Alesis HR-16 drum machine used by Prince Paul
date: label: Date
content: 1988
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Alesis, American, founded 1984
label: Used by
content: Prince Paul, American, born 1967
label: Subject of
content: Big Daddy Kane, American, born 1968
label: Subject of
content: De La Soul, American, founded 1988
label: Subject of
content: Stetsasonic, American, 1981 - 1991
notes: label: Caption
content: “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)
label: Description
content: An Alesis HR-16 16 bit midi digital drum machine (.1a) with power cord (.1b) and owner's manual (.2) used by the producer Prince Paul.
label: Description
content: The machine has a grey plastic shell covering and consists of a flat top panel and a slightly tilted main panel. Across the top of the flat panel is light grey text reading [AR-16 HIGH SAMPLE RATE / 16 BIT DRUM MACHINE] and, to the bottom left, a black plaque with silver lettering reading [ALESIS]. The top panel lifts up to reveal a set of printed instructions. Attached to the instructions is a yellow post-it note with handwritten inscriptions in black and blue ink including [II BASS BU 35] and [2 SNARE E140] among other notations.
label: Description
content: At top center of the tilted main panel is a small rectangular display screen above a set of buttons numbered 1 - 9. Beneath this is a white label with black text reading [PRINCE PAUL]. To the left is another set of grey buttons, with three larger buttons underneath for [PLAY] (green), [STOP / CONTINUE] (grey), and [RECORD] (red). On the right is a vertical row of five grey buttons with a slider selection control. There are two rows of large, square off-white button pads along the bottom edge of the face.
label: Description
content: The bottom is a shiny black plastic and has a black and white label from Alesis with the serial number [DI 449890] along with a black and white quality control sticker completed by hand with the date [12-4-88]. In each corner is a round rubber foot, except for the bottom left where the foot has been replaced with a yellow material. There is tape holding on the top right foot.
place: label: Place used
content: United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Hip-hop (Music)
label: Topic
content: Musicians
label: Topic
content: Rappers (Musicians)
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Tools and Equipment
label: Classification
content: Musical Instruments
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2020.38.4.1ab-.2
objectType: label: Type
content: audio equipment
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No known copyright restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: plastic with metal, wire, and rubber