I just heard Graham Massey on NPR radio in America about the passing of the Japanese inventor of the 808. It sounded like maybe a snippet pulled form an 808 doc or something. A woman in a European accent said the 808 became popular again in the 1990s with artist using "beat breaks" inspired by Kool Herc. She kept on saying beat breaks Also the legendary drum machines can create snappy sounds like the clap.
Scratching my head on that one. In the 90s there was break beat, mostly sampling the Amen break. Not so much TR-808. The electro revival of the 1990s. I think back to Ectomorph, the Jedi Knights. I kind of trolling but nice to hear Graham Massey on American radio and a clueless journalist repeating "beat breaks."
Im not sure if this will play in the USA , but it is from a radio doc I did for BBC radio 4 a couple of years back.
Around about the same time as the Aira came out . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39471567
I might be doing a piece on Mr K for BBC World Service next week , that will be available in USA..keep you posted here. G
Hey Graham, thanks for posting those links. It looks like the NPR segment nicked a part from the BBC radio 4 interview. I recognized the "kick drum, vibrate bodies" part. The woman with the British accent sounded similar as well.
Edit- It may have been BBC Word Service that airs in the US instead of NPR. http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bbc-world-service/about/ Although 808 State is mentioned in the NPR written article so I can't say for sure.
Also the legendary drum machines can create snappy sounds like the clap.