Amen Break - Television Tropes & Idioms

Four bars. 5.2 seconds.

In 1969, a Soul/Funk group called the Winstons came out with an album called Color Him Father. On the B-side of that album was a song called "Amen Brother". It contained within it a 5 second drum solo. This drum break, called the amen break

, has the distinction of being the single most sampled piece of music in modern history. Every genre, from Hip-hop, to Techno, to Rock has used it at one time or another. It is one of the most ubiquitous pieces of music in modern pop culture. Whole genres of music owe their very existence to it. The genre(s) of Jungle and/or Drum-n-Bass^note are pretty much built entirely around the creative use of the Amen Break; sometimes chopping the sample into tiny pieces and building completely new beats out of pieces. It can be heard here

. Hear more about its history here

. Read one scientist's theory on how it is mathematically perfect here

Calling all tropers! Post every example you know of! This is gonna be a long list!

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Music 0- 9

�-Ziq � "Carpet Muncher"
�-Ziq � "Grape Nut Beats (Pt.1)"
�-Ziq � "Meinheld"
2 Bad Mice - "Hold it Down", resampled in Lady Gaga's "Poker Face (Space Cowboy Remix)"
Two Live Crew � "Feel Alright Yall"
2 Unlimited - "Get Ready For This"
3rd Bass � "Wordz of Wisdom"
3rd Bass � "Portrait Of The Artist As A Hood"

Music A-D

A-Sides and MC Fats � "Crazy V.I.P"
Abstract � "The Message"
Acetate � "Cold Steel Pressure"
Acetate � "Noir"
Afro Kid � "Yo DJ"
Alaska - "Alaska"
Altern-8 � "Re-Indulge"
Amazon II � "Booyaaa!"
Amon Tobin � "Nightlife"
Andy C � "Cool Down"
Aphrodite � "Bomber"
Artificial Intelligence � "There For You (D Kay Remix)"
Atari Teenage Riot � "Sick To Death"
Atari Teenage Riot � "Raverbashing
Atari Teenage Riot - "Deutschland (Has Gotta Die)"
The Avalanches - "Tonight (Commix Remix)"
Babylon 5 � "Yes Yes"
Back 2 Basics � "Horns 4 95"
Bassnectar and Datsik - "YES"
Daniel Bedingfield - "I Can't Read You"
Bizzy B � "16 Track Relic"
Bizzy B � "2099 Dub"
Bizzy B � "Afraid Of The Dark"
Bizzy B � "Bad Boy Sound"
Bizzy B � "Bless This Sound (feat. Equinox and TDK)"
Bizzy B � "Creation"
Bizzy B � "Darkside"
Bizzy B � "Deep, Dark And Nastie"
Bizzy B � "Deep In My Soul"
Bizzy B � "Exceeding The Speed Of Sound"
Bizzy B � "Fire"
Bizzy B � "Flava"
Bizzy B � "Jah Works"
Bizzy B � "Merda Style 2004 (feat. Equinox)"
Bizzy B � "Sound Test"
Bizzy B � "Strength"
Bj�rk - "Crystalline"
Bombah - "Bumbarasclaat"
Bong-Ra - Most, if not all, songs by this artists
David Bowie � "Little Wonder"
Brand Nubian � "The Godz Must Be Crazy"
Breakage - "Staggered Dub"
Brockie, Ed Solo & DJ Kane � "Outboard"
C418 - "If you don't know what to do just steal the amen break"
Capone � "Jah"
Ceephax Acid Crew � "Dog Drum N Bass"
Cex � "Am I Soundboy"
City Connection - "Impact"
Clint Mansell - π Soundtrack: "πr^2" and "2πr"
Concept 2 � "Cause n Effect"
Covenant - "Slow Motion"(resampled from Aphex Twin's "Polynomial C")
Covenant - "Storm"(chopped and sped up)
The Cr�xshadows - "Flame"
The Crystal Method � "Keep Hope Alive"
The Crystal Method � "Name Of The Game"
The Crystal Method � "Roll It Up"
D��TH � "Illuminator"
� "Droppin' Science Vol. 1"
Dead Dred � "Dred Bass"
Deee-Lite � "Come on In, the Dreams are Fine"
Dosh � "I Think I'm Getting Married"
Digital � "Sounds Of Freedom"
Digital � "Waterhouse Dub"
Digital � "Waterhouse Dub (A-Sides Remix)"
Dillinja � "Acid Trak"
Dillinja � "Fluid"
Dillinja � "Fusion (Remix)"
Dillinja � "I Wanna Know"
Dillinja � "Mutha* ucka"
Dillinja � "Super DJ"
Dillinja � "The Angels Fell"
Dillinja � "Violent Killa"
DJ Format - "Vinyl Overdose"
DJ Hype � "Tigerstyle (Krome & Time Remix)"
DJ Hype & DJ Zinc � "Musically Dope (Ganja Kru Remix)"
DJ Rap � "Digable Bass"
DJ SS � "Black"
DJ SS � "Orange"
DJ SS � "Rollidge"
DJ SS � "The Intro"
DJ Starscream � Sword Sharpening Remix feat. Shannon Mitchell
DJ Sy � "The Chain"
DJ Zinc � "6 Million Ways"
DJ Zinc � "Feel"
DJ Zinc � "It's Like That"
DJ Zinc � "On Fire Tonight"
DJ Zinc � "Reachout (Remix)"
DJ Zinc � "Super Sharp Shooter"
DJ Zinc feat MC GQ � "Bring The Danger"
Downlink - "Android"

