Break It Off

"Break It Off" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006), and features guest vocals from Sean Paul. It was written by Donovan Bennett, Paul, K. Ford and Rihanna, while production was handled by Don Corleon. The song was released on 13 November 2006, as the album's fourth and final single. "Break It Off" is a futuristic pop-dancehall and R&B song, which is layered over an electro-reggae beat.

"Break It Off"
Single by Rihanna featuring Sean Paul
from the album A Girl like Me
Released13 November 2006 (2006-11-13)
Recorded2005–2006
Studio2 Hard Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
Genre
Length3:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Don Corleon
Rihanna singles chronology
"We Ride"
(2006)		 "Break It Off"
(2006)		 "Roll It"
(2007)
Sean Paul singles chronology
"(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me"
(2006)		 "Break It Off"
(2006)		 "Give It to You"
(2007)

Critical reception of the song was positive, with reviewers praising the collaboration between Rihanna and Paul and as a return to the former's roots. "Break It Off" reached number eight in Portugal and number nine in the US. Rihanna performed the song at Radio One Big Weekend in 2007 and it was included on the set list of her Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–09), and was subsequently included on the accompanying DVD release, entitled Good Girl Gone Bad Live.

Background and release
Sean Paul co-wrote and provided vocals on "Break It Off".

"Break It Off" was recorded at 2 Hard Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.[1] It was written by Donovan Bennett, Sean Paul Henriques (better known as Sean Paul), K. Ford and Rihanna, who is credited as Robyn Fenty.[1] Production of the song was handled by Don Corleon.[1] It was engineered by Jeremy Harding and Bennett, who also mixed the song.[1] All instrumentation was provided by Bennett.[1] Paul explained how he and Rihanna met in a 2011 interview with Rap-Up. During her visit to Jamaica, Rihanna was taken on a tour around the island by Paul, where he took her to some of the beaches and experienced the nightlife.[2] He continued to explain that they spent a few days together and that he took her to the Bob Marley Museum, which was something she had "always wanted to do."[2] Reminiscing on "Break It Off" and Rihanna, Paul stated that working with the singer and creating the song was "his most memorable collaboration."[2]

"Break It Off" was released as the fourth and final single from Rihanna's second studio album, A Girl like Me (2006). It was released to US Contemporary hit radio station playlists on 13 November 2006, by Def Jam Recordings.[3] It was also made available to download digitally via iTunes in various countries around the world on 27 February 2007, including Australia,[4] Austria,[5] Belgium[6] and Spain.[7]

Composition and lyrics

"Break It Off" is a "futuristic"[8] pop-dancehall and R&B song, which is layered over an electro-reggae beat.[9] It received a comparison by Ruth Jamieson for The Guardian to Rihanna's debut single "Pon de Replay" from her first studio album, Music of the Sun.[10] According to Dan Charnas for The Washington Post, "Break It Off" showcases Rihanna's Caribbean roots.[11] "Break It Off" is written in the key of D-flat major and is set in common time with a moderate dance groove with 130 beats per minute (BPM).[12] Rihanna's vocal range in the song spans one octave from the lower note of A3 to the higher note of A4.[12] The song includes piano keys and guitar strings as part of its instrumental composition.[1][12]

Critical reception

"Break It Off" garnered a positive response from music critics. David Jeffries for AllMusic was complimentary of "Break It Off", writing that it is "totally juiced" and that she provides good competition for Paul.[13] Kelefa Sanneh for The New York Times praised the song, and described it as Rihanna's "triumphant return to her old formula."[9] Quentin B. Huff for PopMatters lauded Sean Paul for his contribution to the song while praising Rihanna's hook, writing that "[Rihanna's] hook is so infectious that hers is the voice you ultimately remember. That's another dancehall-flavored song and another winner."[14] Bill Lamb for About.com called "Break It Off", along with "Kisses Don't Lie", "candidates for widespread pop radio airplay".[8]

Chart performance

"Break It Off" debuted at number 40 on the US Pop Songs chart in the issue dated 18 November 2006.[15] The following week, it ascended to number 35,[16] and again to number 32 in its third week on the chart.[17] "Break It Off" climbed into the top 30 at number 28 in its fourth week on 9 December 2006,[17] and to number 25 in its fifth week.[18] On 23 December 2006, the song climbed again to number 21,[19] and reached its 2006 peak of number 16 on 30 December 2006.[20] In the first chart issue of Billboard in January 2007, "Break It Off" charted at number 14.[21] It broke into the top 10 on 3 February 2007,[22] and ascended to number seven the following week.[23] "Break It Off" peaked at number six on 24 February 2007.[24] The song remained on the Pop Songs chart for a total of 22 weeks.[25] On 9 December 2006, "Break It Off" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 95.[26] The song climbed to number 52 on 3 March 2007, and surged 42 chart positions to number 10 the following week.[27] In its fourteenth week on the chart, the song peaked at number nine, and was awarded with the Digital Gainer honor.[28] On 24 March 2007, the song debuted and peaked at number 10 in the Flanders region of Belgium.[29]

