ROLAND CELEBRATES THE SEMINAL TR 808 DRUM MACHINE

It’s no secret that Roland’s TR 808 is the drum machine that put the boom into Boom Bap. The TR 808 became synonymous with classic Hip Hop beats with massive kicks and basslines starting in the late 80s. These were the type of beats that made jeep windows rattle when they rolled by with the boomin’ systems.

To celebrate this sonic big bang that forever changed the course of Hip Hop, Roland will be auctioning off a one-of-one Roland BMX bike, with proceeds going to help fund a scholarship for an aspiring artist to attend on-campus Music Industry and Fundamentals Program at 1500 Sound Academy in Inglewood, California. The 808 BMX Bike celebrates the impact of the Roland TR-808 drum machine on music over the past four-plus decades. This one-of-one retro Roland 808 BMX Bike was commissioned from renowned graffiti artist and custom vintage BMX designer, DUROTHETHIRD, and is made from all original vintage parts.

Founder and creative director of Roland Lifestyle Nathan Chandra said, “I believe music is a ladder for the soul to reach the highest realms, and to participate in an initiative to help a student gain access to one of the best music schools in the world is an honor”.

As part of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, LiFTED will be covering the roots of the culture all month long. The TR 808 is as much a part of Hip Hop as turntables or microphones.

The auction is live on Roland Lifestyle from August 8 to August 16 here.