Breakin' Combs

Breakin' Combs
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 22, 1994
Recorded1993, Red Zone Studios
West Lake Audio
Genres
Length59:22
LabelTuff Break/A&M/PolyGram
ProducerJonathan "Dred" Scott
Dred Scott chronology
Small Clubs Are Dead
(1993)
Breakin' Combs
(1994)
Singles from Breakin' Combs
  1. "Nutin Ta Lose"/"Duck Ya Head"
    Released: 1993
  2. "Check the Vibe"
    Released: 1994
  3. "Back in the Day"/"Can't Hold It Back"
    Released: 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar
RapReviews8/10
The SourceStarStarStar

Breakin' Combs is the debut studio album by American rapper and musician Dred Scott, released on March 22, 1994, by Tuff Break/A&M Records. The album was written and produced by Scott, with a sound that's influenced in the genres of soul, hip hop, jazz and reggae music. R&B/soul singer Adriana Evans is featured on the single "Check the Vibe", and "Swingin' from the Tree". Breakin' Combs was reissued in Japan twice, in 2005 and 2009, and includes bonus tracks on both editions.

Breakin' Combs received a nomination for National Association of Independent Record Distributors' 1994 Indie Awards.

Critical reception

Breakin' Combs received positive reviews from music critics. Minya Oh, in her review for The Source, highlighted the album's diversity in styles, but thought that the album's quality varied across different tracks. She commended the album's production for its "quality basslines, sharp drums and catchy choruses", but found the instrumentals uninspiring, as she believed Dred Scott excelled as a lyricist. Vincent Thomas of AllMusic disagreed, as he thought that "Scott was always a better producer than rapper". Calling the album "expertly produced", he added that Breakin' Combs failed to achieve mainstream success as it was released alongside numerous classic albums. Discussing the album in a retrospective review, Steve Juon of RapReviews wrote: "Dred Scott showed the perfect balance between having one foot firmly planted in history with the other stepping forward toward rap’s future".

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Back in the Day"Dred Scott4:43
2."Duck Ya Head" (featuring Da Grinch)Dred Scott4:48
3."Can't Hold It Back"Dred Scott4:23
4."Check the Vibe" (featuring Adriana Evans)Adriana Evans, Dred Scott3:31
5."Dirty Old Man"Dred Scott0:37
6."The Story" (featuring Big Domino)Dred Scott3:44
7."To da Old School"Percy Chapman, Dred Scott1:38
8."Funky Rhythms"Percy Chapman, Dred Scott4:06
9."Swingin' from the Tree" (featuring Adriana Evans)Dred Scott3:33
10."Intro"Dred Scott0:40
11."Nutin' ta Lose"Dred Scott5:01
12."Liar" (featuring Tracy McGreggor)Dred Scott3:26
13."Rough E Nuff"Dred Scott4:52
14."My Mind is Driftin'"Dred Scott4:00
15."They Don't Know"Big Domino, Dred Scott4:21
16."Frankie's Groove"Dred Scott5:58
Japan bonus tracks (2005)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
17."Remember the Love Rap"Jonathan Dred Scott4:05
18."Candy Man" (featuring Adriana Evans)Jonathan Dred Scott4:09
19."Encore for the Hardcore" (featuring Adriana Evans)Dred Scott3:39
20."Back in the Day (Unreleased Remix)"Dred Scott4:46
Japan Bonus Tracks (2009)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
17."Remember the Love Rap" (featuring Adriana Evans)Jonathan Scott, Adriana Evans4:05
18."Candy Man" (featuring Adriana Evans)Jonathan Dred Scott4:09
19."Regina"Jonathan Dred Scott3:48

Notes

Personnel

Credits

References

  1. ↑ Takiff, Jonathan (March 4, 1994). "March roaring with new musical releases". The Greenville News. p. 19. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Thomas, Vincent. "Dred Scott: Breakin' Combs". AllMusic. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 22, 2020). "Dred Scott :: Breakin' Combs". RapReviews. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Oh, Minya "Shortie" (May 1994). "Dred Scott – Breakin' Combs". Record Report. The Source. No. 56. New York. p. 75.
  5. ↑ Cantor, Paul (May 15, 2012). "The 100 Best Hip-Hop One-Hit Wonders". Complex. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ Morris, Chris (May 13, 1995). "NAIRD announces nominations for '94 Indie Awards". Billboard. p. 78. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Google Books.