Breakestra - The Live Mix Part 2 (2000)

L.A.'s Breakestra might kick out the jams with some killer funk, but at heart they're a hip-hop band. After all, it was rap's insatiable sample seeking that helped resurrect waning interest in funk, and Breakestra take the crate-diggin' craze one step further. Led by Miles Tackett, this 12-plus member band rummages deep through the musical samples that have made hip-hop the sonic force it is. Raiding everyone from James Brown to Roy Ayers to the Meters and countless other small-time funkateers, Breakestra re-create the soulful and jazzy sounds of yesteryear. They tease the ear with songs made infamous by rap artists like A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, Pete Rock, Marley Marl, and others. Their Live Mix, Part 2 reverberates with the spontaneity that only a live band can create, as segues shift with just a quick drum break or brass stab. While trainspotting sample hounds will get a kick out of Breakestra, you don't need prior knowledge of the samples to enjoy the album. No matter what, Breakestra guarantee a funkin' good time. Oliver Wang