Live performances

Rihanna performed the song as part of a set list at Radio One Big Weekend in 2007.[30] The set consisted of "Pon de Replay", "Break It Off", "SOS", "Breakin' Dishes", "Unfaithful", "Shut Up and Drive" and "Umbrella".[30] "Break It Off" was also included on the set list of Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–09), and was later included on the DVD release, entitled Good Girl Gone Bad Live.[31]

Credits and personnel
  • Songwriting – Donovan Bennett, Sean Paul Henriques, K. Ford, Robyn Fenty
  • Production – Don Corleon
  • Engineer – Jeremy Harding and Donovan Bennett
  • Mixing – Donovan Bennett
  • Instruments – Donovan Bennett

Credits adapted from the liner notes of A Girl Like Me, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.[1]

Accolades
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
2007 BMI London Awards Award-Winning Songs Won [32]
2008 BMI Pop Awards Award-Winning Songs Won [33]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[42] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Radio adds and release history
Country Date Format Label
United States[3] 13 November 2006 Contemporary hit radio Def Jam Recordings
Australia[4] 27 February 2007 Digital download
Austria[5]
Belgium[6]
Spain[7]

References
  1. A Girl Like Me (inlay cover). Rihanna. The Island Def Jam Music Group. 2006. 0602517170483.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "Rap-Up TV: Sean Paul gets 'Deep' with Kelly Rowland, reminisces about Rihanna, & praises Nicki Minaj". Rap-Up. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  3. "Available for aiplay". FMQB. 8 August 2006. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  4. "Break It Off – Single – Rihanna & Sean Paul". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  5. "Break It Off – Single – Rihanna & Sean Paul". iTunes Store (Austria) (in German). Apple. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  6. "Break It Off – Single – Rihanna & Sean Paul". iTunes Store (Belgium). Apple. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  7. "Break It Off – Single – Rihanna & Sean Paul". iTunes Store (Spain) (in Spanish). Apple. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  8. Lamb, Bill. "Rihanna – A Girl Like Me". About.com. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  9. Sanneh, Kelefa (24 April 2006). "Critic's Choice: New CD's". The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  10. Jamieson, Ruth (23 April 2006). "Rihanna, A Girl Like Me". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  11. Charnas, Dan (25 April 2006). "Quick Spin". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  12. "Digital Sheet Music, Rihanna 'Break It Off'". Musicnotes.com. 2006. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. Jeffries, David. "Review: A Girl Like Me". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  14. Huff, Quentin B. (25 April 2006). "Review: A Girl Like Me". PopMatters. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  15. "Pop Songs: Week of November 18, 2006". Billboard. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  16. "Pop Songs: Week of November 25, 2006". Billboard. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  17. "Pop Songs: Week of December 9, 2006". Billboard. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  18. "Pop Songs: Week of December 16, 2006". Billboard. 16 December 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  19. "Pop Songs: Week of December 23, 2006". Billboard. 23 December 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  20. "Pop Songs: Week of December 30, 2006". Billboard. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  21. "Pop Songs: Week of January 6, 2007". Billboard. 6 January 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  22. "Pop Songs: Week of February 3, 2007". Billboard. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  23. "Pop Songs: Week of February 10, 2007". Billboard. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  24. "Pop Songs: Week of February 24, 2007". Billboard. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  25. "Rihanna – Pop Songs Chart History". Billboard. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  26. "Hot 100: Week of December 9, 2006". Billboard. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  27. "Hot 100: Week of March 3, 2007". Billboard. 3 March 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  28. "Hot 100: Week of March 17, 2007". Billboard. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  29. "Rihanna & Sean Paul – Break It Off". ultratop.be/nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien. 24 March 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  30. "Rihanna: Sunday – Main Stage". BBC. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  31. "Good Girl Gone Bad (Live) – Rihanna". iTunes Store (Argentina) (in Portuguese). Apple. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  32. "Peter Gabriel Receives Top Honor at BMI London Awards". BMI. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  33. https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2008_bmi_pop_awards_award_winning_songs
  34. "Ultratop.be – Rihanna & Sean Paul – Break it off" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  35. "Rihanna Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  36. Rihanna — Break It Off. Tophit. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  37. "Break It Off by Rihanna and Sean Paul - Music Charts". acharts.co. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  38. "Romanian Top 100: June 4, 2007". Romanian Top 100. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  39. "Rihanna Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  40. "Rihanna Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  41. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  42. "American single certifications – Rihanna – Break It Off". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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