The Art and Influence of Hip Hop
The Art and Influence of Hip Hop
[Ice T & Afrika Islam]
Afrika Islam's Roland TB-303, used by him to produce Ice T's "Colors" (1987) and "Squeeze the Trigger" (1987), with the basslines for both still programmed into the machine, signed by both of them
Lot Closed
March 30, 04:30 PM GMT
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Afrika Islam's Roland TB-303, used by him to produce Ice T's "Colors" (1987) and "Squeeze the Trigger" (1987), signed by both of them.
Roland TB-303 Bass Line Synthesizer, ca. '81/'82. 1¾ by 11¾ by 5¾ in. (4.5 x 29.8 x 14.6 cm.), signed center right, "ICE T", "AFRIKA ISLAM UZN ☮", and "COLORS", good operational condition.
ACCOMPANIED BY: Original instruction manual, 7 by 10 in. (17.7 x 25.4 cm.), signed center left, "COLORS", "AFRIKA ISLAM UZN ☮", and "ICE T".
BASS SYNTHESIZER USED BY AFRIKA ISLAM ON ICE T'S FIRST FOUR ALBUMS INCLUDING THE PRODUCTION OF “COLORS” (1988) AND "SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER" (1987), WITH THE BASELINES OF THOSE SONGS STILL PROGRAMMED IN THE MACHINE
Named by VH1 as the 19th greatest Hip Hop song of all time, the sociologist Dr. Stefano Bloch deemed "Colors" to be "The greatest sociological text ever written on gang activity and identity."
Afrika Islam is one of the pioneers of Hip Hop, beginning his career in 1977 when he was just ten years old. He started by learning to remix tracks under the tutelage of Afrika Bambaataa before going on to become a legendary DJ, hosting one of the first-ever Hip Hop radio shows, being a key member of the Rock Steady Crew, and forging a long-standing collaborative relationship with superstar Ice T.
First designed and released in 1981, the Roland TB-303 Bass Line Synthesizer was meant to mimic the bass guitar, but instead emitted a "squelchy tone more reminiscent of a psychedelic mouth harp than a stringed instrument". Despite its lack of commercial popularity, many early Hip Hop and electronic musicians gravitated towards its "chirping" sound, making the "303" foundational to the genesis and evolution of numerous '80s musical genres.
Provenance:
From the personal collection of Ice T and Afrika Islam
Condition Report:
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