Music E-H

Ecchi-chan - Most, if not all, songs by this artist
Ellis Dee - "Junglist Warrior"
Ellis Dee & MC Fats � "97 Style"
Enduser � "Kill It"
Eric B and Rakim � "Casualties of War"
EMF - "Unbelievable"
Eminem and Dr Dre- "Forgot About Dre"
Equinox � "Acid Rain V.I.P"
Equinox � "Do You Understand Me?"
Feint- "We Move"
The Flashbulb � "Amen Iraq"
Flo Rida - "Sugar"
Foul Play- "Finest Illusion"
Freestylers � "Breaker Beats Part 1"
Funky Technicians � "Airtight"
Ganja Kru � "Magic"
Ganja Kru � "New Frontiers"
Ganja Kru � "No Fear"
Ganja Kru � "Plague That Never Ends"
Ganja Kru � "Science"
Ganja Kru - "Super Sharp Shooter"
Gearwhore - "Passion (Harley mix)"
Goldie � "Chico: Death of a Rock Star"
Heavy D � "Let it Flow"
Heavy D � "Flexin'"
Heavy D � "MC Heavy D!"
Heavyweight � "Oh Gosh"
Hive � Ultrasonic Sound
Hixxy & Sharkey � "Toy Town"
Hrvatski � "Apostle"
Hrvatski � "Atelier"
Hrvatski � "Carrot (Hrvatski's Nightvision)"
Hrvatski � "Catstep/My Kitten/Catnip-Vatstep DSP" remix of Kid 606
Hrvatski � "Cirrus Minor", a cover of the Pink Floyd song
Hrvatski � "Corcoran"
Hrvatski � "El-Ron are Dangdut Kings"
Hrvatski � "Epoxy (Live)"
Hrvatski � "EWC 1"
Hrvatski � "Ghatam)"
Hrvatski � "Paint It Black", a cover of The Rolling Stones song
Hrvatski � "Pulse"
Hrvatski � "Rhetoric"
Hrvatski � "Routine Exercise"
Hrvatski � "Sucka"
Hrvatski � "You Didn't Look High Enough"

Music I-L

Icu � "Chotto Matte A Moment!"
Jackal Queenston - "Bus Rida"
Jackal Queenston - "Humanoid"
The JB � "Back To Life (The Dedication)"
J Majik � "Your Sound"
J Majik � "Arabian Nights"
JMJ & Richie - "Beyond Therapy"
John B � "Green"
John Rolodex � "Rinse It (Amen Mix)"
Johnny Jungle - "Johnny"
Josh Wink - "Higher State of Consciousness"
Juggler feat. Errol Wild - Bad Boys
Just Jungle - "Come Fe Nice It Up"
Just Jungle - "Double Crisp"
Just Jungle - "Pause"
Ray Keith � "Chopper (Original Mix)"
Ray Keith � "Dark Soldier"
Ray Keith � "Dirty Chopper"
Ray Keith � "Dread Colony
Ray Keith � "Dread Jungle Techno"
Ray Keith � "Eastern Promise"
Ray Keith � "Jah Dread"
Ray Keith � "Nina's Rinse"
Ray Keith � "Plasma"
Ray Keith � "Sinister (Bad Boy)"
Ray Keith � "Tear Out"
Reizoko Cj - Most, if not all, tracks by this artist
Kid Cudi - "Day n Nite (Crookers Remix)"
Kings of the Jungle - "Bad Boy Tune"
Kitsune^2 - "Everybody Rush"
KLF � (as The One World Orchestra) � "The Magnificent"
Klippa - "Turn Back"
KMFDM - "Son of a Gun"
Krome & Time � "Ganja Man"
Krome & Time � "The Licence"
L Double & Younghead - "New Style"
Lemon D � "Get Dirty"
Lemon D � "Static"
Lemon D � "This is Los Angeles"
Lenny De Ice - "We are I.E."
Lesser � "Mensa Dunce Squad (Leg Up Program)"
Lesser � "This Is What We've Become"
Lifer's Group � "Jack U. Back (So You Wanna Be a Gangsta)"
Linkin Park - Faint
Lords of Acid � "Crablouse"
LTJ Bukem � "Demon's Theme"

