Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

From Turntables to Samplers, the Gear That Made Hip-Hop

09/09/2023

From Turntables to Samplers, the Gear That Made Hip-Hop For 50 years, hip-hop has used technological innovations to push the genre forward-producer Prince Charles Alexander tracks these iconic sounds in his new book.

By

Bryan Parys

September 8, 2023

Image by Omari Spears

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop. From one perspective, it's a relatively short period of time. Consider how many of the genre's founding legends-DJ Kool Herc, Kurtis Blow, MC Lyte, among countless others-are still regularly performing.

And yet, the amount of stylistic and technological innovation that has happened within these five quick decades of hip-hop is staggering, as a quick comparison between, say, Run DMC and Cardi B shows.

Image courtesy of Berklee Press

In his new book, Hip-Hop Production: Inside the Beats (Berklee Press 2023), Prince Charles Alexander, professor in the Music Production and Engineering Department, explores the interplay between creativity and new technology that helped hip-hop become a global juggernaut. As he explains in the introduction, the book trace[s] a timeline that that includes commercially successful hip-hop records and the innovations they showcased.

In the following list, guided by insights from Inside the Beats, we take a look at the initial technological advances that formed rap's foundation. While hip-hop hasn't stopped innovating and new gear will continue to shape the future of music, these five production elements, developed and first utilized in the genre's early decades, are responsible for giving hip-hop its template.

Turntables: DJ Kool Herc (1973) At a house party in 1973, DJ Kool Herc unknowingly sparked hip-hop's flashpoint when he added a second turntable to his DJ rig. As Alexander says, [I]f you had two turntables and a mixer, you could alternate a beat between the two turntables and extend a four-bar musical pattern-you know, that hot break section in the middle of that fly record-you could extend that musical pattern to infinity. In the 50 years since, that party has only gotten bigger.

Given Herc's main role as a live DJ, there are not many professional recordings of his early work. What we do have are a few grainy, lo-fi cassette recordings of some of those parties in the 70s. Despite the recording quality, these are still primary historical documents that give us a sampling of that initial energy and innovation. Take a listen:

Live Band: Rapper's Delight, Sugarhill Gang (1979) In the 70s though, turntablism could only take hip-hop so far. Let's face it, a young, Black DJ was not going to be playing turntables on American Bandstand in 1979, and you can only play for a limited number of people at block parties using turntables, Alexander says.

Until the technology could keep up with hip-hop's imagination, the fledgling genre used live-band instrumentation in order to help the music find a bigger audience. In 1979, Rapper's Delight by the Sugarhill Gang did exactly that.

Drum Machine: The Message, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (1981) The emergence of the first drum machines-and hip-hop's immediate adoption of the tech-came at the perfect moment. It bridged the gap between DJ culture and reaching wide enough audiences to create commercial potential. The first three-the Linn LM-1, Roland TR-808, and Oberheim DMX-gave rappers a way to program their own beats, setting the stage for sounds and rhythms that would, as Alexander says, change the sound of hip-hop-and eventually, modern music in general.

The drum machine also democratized hip-hop, opening the door for more and more rappers and producers, which in turn, expanded hip-hop's creative and aesthetic ethos. The Message, by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, uses the DMX, and is notable also for giving rappers a narrative outlet for social commentary. The genre created at a party now had a platform.

MIDI: Push It, Salt-N-Pepa (1987) While MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is not something that produces audio, it was a system, or musical language, that brought all the various music tech of the day together. The MIDI protocol enables computers, synthesizers, controllers, sound modules, sound cards, samplers, and drum machines-from various manufacturers-to communicate with each other, Alexander explains. It is the revolution that changed music from a group endeavor to a one-person operation and is the life source of modern hip-hop production.

While you can't exactly hear MIDI, you can hear how it allowed artists to create more expansive productions and arrangements, as is the case for the iconic synth lines and quantized rhythms in Push It, by Salt-N-Pepa.

Samplers: It Was a Good Day, Ice Cube (1993) Where to begin with samples. Simply defined, A sample is an excerpt from a recording, which hip-hop producers often incorporate into new compositions, often via a device called a sampler,' Alexander says.

The use of samples has had a tortured legal history, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming a nearly universal aspect of hip-hop, since it allows one to, as Alexander says, sample any beat length and play it back with the simple push of a button. You could even layer in additional melodic, recorded performances.

For an example of sample usage at this point, you just need to turn on a radio. To pick from the long list, consider how Ice Cube's It Was a Good Day uses the drum beat and guitar riff from Footprints in the Dark, by the Isley Brothers (consider also how Ice Cube wasn't even the first to sample this song, and he was far from the last).

Related Categories

News

Most Popular

Goose guitarist and vocalist Rick Mitarotonda B.M. 16 performed with the band at a sold-out Portland, Maine, show on July 6, 2023.

