How the SP-1200 changed the sound of hip hop

Often referred to as one of the samplers that changed modern music, the SP-12 was built with preset drums and encouraged producers to record their own samples. Rick Rubin is credited for using the SP-12 on the Beastie Boys' song "Rhymin' and Stealin'" to elevate his sample of John Bonham's drums from "When the Levee Breaks."
When the SP-12 evolved into its brighter, shiner cousin the SP-1200, the updated instrument set a new standard for digital sampling across genres. Producers like J Dilla and Large Professor were quick adoptees, which resulted in classic albums by Main Source and A Tribe Called Quest. When it came to electronic music, the SP-1200 was used widely by Todd Terry, Daft Punk, and The Prodigy. For DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, who blended his upbringing listening to Motown and Black Sabbath with a love for rap, the sampler was a breakthrough - "You'd take a lot of these little things and just make a collage." (Sound on Sound, 2018)

[@amontri3246]

If you can make a classic with only 10 seconds of sample time your a certified producer

[@beatsbyjiro8291]

true, but dont forget you could overdub on the tape and most producers also had a s900 or 950 wit it

[@music_cult7165]

I gotta see how they pulled that off

[@tuseniora]

beatmaker*

[@92pmda]

Jus Had a better imagination

[@thegroove2000]

I have mad respect for those who knocked out straight up classics from the SP with such limited sampling tme.

[@cpasquet]

SP1200 IS THE BEST MACHINE ON THE PLANET

[@GUNProductions]

the way Pete Rock manipulated the sampling time on this machine gets overlooked way too often. Pure genius

[@ES2990]

That was actually a common practice, I seen DJ Paul saying the same exact thing

[@johnnysamba5443]

Not trying to be smart bro everyone that used the sp done the same thing it was common sense i had the sp 1200 when it first came out there was no pete rock or dilla we all did the exact same thing this only samples in 2.5 second blocks how can we cheat more sampling time boom speed up the record i would even spin it faster than 45 manually to get more time theres a few other tricks on that machine that no one talks about lol !! I aint tellin !!!

[@johnnysamba5443]

And the same thing with the dilla un quantized another thing that dont get me wrong he is a genius but again anyone who programmed beats would go through a faze of this quantize is too rigid not like a real drummer only real beat programmers would think i need it more human so either no quantize or enter step mode and place beats manually again there was no dilla or pete rock in 87 sunn !!!

[@johnnysamba5443]

One more thing to prove my point when you go into multi levels that pads scale down from right to left any human using the sp would start to think hey thats what a delay does lol !!! Everyone and theyre grandma does the echo or delay horn thing not just pete rock but dont get me wrong its all about style and an ear for the tunes and chops !! Pete rock is a master and dilla is like woh !!!

[@smiauu]

@@johnnysamba5443 Exactly. Pete rock, Dilla and many of these legendary producers are way overrated by these kids just starting fucking with samplers.

[@customerservice9602]

Ayyyyyy YO! Burry me with my SP

[@rashodlewis2918]

Where’s the rest of the video? This was too short of a clip.

[@Nico-ct6jz]

It's called hiphop evolution it's on Netflix would recommend

[@rashodlewis2918]

@@Nico-ct6jz thank you. I will check it out.

[@TapeWormOfficial]

Some of these cats grew up on MP3s. When Q-Tip says pause tape, they start scratching their heads. LOL 😏 Can't make a pause tape if you never owned a dual tape cassette deck. I miss the 90's. 😐

[@resleone6609]

@@TapeWormOfficial You’re speaking gospel! This is the truth!

[@thegroove2000]

LEGENDS OF THE GAME.

[@bigslamnolan]

Is there a name of that beat? Which songs have it? It’s stuck in my head and I need it

[@michaldzekson]

They Reminisce Over You

[@ChampagneFilmmakerTV]

It's on Pete Rock And CL smooth Album, Reminisce

[@jorgemarronabascal4899]

La Ciencia del HipHop

[@fuqonyobitch8831]

Lol NORE on the cover

[@RidinSpinners36]

DJ Paul did it best

[@hailnaryproductionz3661]

Every generation not gonna leave behind what they grew up with so that’s understandable. But can’t be afraid of the future of many changes, even though things were great!!!! Gots to let go of the past 😢 I’ve notice a lot of O.Gs afraid of something new!! It’s gonna keep going on and on generations after generations.