PRINCE PAUL'S ALESIS HR-16 DRUM MACHINE, USED ON DE LA SOUL, BIG DADDY KANE, AND OTHERS

[PRINCE PAUL]

ALESIS HR-16

16 Bit Digital Drum Machine. ca. 1988. With original manual and power adaptor.

Prince Paul Makes the Beats that powered "Three Feet High and Rising" and "It's a Big Daddy Thing"

“I purchased this in ’88 and the sounds from this machine have been used on almost every record I worked on after 3 Feet High and Rising – Big Daddy Kane, 3rd Bass, Prince Among Thieves, and Stetsasonic. One record it can be clearly heard on is "It’s a Big Daddy thing " by Big Daddy Kane. On other albums I have used random percussion sounds from it, like low drums and hi hats." (Prince Paul)

While the Linn drum machine revolutionized electronic percussion when it was introduced in 1980, it was an expensive unit at $5,000 and was hampered by its 8 bit resolution. Other makers stepped up throughout the decade to offer lower priced alternatives with better resolution, and Keith Barr (of MXR fame) introduced the Alesis HR-16 as a relatively affordable ($700) unit that produced big sounds with 16 bit resolution in a no frills package.

PROVENANCE:

Courtesy Prince Paul