"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 November 13, 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.
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 (2007–2009), and was subsequently included on the accompanying DVD release, entitled Good Girl Gone Bad Live.
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 lyrics
"Break It Off" is a "futuristic" pop-dancehall and R&B 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 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. Kelefa Sanneh for The New York Times praised the song, and described it as Rihanna's "triumphant return to her old formula." 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." Bill Lamb for About.com called "Break It Off", along with "Kisses Don't Lie", "candidates for widespread pop radio airplay".