In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, listen to these ten essential songs from the sound’s golden era, the 1990s.
EXPLORE HISTORY
Mr. Oizo’s “Flat Beat” was an infectious song written for a Levi's® ad starring an orange puppet named Flat Eric. At its heart was the TR-606.
Roland’s global headquarters sits in Hamamatsu, Japan. Take a tour of this charming seaside town and learn how Roland fits into its history.
At the top of the 1990s, Prince was eager for new sounds. The JD-800 was the go-to synth on a lengthy run of albums by the prolific artist.
“Axel F” is the inescapable theme song of the classic '80s romp Beverly Hills Cop. Learn about the oddball hit and its pioneering creator.
Ashton Miranda: Musical Mathematics with Ed Sheeran
Carolyn Shlensky
Keys player and musical director Ashton Miranda is living his dream on Ed Sheeran’s +–=÷x world tour. But his success didn’t come easily.
A Few Minutes with Todd Terry
Danny Turner
A legend of house music’s second wave, Roland instruments have been fundamental to Todd Terry’s genre-hopping career for the past 35 years.
A Few Minutes with Nathan Fake
Ari Rosenschein
Nathan Fake creates music that exists on multiple planes. The artist discusses the early Internet, Roland gear, and running a label.
A Few Minutes with George Daniel of The 1975
Danny Turner
As co-writer and producer for British alt-rockers The 1975, George Daniel’s association with Roland is integral to the band’s sound.
A Few Minutes with Gerald V. Casale of Devo
Danny Turner
Devo’s cult status remains indelible. Co-founder Gerald V. Casale reminisces about the band and its longstanding association with Roland.
A Few Minutes with KiNK
Jamie Franklin and Ari Rosenschein
KiNK speaks about his unique upbringing, Roland faves, and the joy of finding classic breaks on floppy disks.
A Few Minutes with Plaid
Ari Rosenschein
The British duo shed light on their rural youth, work process, and how an intergalactic voyage informs its latest release, Feorm Falorx.
Label Spotlight: Mo’ Wax Records and UNKLE
Jamie Franklin and Ari Rosenschein
James Lavelle of UNKLE and Alex James of PLEASURES share their thoughts on the history of Mo’ Wax and its continuing influence.
A Few Minutes with Hinako Omori
Danny Turner
Japanese-born Hinako Omori visited Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios to blend locally sourced field recordings with binaural technologies.
Roland & ME
Roland Global
Musical tales from the last fifty years—directly from the people creating the sounds. Explore these unique Roland stories.
EXPLORE TECH AND TREND
Alin Dimitriu, Saint Ezekiel, Lightfoot, and Ski Beatz share the challenges and rewards of sample pack creation and give tips to producers.
If music has no boundaries, why does its genesis usually occur within four walls? Biomusic is rooted in non-human sounds.
The Roland Lifestyle brand builds on the company's legacy while looking to the future. See how it's introducing Roland to new generations.
Take a deep dive into the way streaming recommendations work—and how online algorithms shape our musical listening habits.
Learn how the biggest musical acts are challenging audience attention spans by releasing lengthy albums in today's marketplace.