The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is a drum machine that wasn't supposed to be a legend, but it is. When it came out in 1980, it was a total flop. Musicians wanted drum machines that sounded like real drums, and the 808, with its quirky analog sounds, was anything but. The company even discontinued it after only a few years. But then something amazing happened: it became a staple of hip-hop and electronic music, genres that were just starting to blow up.
The 808's legacy isn't about its initial failure; it's about how it became a creative tool in the hands of pioneers. Its sounds, from the booming, deep bass kick to the sizzling hi-hats and that iconic hand clap, were so distinctive that they became the foundation for entire new styles of music. The 808 wasn't trying to be a drummer; it was an instrument in its own right.
Who Used the 808?
The list of artists and bands who used the 808 is a who's who of music history, and it's a testament to how the machine crossed genres and generations.
- Marvin Gaye used it to create the silky-smooth, futuristic beat on his 1982 hit, "Sexual Healing."
- Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force made it a cornerstone of early hip-hop with their groundbreaking track, "Planet Rock" (1982).
- Yellow Magic Orchestra were early adopters, using the 808 on tracks like "1000 Knives" (1980).
- New Order embraced the machine's electronic pulse on songs like "Confusion."
- In the 2000s, the 808 became a defining sound of trap music, with producers like Lex Luger building entire tracks around its bass and sharp hi-hats.
- Kanye West even named his 2008 album, 808s & Heartbreak, after the machine, showcasing its melancholic yet powerful sound on every track.
Today, the 808's sounds are so ingrained in modern music that "808" is almost a synonym for a deep, rumbling bass kick. Whether it's an original machine, a sample, or a software emulation, its distinctive analog thump continues to drive beats all over the world.