Pretty much everyone agreed it was way better.

Rather than fake sounding, computer generated drums, the Linn LM-1 used digital samples of actual drums. And, just a month later, a far superior machine was released by Linn Electronics, called the Linn LM-1.

Keyboard Magazine said it sounded like marching anteaters. It didn’t come out to rave reviews – in fact, it wasn’t a great drum machine. You know, something that makes beats like this: The 808 (pronounced eight-oh-eight, for those of you unfamiliar with hip-hop) gets its name from the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer – one of the first programmable drum machines. In fact, Wikipedia has an entire section devoted to lyrics that mention the drum. brags about his “24 blades glistening, an my 808 kikin’.” It’s in the Far East Movement’s song “Like a G6,” when they they say: “808 bump, make you put your hands up.” Beyonce mentions it in the song Deja Vu, saying “Bass… hi-hat… 808.” And T.I. Turns out, it shows up in a lot of pop songs. The other day, I was running on the treadmill, and Ke$ha asked me: “do I make your heart beat like an 808 drum?”Īnd I didn’t know how to answer! Because I had no idea what an 808 drum even was.