Armon Sadler
August 8, 2026
Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic; Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/WireImage The pillars of hip-hop are often described as DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti, which was true when the genre burst onto the scene in 1973. However, one could argue that the modern adaptation of those four tentpoles may be a little different today.
One thing to consider is the 808, short for the Roland TR-808 drum machine. Though the product launched in 1980 and only stayed on shelves until 1982, it has changed multiple lanes of music forever. Its two-year existence was enough to inspire bright minds to create legendary records like Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and Egyptian Lover’s “Egypt Egypt,” among others.
When it comes to hip-hop, an 808 may be one of the most important and enduring foundational elements of beatmaking. The best part is that it has woven its way through so many eras. Below, we list 13 songs that display why 808 Day is as essential to hip-hop as it is in other genres.
This article was originally published on VIBE.
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“Planet Rock” – Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/WireImage Make no mistake about it, a lot of today’s music is inspired by Black music. That’s why Afrika Bambaataa and The Soulsonic Force blending hip-hop and electro music elements in 1982 on “Planet Rock” was nothing out of the ordinary. Beyond that, this song popularized what the Roland TR-808 drum machine was capable of: “Putting the boom in music.”
“Planet Rock” was where “street percussion” met “Kraftwerk-inspired electronic beats” thanks to production efforts from Arthur Baker. The track peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is currently certified Gold by the RIAA. However, all real ones know that you can’t quantify influence.
