- Manufactured by
- Alesis, American, founded 1984
- Used by
- Prince Paul, American, born 1967
- Subject of
- Big Daddy Kane, American, born 1968
- De La Soul, American, founded 1988
- Stetsasonic, American, 1981 - 1991
- Date
- 1988
- Medium
- plastic with metal, wire, and rubber
- Caption
- “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)
- Description
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 used
- United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Tools and Equipment
- Musical Instruments
- Type
- audio equipment
- Topic
- Hip-hop (Music)
- Musicians
- Rappers (Musicians)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2020.38.4.1ab-.2
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