Image by Adam Berta
LINK: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/from-turntables-to-samplers-t...
See more stories from berklee

More from Berklee

09/05/2025

Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates

Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates For the first time, BPMI will bring Berklee-affiliated artists and students to the ...

08/05/2025

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklees 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his ...

02/05/2025

Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music Conference

Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music ...

02/05/2025

Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards

Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards Fifteen alumni from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music contributed to nomin...

30/04/2025

Tania Len and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee's Commencement Ceremony

Tania Le n and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee&...

30/04/2025

Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College of Music 2025 Commencement

Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College ...

25/04/2025

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Afternoon

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Af...

24/04/2025

Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert

Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert The event will feature Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning artist Miguel Zen n BM '98, cuatro...

24/04/2025

Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito Pez Inspires at Berklee

Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito P ez Inspires at Berklee In a session hosted by the Mediterranean Music Institute, the influential Argentine musician...

23/04/2025

Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Culture

Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Cul...

19/04/2025

Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC

Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC This season features faculty member Arun Pandian as the new host and interviews ...

18/04/2025

Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist

Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The drummer secured a spot among the elite winners in this years competition. By Maddie...

18/04/2025

Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway

Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway The Latin American immigrant community takes center stage in a new musical featuring Tatian...

17/04/2025

In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward

In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward From mood boards to live demos, the alumni band gave students an exclusive look at the process behin...

17/04/2025

Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lewis has more than 20 years of industry experience, leading fundraising initiati...

16/04/2025

Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap

Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap The pop star, songwriter, and producer talked about his career and shared stories behind his biggest hits, inc...

12/04/2025

Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration

Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration Charlie Puth, Tiny Desk, top A&Rs, and more came together for a day of professional development and energet...

11/04/2025

Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles

Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles Discover some of the many types of electronic music and how they've shaped contemporary mu...

05/04/2025

Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert

Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert Known for his work with Bowie and John Lennon, the influential guitarist will also visit cl...

04/04/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at Spring Dance Concert: Limitless

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at S...

03/04/2025

Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Council

Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Co...

03/04/2025

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blen...

03/04/2025

Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial O...

02/04/2025

Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Music Fund

Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Musi...

28/03/2025

Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra

Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, ov...

28/03/2025

Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025

Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025 The Signature Series event will celebrate over 40 years of gospel music at Berklee. By Colet...

28/03/2025

Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership

Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership Cavalier receives the rare Julius M. Nolte Award from UPCEA. By Colette Greenstein ...

26/03/2025

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Next Jazz Legacy Cohort

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Nex...

22/03/2025

Antonio Snchez, Bla Fleck, and Edmar Castaeda Push Boundaries on BEATrio

Antonio S nchez, B la Fleck, and Edmar Casta eda Push Boundaries on BEATrio The trio's debut album drops May 16, but you can hear the first single, Archi...

21/03/2025

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern The Berklee professor's immersive installation transports visitors to Matanzas...

21/03/2025

Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival

Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival Performances will feature modern jazz masters Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Miguel Zen n BM '98, and Christine...

21/03/2025

PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent

PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk a...

21/03/2025

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate Modern's East Tank

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate...

21/03/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, ...

20/03/2025

Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performance Center

Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performanc...

19/03/2025

Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase

Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase Find out how you can get your work in front of more people with these music marketing str...

19/03/2025

Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding Song

Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding So...

17/03/2025

BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase

BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase eight artists performing at this summer's ho...

15/03/2025

Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane

Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with ...

14/03/2025

Singaporean singer-songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity

Singaporean Singer-Songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...

13/03/2025

Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice

Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions. ...

12/03/2025

Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations

Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits. By Madd...

11/03/2025

New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B

New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B In The Quiet Storm, Berklee Online alumnus Amani Roberts explores how the radio format defined America...

11/03/2025

The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering

The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering The Signature Series concert will feature performances by all nine of the instit...

10/03/2025

Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme

Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme Boston is the only host city to work with an educational institution to create its unique,...

06/03/2025

Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent

Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent When Boston Calling comes to Allston this May, student performers will light up the festival'...

06/03/2025

Building a Home Studio? Start Here.

Building a Home Studio? Start Here. Berklee professors and alumni break down the basics of setting up your home music studio, and share tips on how to get the...

03/03/2025

The Art of Connection

The Art of Connection Alums Melanie Bacaling and Gabriella Reyes share a deep bond that's carried them to the heights of the opera world. By Sarah Godch...

03/03/2025

Scripting Her Path

Scripting Her Path Writer Alexis Scheer takes on a wide range of subject matter, from the stage to the screen. March 3, 2025 Alexis Scheer Photo by Gabriel...

27/02/2025

Student Spotlight: Manuela Snchez Goubert

Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee ha...