The company celebrated the TR-808’s 45th anniversary with global parties, limited-edition sneakers and a new animated series featuring Hip-Hop legends.
Roland kicked off its 45th anniversary celebration of the legendary TR-808 Rhythm Composer on Friday (August 8) with a worldwide rollout of events, exclusive product launches and a tribute series spotlighting the machine’s massive influence on Hip-Hop, techno and trap music.
The company unveiled a limited-edition sneaker collaboration with New Balance, hosted international parties and debuted “The Rhythm Creators,” an eight-part animated series featuring Egyptian Lover, Prince Paul, Fatboy Slim and Jazzie B of Soul II Soul. The series, narrated by the artists themselves, dives into their personal stories with the TR-808 and its successor, the TR-909, with animation by Detroit-based artist Vaughn Taormina.
The first episode dropped Friday with Egyptian Lover, and new installments will continue through September.
Roland and New Balance also relaunched the Tiago Lemos NM808 x Roland sneaker, a nod to the 808’s deep roots in music, skateboarding and streetwear. The $114.99 kicks went on sale Friday at 9 a.m. EDT on the New Balance website.
To honor the sneaker drop, Roland and New Balance threw an invite-only mixer in Atlanta at SESSIONS, the studio helmed by producer Tricky Stewart. The event featured performances by Sonny Digital, Mix Master David and an appearance from Don Cannon, host of the “BackTrack” podcast. Attendees also got hands-on demos of Roland gear and a first look at the sneakers.
In Tokyo, Roland partnered with streetwear label XLARGE for a Harajuku takeover, featuring live sets from REMO-CON, Yebisu303 and Ken Plus Ichiro. The XLARGE x 808 capsule collection—graphic tees, hoodies and accessories—was available in-store, alongside a rare display of the original TR-808 drum machine.
Meanwhile, Roland Store London hosted its own celebration with a live DJ set by Complexion and in-store access to the XLARGE x 808 gear, which was also made available online.
Roland also dropped a new sound pack for Roland Cloud users featuring Arabian Prince, a pioneer of the Los Angeles Hip-Hop scene known for “Panic Zone” and “Situation Hot.” The TR-808 Arabian Prince pack gives producers access to his signature patterns and sequences through a Roland Cloud Pro or Ultimate membership or a Lifetime Key.
As part of the anniversary, Roland is offering its TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer for $49 through September 9, giving producers a digital way to tap into the machine’s classic sound.
More information on 808 Day events and products is available on the Roland website.
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