ"
"Hi-Tek why'all" -> Inspectah Deck
"Collaborate, break bread with.." -> Pete Rock
"Homeskillet"

[Homeskillet]
From the beginnin, head-spinnin hip-hop
The never-endin, don't stop
be -boy religion. I'll rock and claim position
Maim the opposition, tradition, got 'em on lock
Follow the greater mission, freedom marks the top
Beat 'em off the block, now cock-wrap they bop
Number one on street spots, Homeskill' the hard rock
I drop steady, cripplin non-believers like Teddy
Pendergrass, tense up ya tender ass, you're not ready
Hold steady, think first, my ink burst floods and blunder
Crown Hi-Tek sound thump pounds of thunder
Street hunger, the universal man works wonders
Mic and hand breakin land, rockin up from down under

[Crunch Extraordinare]
I got sound control and I'm kinda slick wit it
Heads know I get down like that, can you dig it?
This is the way how I roll or how I deliver this packages
Turn the other cheek, 'cause this track I be smackin it
But don't clap, 'cause this style'll bust caps
I'm jiggy and all that, black and get control back
But fuck that, control over mind, body and soul
The MC regulator, microphone detonator
My real live want to battle niggas take a vouch
Eighty Shieks, throw them joints and +Let Da fuckin Monkey Out+
Not "Hell yeah" but "Hell, yeah" in Cin' City
When I spit this here it's easy as.. {"1-2-3"}
+You Can "Huh?" You Can Hear Me+, you ain't heard nuttin yet
I'm +Live+ and +Fortified+ like Kweli and Mos Def
Practice the incredible, shit ain't even competable
Due to that I'm technical, TKO's I got those
I got control but I'm wreckless in studios
I got Harmony and Thug tendencies all in my Bones
No need to be flashy, for heads to recognize me
Hi-Tek throw them joints that magnetize me
We global, East, West, North, South, we robo
Hands that touch mic's get smacked 'cause that's a no-no
Who rock the mic? Yo, we take the whole show
When heads hear this piece they call off with no shows

[Hi-Tek cuts it up]
"It's like the A to be to the see, it's easy as.."
"1-2-3"
"DJ"
"Hi-Tek why'all" -> Inspectah Deck
"Collaborate, break bread with.." -> Pete Rock
"Donte" -> Main Flo

[Donte]
I struggle more in tug-of-war, writin rhymes by the score
Before I lived the hustle, swore this poor man would give the law
As a testament it goes, it was destined in my soul
They tested but questioned weapons rest in my foes
Blessed in my flows and obsessed with my scrolls
Midas Touch as it's told, writin nuttin less than gold
My journeys, I march through madness like atorneys
Send you out on a gerdy talkin 'bout yo' eternity
Can't stand it, search for your wind like Ban Enti
One man band on the MP and a nigga ran simply
Hi-Tek, all these other niggas can exempt me
Say he's the nicest out loud and gently
Have it your way, a freestyle mean no pay
If you sign a wack contract that mean.. (no weight)
Got your John Hancock on the paper to say
"The band locked and don't know, dough flow your way" {x4}

[Hi-Tek cuts it up]
"Alright OK, I'm feelin you" -> Common
"It's like the A to be to the see, it's easy as.."
"1-2-3"
"DJ"
"Hi-Tek why'all" -> Inspectah Deck
"Collaborate, break bread with.." -> Pete Rock
"Main Flo" -> Main Flo

[Main Flo]
Woes out my treasure box, seven locks, pressure to plot
Measurin blocks, releasin this live like Desert Fox
Hear spiritual, remain plentiful, same generals
Train criminals to get the most plus the minimals
Rob past, raw cash, facin the God last
Spot grabs, sure pop laugh, jump out of stock caps
For cop cash, watch taps, eyes on my top hat
Flop fast, stock crash, how when I drop math?
This rare rap, air vac', exit and fair fact
We share packs, stare back, cover our bear tracks
Ya peeps move, each choose, jump in our Jeep smooth
Unleash two and leak fumes, studyin Hebrew

[Outro: Main Flo]
Big Ohio status

Homeskillet, Crunch extraordinare
Main Flo, Donte, Hi-Tek

Overall Meaning

"Breakin' Bread" by The J.B.'s is a hip-hop track featuring various artists and DJ cuts by Hi-Tek. The song title refers to the concept of collaboration and coming together to share the success. Hi-Tek starts the song with his signature cuts, sampling Inspectah Deck, and Pete Rock's voices on "collaborate, break bread with Homeskillet." Homeskillet opens the verse, rapping about the never-ending hip-hop culture, and how he claims his position and follows the greater mission. Crunch Extraordinare follows, boasting about his mic and sound control, his unique style, and his reckless tendencies in the studio. Donte then touches on his struggles and his writing journey, while Main Flo concludes the song with his verse about share packs, rumination about the stock market, and the knowledge of Hebrew.

The song showcases a sense of unity and collaboration while acknowledging individual talents. Each artist in the song brings their unique style of rapping, and DJ Hi-Tek adds flavor to it by incorporating Inspectah Deck, Pete rock, and Common's voices from other samples. The philosophy of breaking bread is used metaphorically throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of coming together to achieve a common goal. The song also touches on personal struggles and how individuals can overcome them using their skills and talents.

Line by Line Meaning

"It's like the A to be to the see, it's easy as.."
It's as simple as ABC

"1-2-3"
Counting along with the beat

"DJ"
Referring to the disc jockey

"Hi-Tek why'all" -> Inspectah Deck
Hi-Tek is being addressed in the song by Inspectah Deck

"Collaborate, break bread with.." -> Pete Rock
Pete Rock is being invited to collaborate on the song

"Homeskillet"
A term of address or endearment

"From the beginnin... up from down under"
A boastful verse about the rapper's skill and success, with references to hip-hop culture

"I got sound control... track I be smackin it"
The rapper asserts his skill as a beatmaker and warns the listener against clapping, because his style might "bust caps"

"Live" and "Fortified" like Kweli and Mos Def
Donte compares himself to two well-known rappers as examples of his own skill and influence

"I struggle more in tug-of-war... and don't know, dough flow your way" {x4}
Main Flo raps about his experiences with the music industry and the importance of artistic control

"Alright OK, I'm feelin you" -> Common
A reference to the rapper Common and a statement of approval

"Main Flo" -> Main Flo
Main Flo is introduced as the rapper of the next section of the song

"Woes out my treasure box... studying Hebrew"
Main Flo raps about money, power, and knowledge, with reference to his own Jewish heritage

"Big Ohio status... Main Flo, Donte, Hi-Tek"
The song ends with a shout-out to the rappers and producers involved in its creation

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRED WESLEY, JAMES BROWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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