Music M-P

MA 3 � "Those DJ's"
Mad Capsule Markets - "Pulse"
Maestro Fresh Wes � "Bring it On"
Mampi Swift � "Rock It"
Mampi Swift � "Tripped"
Mantronix � "King of the Beats"
Mask � "Mad Professor"
Mask � "Square Off"
Mask & Gang Related feat Swabe � "Dictation (Remix)"
Mayhem - "120 Red"
Mayhem - "Spinback"
Mental Power � "Red"
Moby - "Feeling So Real"
Monstar - "You're Gonna Want Me"
Movement Ex � "KK Punani"
Moving Fusion � "Thunderball"
Mr. 76ix - "Dr. Eamprie Stress"
N.W.A. � "Straight Outta Compton"
Nas - "Hip Hop is Dead"
Nasenbluten � "Big Gonads"
Nasenbluten � "Hurricane 2000"
Nasty Habits � "Shadow Boxing (Remix)"
Netsky - "Memory Lane"
Netsky - "Prisma"
Nice & Smooth � "Dope Not Hype"
Nicki Minaj - "Save Me"
Nine Inch Nails - "The Perfect Drug"
Noisia - "The Tide"
Paul Oakenfold "James Bond Theme (Bonus Beats)
Oasis � D'you Know What I mean?'
Orbital � "Satan"
Paradox � "Hologram"
Pascal � "Turn It Over"
Perry Farrell - "Whole Lotta Love" (a cover of the Led Zeppelin song)
Pitchshifter - "Genius"
Pitchshifter � "Hidden Agenda"
Pitchshifter - "Microwaved"
Prisoners Of Technology � "The Trick Of Technology"
Prizna - "Fire (Urban Shakedown Jungle Mix)"
The Prodigy � "Mindfields"
- "Poison"
Public Enemy & Anthrax - "Bring the Noise"

