“Breakdown” is a collaboration with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony included on Mariah's 1997 Butterfly album. “It's a completely different type of singing for me, I love what they do and I think their style is so unique.” Mariah said back in 1997. “You can tell in a lot of R&B their style is starting to penetrate. I was very inspired by them when I came up with the song and I told Puffy, ‘Let's do a Bone Thugs type track.’ We got Stevie J. to lay down the track and I wrote the melody over it. I wrote the song to fit in with that type of style they do and I realized it's really hard to sing those types of rhythm. They make it sound so easy. Now, having experienced the difficulty at first hand. I respect them even more.”
“Breakdown” was released as a commercial single in Australia on February 6, 1998, coinciding with Mariah's Butterfly tour. In the United States, it was sent to radios in February 1998 as an airplay-only single and later released as a double-A side with “My All” on April 21, 1998. “Breakdown” was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association Of America on March 27, 2022.
The Mo' Thugs remix of “Breakdown” features an extended rap section by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, with an extra verse by Layzie Bone.
| Song | Remix | Run time |
|---|---|---|
| Breakdown | The Mo’ Thugs Remix |
4:58 |
| Breakdown | Radio Edit |
4:15 |
Mariah appeared on MTV Live on December 16, 1997 to premiere the “Breakdown” music video, which she co-directed with Diane Martel. In the video, which features cameo appearances by Jermaine Dupri and rapper Redman, Mariah plays a Vegas showgirl. “Diane Martel, who's a good friend of mine, and I co-directed it. We put it together at the last minute, we literally had two days to get it together,” Mariah explained. “We were supposed to do it at another date and it didn't happen.”
In the United States, “Breakdown” was released as a double A-side with “My All.” The Single, including both songs, was available on CD, Cassette and Video Single (containing both music videos). The “My All / Breakdown” Maxi Single was released on CD and contained three additional remixes: The Mo' Thugs Remix of “Breakdown,” the Mobb Deep Mix of “The Roof” and the Fly Away Club Mix of “Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise).” The 12" Vinyl includes the Classic Club Mix of “My All,” the Mobb Deep Mix of “The Roof,” The Mo' Thugs Remix of “Breakdown,” and the Fly Away Club Mix of “Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise).”
In Australia, “Breakdown” was released on CD and Cassette on February 6, 1998. Both formats include the Album Version, the Radio Edit and the Mo’ Thugs Remix of “Breakdown” as well as two “Honey” remixes: Morales Club Dub and Mo’ Honey Dub.
You called yesterday to basically say
That you care for me but that you're just not in love
Immediately, I pretended to be feeling similarly
And led you to believe I was O.K.
To just walk away from the one thing
That's unyielding and sacred to me
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
So, what do you do when somebody you're devoted to
Suddenly just stops loving you and it seems they haven't got a clue
Of the pain that rejection is putting you through
Do you cling to your pride and sing “I will survive”
Do you lash out and say “How dare you leave this way”
Do you hold on in vain as they just slip away
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
Wish Bone:
Gonna break you down
Only if you let it
Everyday crazy situations rocking my mind
Trying to break me down
But I won't let it
Forget it
Krayzie Bone:
I be feeling like you're breaking me down
Kicking me around, stressing me out
I think you better go and get out
And let me release some stress
Wish Bone:
Don't ever wanna feel no pain
Hoping for the sun but it looks like rain
Lord, I just want to maintain
Krayzie Bone:
Yeah, I'm feeling pressures you all
But nevertheless Krayzie won't fall
It's over, it's ending here
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
Lyrics: M. Carey, A. Henderson, C. Scruggs. Music: M. Carey, Stevie J., S. Combs.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Stevie J., Sean “Puffy” Combs.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony:
Don't break down yet it's over
Don't break down yet it's over
Don't break down yet it's over
Don't break down yet it's over
Steady breakin' me on down
Break, break down
Steady breakin' me on down
Break, break down
Steady breakin' me on down
Mariah:
You called yesterday to basically say
That you care for me but that you're just not in love
Immediately, I pretended to be feeling similarly
And led you to believe I was O.K.
To just walk away from the one thing
That's unyielding and sacred to me
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
So, what do you do when somebody you're devoted to
Suddenly just stops loving you and it seems they haven't got a clue
Of the pain that rejection is putting you through
Do you cling to your pride and sing “I will survive”
Do you lash out and say “How dare you leave this way”
Do you hold on in vain as they just slip away
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
Wish Bone:
Gonna break you down, down down
Only if you let it
Everyday crazy situations rocking my mind
Trying to break me down
But I won't let it
Forget it
If you feel the same way that I do
Then let me hear y'all all sing too
Sayin' 'It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, yeah!'
Hopin' for the sun but it looks like rain
P-O-D
But it's still the same
Came far but it's been a long road
Trouble's gon' come but we gotta stay strong
Hold on
Krayzie Bone:
Oh yeah, I can feel the pressures y'all
But nevertheless Krayzie won't fall
It's over, it's endin' here
I said it's over
It's endin' here
So I'll be on my way
And maybe we can meet up in the future one day
But for now I'm bailin' bailin'
Baby gotta get up
Can't take no more
I'm headed for the door
Come and take a look into this humble eye
Tell me if we lived a lie
Would our souls unite?
Layzie Bone:
Every new day is a test for me
So I just pray the Lord for Him to bless me please
There's struggles I'm goin' through lately
Breaks me down
Set me free
Let me be
Let me be
Who else do I have to rely on?
Whose shoulder can a thug go cry on?
Can I get my vibe on?
While you look into my eyes
You won't underestimate this soldier story
I'ma tell you right now I'm fed up
Wrong if I let my lead bust
Pac said 'keep your head up'
Don't let this world get the best of you
I'ma stress you through it
If it's over, over, over
Don't break down yet, it's over
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
Lyrics: M. Carey, A. Henderson, C. Scruggs. Music: M. Carey, Stevie J., S. Combs.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Stevie J., Sean “Puffy” Combs.
