Roland TR 808

The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer (a.k.a. the "808") was one of the first programmable drum machines ("TR" serving as an initialism forTransistor Rhythm). 


The first song I recognized that used the The TR-808 and popularized this machine in 1982, with the release of the mainstream American hits "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye.

The next song I chose was Kanye West's song "Love Lockdown". 

“Love Lockdown,” in particular, starts with as stark and spartan an 808 beat as you’ll ever hear — a single, echoing beat, its sound quickly decaying into silence.

Another song that uses the 808 is by theTalking Heads , “Psycho Killer” .