"The Breaks" is a 1980 single by American rapper Kurtis Blow from his self-titled debut album. It peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] It was the first certified gold rap song, and the second certified gold 12 inch single in the history of music.[citation needed] In 2008, the song ranked #10 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs. [4]