"breakdown" is a song by american singer and songwriter mariah carey. the song features rap verses by bone thugs-n-harmony. it was released on march 22, 1998, by columbia records as the fourth single from her sixth studio album "butterfly" (1997). similar to the treatments of "butterfly" and the roof", "breakdown" received a limited worldwide release due to carey's conflict at the time with sony. the song's lyrics describe the emotions someone feels when their lover suddenly stops loving and leaves them, and the pain, or breakdown, it causes the person. the song was well received by contemporary music critics.