Music Discovery
THE 1980S
The 1980s is when electronic music production was invented. The Roland TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines appear on records from 1980 onwards; the Roland TB-303 defined acid house; the Yamaha DX7 built the decade's keyboard sound. Meanwhile, hip hop moved from party records to albums, Japanese city pop reached its peak, and UK grime's ancestors were being made in garage and post-punk studios.
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Random 1980s records from the Discogs database — played instantly on YouTube.
Discover the 1980sFrequently Asked
What 1980s records are best for hip hop sampling?▾
Early hip hop records themselves (1979–1985) are a primary source — they document what was being sampled and reference the original breaks. Boogie and electro records (Afrika Bambaataa, Whodini, Newcleus) are sampled in contemporary trap and drill. UK post-punk and industrial records from early Factory, 4AD, and Rough Trade are sampled in experimental hip hop.
What is the significance of 1980s electronic music for producers?▾
The 1980s is when electronic production tools became widely available — the Roland TR-808 (1980), TR-909 (1981), TB-303 (1981), Yamaha DX7 (1983), and early samplers (Akai S900, E-mu SP-12). The records made with these tools are both source material and production reference. The specific sounds of this hardware — the 808 kick, the 303 squeal, the DX7 electric piano — are now classics sampled as much as any live recording.
What is city pop and why do producers sample it?▾
City pop is Japanese popular music from approximately 1977–1989, characterised by sophisticated chord progressions, slap bass, warm synthesiser textures, and production influenced by American funk and soul. Artists like Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariya Takeuchi, and Anri released records on Japanese labels that are now widely sought on Discogs. The genre became a global phenomenon around 2019 and is a major sample source in lo-fi, vaporwave, and R&B production.