DETROIT FUNK-ROCK
1971
116 BPM
A minor
Scorpio
The Motown session guitarist's psychedelic funk masterpiece that bridged Detroit soul, rock guitar, and hip-hop culture
Dennis Coffey
"Scorpio"
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Original Track
Dennis Coffey - "Scorpio" (1971)
The original track containing the legendary 6.0-second drum break
Break occurs at 2:00 - 2:06
The History
The Motown session guitarist's psychedelic funk masterpiece that bridged Detroit soul, rock guitar, and hip-hop culture. Featuring nine overdubbed guitars and innovative wah-wah techniques, this crossover hit became one of hip-hop's most sampled guitar-driven breaks.
Reached #6 on Billboard Hot 100 and sold over one million copies, earning gold certification in 1971
Dennis Coffey became the first white artist to perform on Soul Train (January 8, 1972)
Features nine guitar riffs overdubbed across three octaves, creating a horn-like sound with fuzz tone
Recorded at GM Recording Studios in East Detroit with Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt
Included in Paul Winley's foundational Super Disco Brakes compilation (1979)
Coffey introduced wah-wah and distortion to Motown, transforming the label's sound in the psychedelic era
Who Sampled It
Public Enemy
"Night of the Living Baseheads"
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
1988
Young MC
"Bust a Move"
Stone Cold Rhymin'
1989
LL Cool J
"Jingling Baby"
Walking with a Panther
1989
Queen Latifah
"Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children"
All Hail the Queen
1989
Mark Ronson
"Ooh Wee"
Here Comes the Fuzz
2003
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
"Scorpio"
The Message
1982
💡 This breakbeat has been sampled 6 times in our database
Tags
detroit-funk-rock
motown-session
dennis-coffey
psychedelic-funk
guitar-driven
wah-wah-guitar
nine-guitar-overdub
crossover-hit