Music Q-T

Ram Trilogy � "Huggy Bear"
Ram Trilogy � "Titan"
Remarc � "Bad Bwoy"
Remarc � "Bad No Bloodclart"
Remarc � "R.I.P"
Remarc � "Ricky"
Remarc - "Soundmurderer"
Remarc - "Soundmurderer (Loafin' In Brockley Mix)"
Renard Queenston - Most, if not all, songs by this artist
Renegade featuring Ray Keith � "Terrorist"
Rennat & inZtance - "Serenity"
Salt-N-Pepa � "I Desire"
Scarface � "Born Killer"
Schoolly D � "How a Black Man Feels"
Seba - "Car Crash"
Seba - "Forever"
Secret Chiefs 3 � "J�balq�"
Shitmat � "Amen Babylon"
Shitmat � "More Fire('93 Ting Mix)"
Shy FX and UK Apache � "Original Nuttah"
Shy FX � "This Style"
Skeptic � "Tear"
Skream & Cluekid - Sandsnake
SL 2 � "S.L. Electro"
Slip Knot � "Eyeless"
Soundmurderer & SK-1 - "Dreader Than Dread"
Soundmurderer & SK-1 - "Dreader Than Dread (Remix)"
Special K � "Twist (Ray Keith Remix)"
Special K & The Dream Team � "Switch (Remix)"
Splash � "Babylon"
Splash Collective Vol.3 � "Rebels"
Squarepusher � "A Journey to Reedham "
Squarepusher � "Anstromm-Feck 4"
Squarepusher � "The Barn "
Squarepusher � "Bonneville Occident"
Squarepusher � "Central Line"
Squarepusher � "Come On My Selector"
Squarepusher - "Cooper's World"
Squarepusher � "Eviscerate"
Squarepusher � "Go! Spastic"
Squarepusher � "Hello Meow"
Squarepusher � "I Wish You Could Talk"
Squarepusher � "Male Pill Part 5"
Squarepusher � "Mind Rubbers"
Squarepusher � "The Modern Bass Guitar"
Squarepusher � "My Red Hot Car"
Squarepusher � "North Circular"
Squarepusher � "Planetarium"
Squarepusher � "Plotinus"
Squarepusher � "Port Rhombus"
Squarepusher � "Problem Child"
Squarepusher � "Steinbolt"
Squarepusher � "Tomorrow World"
Squarepusher � "Tundra"
Squarepusher � two untitled tracks on "Burningn'n Tree"
Squarepusher � "Vic Acid"
Squarepusher � "Welcome To Europe"
Stephen Walking- Motion
Technical Itch � "The Rukus"
The Third Eye Foundation � "Semtex"
Third Rail � "The Apprentice" trilogy
Theory � "Conquering Lion"
TNT � "2 Degrees"
Total Science � "Squash"
Total Science � "Squash VIP"
Trampa - "Daleks (Drumstep VIP)"
Trampa - "Something"
Trinity � "Amen Bleeps"
Twisted Anger � "Dread Come To Conquer"
Twisted Anger � "Dread Come To Conquer (Remix)"
Twisted Anger � "Mothership"

Music U-Z

Urban Shakedown � "Some Justice '95"
Undercover Agent � "Oh Gosh"
Unreal Tournament � Michiel van den Bos � "BOTMCA#10"
Unreal Tournament � Michiel van den Bos � "BOTPACK#9"
Unreal Tournament � Alexander Brandon � "Go Down"
Unreal Tournament � "Lock"
Unreal Tournament � Andrew Sega � "Mechanism Eight"
Unreal Tournament � Alexander Brandon � "Organic"
Unreal Tournament � Michiel van den Bos � "Run"
Unreal Tournament � Alexander Brandon � "Three Wheels Turning"
Unwritten Law � Introduction track on "Here's to the Mourning"
Varien- Mirrors
Venetian Snares - "Aaron2"
Venetian Snares - "Circle Pit"
Venetian Snares � "Dance Like You're Selling Nails"
Venetian Snares - "Eurocore MVP"
Venetian Snares - "Gentleman"
Venetian Snares - "Ghetto Body Buddy"
Venetian Snares - "Hajnal"
Venetian Snares - "Hajnal 2"
Venetian Snares - "Hand Throw"
Venetian Snares � "Herbie Goes Ballistic"
Venetian Snares - "Koonut-Kalifee"
Venetian Snares � "K�tsark� Mozgalom"
Venetian Snares � "M�sodik Galamb"
Venetian Snares � "Szam�r Mad�r"
Venetian Snares � "Szerencs�tlen"
Venetian Snares - "Twelve"
Venetian Snares - "Welfare Wednesday"
Venetian Snares - "Who Wants Cake?"
Wots My Code � "Dubplate"

Video Games

Multiple tracks from SimCity 4.
Phony from Tetrisphere
"Thread6", "Japan", "Polyasia", "Celtic". "Floppy", "Giali" and "Egypt" from The New Tetris.
! from In The Groove 2
Many day stages in Sonic Unleashed. If there isn't one, boosting will fix that, as every time you boost, the song gains lots of reverb and an Amen Break track.
- Not just Unleashed, a few tracks throughout the series since 2004 use the Amen Break. You can find almost two tracks that use the beat in nearly every game in the series since then. This is largely down to Tomoya Ohtani. When questioned about it on his Facebook profile, he attributed it to being his favorite beats sample. But yeah, Unleashed pretty much features it the most prominently.
San Francisco Rush series: Headthumpin' and Tinkletoon from Rush 2; Noon and the break of Wingey from Rush 2049(Dreamcast version).
P.N.03 uses variations of the break throughout its soundtrack, including the main boss theme, Mission 3, Mission 8, Mission 10, and the Final Boss's first form.
Hibachi's theme in Do Donpachi: Dai-Oujou and Daifukkatsu.