Top 5 most important Hip-Hop technologies you must have heard of!

Hip hop music has come a long way since its origins in the 1970s. The genre has been shaped and defined by a number of different technologies over the years, each of which has had a significant impact on the sound and style of hip hop music. In this post, we will take a look at some of the most influential music technologies in hip hop music.

1. The Akai MPC: The Akai MPC (Music Production Center) is a drum machine and sampler that was first introduced in 1988. It quickly became one of the most popular and widely used instruments in hip hop music, and was used by many of the genre’s biggest producers and DJs. The MPC’s ability to sample, loop and manipulate sounds, as well as its built-in drum machine and sequencer, made it an essential tool for hip hop music production.

2. The Roland TR-808: The Roland TR-808 is a classic drum machine that was first introduced in 1980. It was not initially popular but due to its affordability, it became widely used by hip hop producers in the early 1980s. Its unique and distinctive sound has become an essential element of hip hop music, and it continues to be widely used today.

3. The SP-1200: The SP-1200 is a classic drum machine and sampler that was first introduced in 1987. It was widely used by hip hop producers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was known for its ability to manipulate and process sounds in real-time. The SP-1200’s ability to sample and loop sounds, as well as its built-in drum machine and sequencer, made it an essential tool for hip hop music production.

4. Turntables: Turntables have been an integral part of hip hop music since the genre’s inception. DJs such as Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, and Frankie Knuckles were among the first to use turntables to create new sounds and styles of music. Turntables are used to scratch, loop and manipulate sounds, and they remain a common tool for hip hop DJs and producers today.

5. Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs): DAW’s have revolutionized the way hip hop music is produced and created. Programs such as Ableton, Logic Pro, Cubase, and FL Studio have opened up a world of possibilities for hip hop producers, allowing them to easily create, edit and manipulate sounds with the use of virtual instruments and effects. DAWs are considered to be a defining technology of hip hop in the last two decades, giving producers access to editing tools that were once beyond their imagination.

BONUS

While the AI revolution hasn’t happened just yet, it does seem to be ramping up in the world of music. AI models can already generate sounds and musical phrases and the technology continues to improve. In a few years, AI’s may be co-writing some of your favorite songs.

There you have it. The 5 most influential technologies in hip hop so far and 1 emerging technology that may push artists in new directions.