While I get to grips with my SP-404, I found this mini-doc inpsiring.
Roland made ‘Beat Culture & the SP-404‘ last year for 404 Day (4th April, 4/04, geddit?) starring Dibia$e, Flying Lotus and the late Ras G (who died a few months after this was aired). It examined the Los Angeles underground beat scene and how the community created its iconic lo-fi aesthetic, driven along by heavy sampling and minimal groove, predominately through the SP-404.
This video shares memories from Dibia$e, Flying Lotus and Ras G but barely scratches the surface of a scene that grew from the roots of Project Blowed, Sketchbook, Boombox and Low End Theory. Now, from dedicated YouTube channels to SP-based Beat Maker showcases to loyal online communities, this underground beat culture from L.A has now found a global home.
And, by no coincidence, the video is 4 minutes and 4 seconds long.
Stream it below.
