Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Before laptops, before plugins and before electro had taken full shape, there was Egyptian Lover and the 808.
Released in 1980, the Roland TR-808's synthetic kick, crisp handclaps and rigid step-sequencing offered full rhythmic control at a time when studio access was expensive.One of the first to make the drum machine their own was Egyptian Lover.
There, in Los Angeles circa 1984, he unleashed classics like Egypt, Egypt and I Cry (Night After Night).
The affordability of the 808 made it central to a new, independent production culture: you hear that signature boom everywhere now. But few mastered the 808's precision and punch quite like the OGs.
Before laptops, before plugins and before electro had taken full shape, there was Egyptian Lover and the 808.
Released in 1980, the Roland TR-808's synthetic kick, crisp handclaps and rigid step-sequencing offered full rhythmic control at a time when studio access was expensive.One of the first to make the drum machine their own was Egyptian Lover.
There, in Los Angeles circa 1984, he unleashed classics like Egypt, Egypt and I Cry (Night After Night).
The affordability of the 808 made it central to a new, independent production culture: you hear that signature boom everywhere now. But few mastered the 808's precision and punch quite like the OGs.
