# Breakadawn

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"**Breakadawn**" is a song by American [hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) trio [De La Soul](/source/De_La_Soul), released in August 1993, by [Tommy Boy Records](/source/Tommy_Boy_Records), as the lead [single](/source/Single_(music)) from their third album, *[Buhloone Mindstate](/source/Buhloone_Mindstate)* (1993). It was a number-one hit on the [European Dance Radio Chart](/source/European_Dance_Radio_Chart), while peaking at number 39 in the UK. The song samples "Quiet Storm" by [Smokey Robinson](/source/Smokey_Robinson) and the intro to [Michael Jackson](/source/Michael_Jackson)'s "I Can't Help It", from his *[Off the Wall](/source/Off_the_Wall)* album. Additionally, it samples "Sang and Dance" by [The Bar-Kays](/source/The_Bar-Kays).

## Critical reception

[Charles Aaron](/source/Charles_Aaron) from *[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))* wrote, "[Posdnuos](/source/Kelvin_Mercer) bobs and weaves his lines like a language poet's funky child, [Maseo](/source/Vincent_Mason) lifts a soothing sample from Smokey Robinson's 'Quiet Storm', and [Trugoy](/source/David_Jolicoeur) tries to enjoy himself, deep as a depth charge. *[De La Soul Is Dead](/source/De_La_Soul_Is_Dead)'*s grumpy soul-search lost some hip-hop come-latelies; they oughta slink back."[1]

## Track listing

1. "Breakadawn (Vocal Version)" - 4:15
1. "Stickabush" - 1:11 - Guest Appearance: Dres of [Black Sheep](/source/Black_Sheep_(hip_hop_group))
1. "En Focus (Vocal Version)" - 3:15 - Guest Appearance: Dres of Black Sheep
1. "The Dawn Brings Smoke" - 2:11
1. "Hsubakcits" - 0:15 - Guest Appearance: Dres of Black Sheep
1. "En Focus (Instrumental)" - 3:15
1. "Breakadawn (Instrumental)" - 4:15

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Chart (1993) Peak Position Australia (ARIA)[2] 73 Europe (European Dance Radio)[3] 1 UK Airplay (Music Week)[4] 20 UK Club Chart (Music Week)[5] 24 US Billboard Hot 100 76 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 30 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[6] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[7] 73

### Year-end charts

Chart (1993) Position Europe (European Dance Radio)[8] 18

## References

1. Aaron, Charles (January 1994). ["Singles"](https://books.google.com/books?id=dJ7nHM_LvUUC). *[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))*. p. 80. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. Ryan, Gavin (2011). *Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010*. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.

1. ["European Dance Radio"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-11-13.pdf). *[Music & Media](/source/Music_%26_Media)*. Vol. 10, no. 46. 13 November 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 6 November 2021.

1. ["The Airplay Chart"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-09-25.pdf). *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week)*. 25 September 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

1. ["The *RM* Club Chart"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-09-11.pdf). *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week), in [Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror) (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)*. 11 September 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 10 May 2023.

1. ["Hot Dance Music: Maxi-Singles Sales"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-09-18.pdf). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. 18 September 1993. p. 27. Retrieved 3 January 2026.

1. ["Top 100 Pop Singles"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-10-09.pdf). *[Cash Box](/source/Cashbox_(magazine))*. Vol. LVII, no. 7. 9 October 1993. p. 10. Retrieved 22 April 2024.

1. ["1993 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-12-18.pdf). *[Music & Media](/source/Music_%26_Media)*. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 27 February 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Breakadawn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakadawn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakadawn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.