Lyn Collins - Think (About It)

Year Released: 1972
Genre: Funk / Soul / Breakbeat

Description:
One of the most important singles in funk and hip-hop history, “Think (About It)” was written and produced by James Brown and released on his People Records label. Featuring the JB’s and engineered at King Studios in Cincinnati, the track is a masterclass in stripped-down funk — built around taut guitar riffs, syncopated basslines, and Lyn Collins’ fiery, gospel-infused vocals.

At the center of its enduring influence is the legendary “Woo! Yeah!” break, performed by John “Jabo” Starks on drums, punctuated by the JB’s distinctive vocal shouts. This four-bar section became one of the most sampled loops in music history, forming the rhythmic backbone of countless hip-hop and dance records.

The “Think” break has been sampled on countless Hip-Hop tracks, from the likes of Cookie Crew, Kool Moe Dee and Grandmaster Flash, to Roxanne Shante, Kid ‘N Play and Public Enemy. However it’s most notable feature was on Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two” in 1988

The “It Takes Two” version of the break achieved its own legendary status in DJ culture — most memorably when DJ Dave (David Fascher) of Germany, used it to power his winning routine at the 1989 DMC World DJ Championships. Fascher’s precision Transformer cuts of ‘I Wanna Rock Right Now’ and beat juggling with the break became an iconic moment in turntablism, forever linking Lyn Collins’ funk anthem to the global rise of competitive DJing.

From James Brown’s studio in 1972 to DMC world stages in the late ’80s — and continuing through decades of Hip-Hop and electronic production — “Think (About It)” remains a cornerstone of modern rhythm. It’s more than a song; it’s the connective tissue between funk, Hip-Hop, and the art of the break.