Herman Kelly & Life - Easy Going / Dance To The Drummer Beat

Year Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Breakbeat / Disco

Description:

“Easy Going / Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” by Herman Kelly & Life is a powerful 7″ funk single released in 1978 on Alston Records (a subsidiary of T.K. Productions, Miami). Although modestly received upon its initial release, the record went on to achieve legendary status among DJs, breakdancers, and hip-hop producers, primarily for its explosive B-side, “Dance To The Drummer’s Beat.”

The A-side, “Easy Going,” is a laid-back groove built on smooth basslines, rhythmic guitar, and tight horn accents — a fine example of Miami funk’s polished, sunlit sound. However, it’s the B-side that became iconic: “Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” is a hard, percussion-driven funk workout propelled by relentless breakbeats, syncopated congas, and a hypnotic bass riff. The raw drum sound and stripped-down arrangement made it a favorite among early hip-hop DJs and crate diggers searching for open breaks.

The 7″ single features “Easy Going” on the A-side and “Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” on the B-side, though some regional pressings reversed the order, reflecting the track’s growing popularity on dance floors and in block parties.

“Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” became one of the most sampled and scratched funk tracks in hip-hop history, influencing the sound of the Bronx and Miami scenes alike. It’s been prominently used by artists such as 2 Live Crew, Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul, DJ Kool, and countless others across hip-hop, electro, and dance genres. Its drum break also appeared on numerous early DJ battle records and breakbeat compilations throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Musically, the track’s combination of live funk energy and crisp rhythmic separation made it ideal for looping and cutting — a template for the evolution of hip-hop’s sample-based production. Today, original 7″ pressings of the record are highly sought after by collectors for both their historical importance and their raw, timeless groove.

“Easy Going / Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” stands as a cornerstone of funk and breakbeat history, bridging late-’70s Miami funk with the birth of hip-hop culture — an essential artifact for DJs and vinyl enthusiasts alike.