ROLAND TR-808: the drum machine that defined modern music

The history of the Roland TR-808: how a drum machine Roland only sold 12,000 units of before discontinuing it became the most important sound in modern hip-hop, techno, and trap music. This video traces the TR-808 Rhythm Composer from its origins at Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi's earlier company, Ace Tone, through the 1978 Roland CR-78, to the 808's 1980 release, its commercial failure and 1983 discontinuation, and its second life in the hands of Afrika Bambaataa, Marvin Gaye, Detroit techno producers, 808 State, The Chemical Brothers, and eventually Kanye West's 2008 album "808s & Heartbreak." It also covers the Roland TR-909, the TB-303, the concept of shuffle and micro-timing in drum programming, and how producer J Dilla pushed the same idea of deliberate timing imperfection into hip-hop production. Covered in this documentary: who invented the TR-808, why it failed commercially, why Roland discontinued it in 1983, how it ended up in pawn shops for under $100, its role in the birth of electro and techno, the TR-909 comparison, and how the tuned 808 kick became the foundation of modern trap music. Subscribe for more deep-dive documentaries on the origin stories behind the instruments and gear that shaped modern music. #RolandTR808 #DrumMachine #MusicHistory #HipHopHistory #TechnoMusic #TrapMusic #MusicProduction #VintageSynth #MusicDocumentary #KanyeWest #AfrikaBambaataa #MarvinGaye #DetroitTechno #AcidHouse #DrumMachineHistory