States as a double A-side with the album's fifth single, "My All", on April 21, 1998. The songs were issued together in many formats: 7-inch vinyl, 12-inch vinyl, cassette, maxi cassette, CD, and maxi CD. In Japan, "Breakdown" is the B-side to the "My All" mini CD single released on May 30, 1998. It was released independently of "My All" in Oceania. Some formats include a remix of "Breakdown" with additional rapping by Bone-Thugs-n-Harmony. This version, with additional writing by Layzie Bone, also appears on the group's 1998 compilation album, The Collection. "Breakdown" is present on Carey's 2003 remix album, The Remixes, in its original form. Reception "Breakdown" garnered general acclaim from music critics. David Browne from Entertainment Weekly praised the song, writing "for most of the album she keeps her notorious octave-climbing chops at bay. Showing some admirable restraint, she nestles herself into downy-soft beats. In 'Breakdown', she demonstrates she can match the staccato, lite-reggae phrasing of her guests, two members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony." Rich Juzwiak from Slant called "Breakdown" "the song of Carey's career," noting its "lyrical strokes as broad and obvious as they are naked. Mariah the chanter flawlessly adapts to their singsong style, largely boxing her multi-octave range into a sly, hypnotic melody so that when she really wails at the end, you really feel it. As with 'The Roof', Carey lunges toward musical maturity by embracing, not shunning hip-hop. This is the height of her elegance and maybe hip-hop-soul's, too." Writers for Revolt and Complex retrospectively considered "Breakdown" among the best songs in Stevie J's production discography. In 2022, writer for Vibe called the song "one of [Carey's] greatest Hip-Hop/R&B crossovers". Commercial performance In the United States, "Breakdown" debuted at number 66 on the Billboard Hot R&B Airplay chart dated October 18, 1997. Following promotion at radio, it peaked at number thirteen in March 1998. On the Rhythmic Top 40 chart, it peaked at number eighteen the same month. Billboard originally listed Bone-Thugs-n-Harmony as a featured artist, but now credits Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone individually. After the release of the double-A side single with "My All", "Breakdown" debuted and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart dated May 9, 1998. Sales of 25,000 units at R&B music stores accounted for 90 percent of its chart points. As the song's R&B airplay audience (6.5 million) was higher than that of the