808 Day, observed on August 8th (8/08), is a day for musicians, producers, and fans to celebrate the impact and legacy of the TR-808 drum machine. It’s a time when people share their music, performances, and appreciation for the unique sounds and rhythms that the TR-808 can produce.
The Roland TR-808 drum machine, which is a legendary and influential electronic musical instrument. The TR-808 was first released in 1980 and played a significant role in shaping the sound of various music genres, particularly electronic, hip-hop, and dance music.
In 2015 Alexander Dunn made a great documentary about the Roland TR-808 drum machine and how its ground-shaking beats changed the musical world. The documentary has appearances from the likes of Pharell Williams, Phil Collins, Afrika Bambaataa, Beastie Boys, Damon Albarn, David Guetta, Fatboy Slim, Goldie, New Order, Rick Rubin, Questlove, Armand Van Helden and many others. If you are interested, this documentary is available on Youtube.
So since we are celebrating 808 day, off course I am sharing my favorite 808 tracks, enjoy!
