The SP-1200 sampler changes everything

The ability to create an entire song on a single piece of kit is now standard practice. In 1987, the release of the E-mu SP 1200 made it possible for the first time. And portable, too. Decades on, those beats can sound choppy and limited. But they're also immediately reminiscent of classic albums such as EPMD's Strictly Business and Critical Beatdown by the Ultramagnetic MCs, which were born from the SP's chunky buttons. Production of the machine ceased in the 90s; today it fetches thousands of dollars on eBay.