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its amazing how prevalent the 808 sound is in modern music... probably 80% of current rap music is based on sounds derived from the 808 kit. The combination of smoothness, "bassiness" and chattering hats and static snare really is infectious.

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Here's a good look at the then-current top twenty, versus the same week in 1998.

808s everywhere.

https://youtu.be/rn85sCVEGOw

ha, that's a good one. Speaks to the lack of diversity in current hip hop and also hip hop's dominance of pop music currently. Also tho, in '98 there is all kinds of transition happening in pop ...boy/girl bands in and out of popularity, dance music resurging but moving away from the euro thing, hip hop itself coming out of a golden era early 90's beat, and transitioning to pop centric and about to be super super influenced by the beats of Timbaland..that style..which of course, is more 808 based than what was before and dominated for years and years until finally the minimal 808 sound took over with I dunno kanye and stuff in the mid 00's? No where else to go with beats and it's lucky it has survived without much innovation. Meanwhile outside of the U.S. in places like UK influences of underground dance created innovative beats in the grime scenes and you hear things that are more creative/dancey/electronic/tribal even....which only those different producers singled out in this video of the current crop seem to be delving into. This is America beat? much closer to grime/drum'n'bass style out of the UK than mainstream U.S. production....

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