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"Break It Off" is a song performed by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006). The song features vocals by Jamaican dancehall artist Sean Paul. Rihanna and Paul co-wrote the song with Donovan Bennett and K. Ford, while production was helmed by Don Corleon. Island Def Jam Music Group

"Break It Off" received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, as many of them praised the song for it's overall composition and labeled it as one of the album's highlights. The song peaked inside the top ten in Belgium and on the Billboard Hot 100 at number nine, despite lack of promotion. Despite its commercial success, "Break It Off" did not receive promotion through the production of a music video.

Background and release[]

"Break It Off" was recorded at 2 Hard Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. It was written by Donovan Bennett, Sean Paul Henriques (better known as Sean Paul), K. Ford and Rihanna, who is credited as Robyn Fenty. Production of the song was handled by Don Corleon. It was engineered by Jeremy Harding and Bennett, who also mixed the song. All instrumentation was provided by Bennett. 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. 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." Reminiscing on "Break It Off" and Rihanna, Paul stated that working with the singer and creating the song was "his most memorable collaboration."

"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 November 13, 2006, by Def Jam Recordings. It was also made available to download digitally via iTunes in various countries around the world on February 27, 2007, including Australia, Austria, Belgium and Spain.

The song was later included on the Japanese special edition of Paul's third studio album The Trinity.

Composition and lyrical interpretation[]

"Break It Off" is a "futuristic" pop-dancehall song, which is layered over an electro-reggae beat. 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. According to Dan Charnas for The Washington Post, "Break It Off" showcases Rihanna's Caribbean roots. "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). Rihanna's vocal range in the song spans one octave from the lower note of A3 to the higher note of A4. The song includes piano keys and guitar strings as part of its instrumental composition.

Critical reception[]

"Break It Off" garnered good responses from music critics. David Jeffries from AllMusic was enthusiastic, writing in his review that it "sounds completely wasted" and that Rihanna contemplates a nice match with Sean Paul. Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times praised the song and called it "a victorious return to his old formula". Quentin B. Huff of PopMatters praised Sean Paul's contribution to the song and praised Rihanna's hook , stating that "Rihanna's hook is so infectious that her voice is the one thing you'll never get out of your head. This is another dancehall-infused number that's sure to make a splash."

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