The Art and Influence of Hip Hop

The Art and Influence of Hip Hop

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 30. Afrika Islam's Oberheim DMX drum machine, used by him to produce Ice T's “6 In The Mornin” and “Colors” [1982], with bassline for both still programmed in. Signed by both of them..

[Ice T & Afrika Islam]

Afrika Islam's Oberheim DMX drum machine, used by him to produce Ice T's “6 In The Mornin” and “Colors” [1982], with bassline for both still programmed in. Signed by both of them.

Lot Closed

March 30, 04:30 PM GMT

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Afrika Islam's Oberheim DMX drum machine, used by him to produce Ice T's “6 In The Mornin” and “Colors” [1982], signed by both of them.


Programmable digital drum machine, Model DMX, No. B31119, custom made for Afrika Islam with midi and custom sounds, 4½ by 18 by 12 in. (11.4 x 45.7 x 30.5 cm.), signed at top right corner "ICE T" and "AFRIKA ISLAM UZN ☮", case 15 by 12 by 8 in. (38 x 30.5 x 20.3 cm.), signed at bottom right corner "AFRIKA ISLAM UZN ☮", good operational condition.


ACCOMPANIED BY: Original instruction manual, 8½ by 11 in. (21.5 x 28 cm.), signed center left, "COLORS - ICE T", "AFRIKA ISLAM U.Z.N. ☮", and "ICE T".


ACCOMPANIED BY: Anvil travel case, No. B-114594, 21 by 15 by 8 (53.3 x 38.1 x 20.3 cm.), "PRESTO" 3-digit combination lock on right side, signed on top right "AFRIKA ISLAM UZN ☮", two air cargo stickers on bottom, scuffs and discolorations throughout.

DRUM MACHINE USED BY AFRIKA ISLAM TO PRODUCE ICE T'S “6 In The Mornin” (1984) AND “Colors” (1988), WITH BASSLINE FOR "Colors" (1988) AND "I Love Ladies" (1987) STILL PROGRAMMED IN THE MACHINE, COMPLETE WITH CASE ORIGINALLY OWNED BY DR. DRE AND THE WORLD CLASS WRECKIN' CRU


Afrika Islam is one of the pioneers of Hip Hop, beginning his career in 1977 when he was just ten years old. He started by learning to remix tracks under the tutelage of Afrika Bambaataa before going on to become a legendary DJ, hosting one of the first-ever Hip Hop radio shows, being a key member of the Rock Steady Crew, and forging a long-standing collaborative relationship with superstar Ice T.


The programmable Oberheim DMX Drum Machine was instrumental in shaping the sound and style of early Hip Hop. On few tracks is this better demonstrated than Ice T's "6 In The Morning", widely considered to be amongst the defining tracks of the then nascent genre of gangsta rap. Not ones to rest on their laurels, Ice T and Afrika Islam would use this same DMX Drum Machine to produce "Colors", named by VH1 as the 19th greatest Hip Hop song of all time, and by sociologist Dr. Stefano Bloch as "The greatest sociological text ever written on gang activity and identity."


Featuring superior audio quality and sounds sampled from real drum kits, the DMX Drum Machine featured individual drum voice controls and easily programmable timing variations. These features proved immensely popular as they allowed early Hip Hop producers and artists to simulate the tone, cadence, and style of an actual, human drummer.


Provenance:

From the personal collection of Ice T and Afrika Islam


Condition Report:

To request a condition report for this lot, please contact pop@sothebys.com