# Grammy slang help wanted.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 18, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836 "2004-02-18T18:40:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836/1 "2004-02-18T18:40:20Z")

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There’s a line in I Like The Way You Move that goes:  
_But I know ya’ll wanted that 808  
Can you feel that B-A-S-S bass?_

What does 808 mean?

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**Author:** ![emulsified](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emulsified/32/2915_2.png) [@emulsified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emulsified)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836/2 "2004-02-18T19:53:13Z")

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IIRC, an 808 is a particular kind of drum machine used to produce beats.

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**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836/3 "2004-02-18T20:48:44Z")

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[The Roland TR-808](http://www.vintagesynth.org/roland/808.shtml) is a classic, and I mean **classic** drum machine that you’ll find performing on more recordings than you can shake a drum stick at. It’s also been heavily sampled and copied.

You’ll find it mentioned on lots of songs.

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**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836/4 "2004-02-18T22:37:38Z")

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And it apparently inspired these guys - [http://www.808state.com/](http://www.808state.com/) , although I used to think they came from Hawaii (area code 808).

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**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836/5 "2004-02-19T03:03:14Z")

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“With everybody breakin’ down, make no mistake,  
Nothing sounds quite like an **8-0-8**.  
Money makin’, money money makin’,  
Super disco disco breakin’”  
– The Beastie Boys, “Super Disco Breakin”

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-slang-help-wanted/229836/6 "2004-02-19T04:04:33Z")

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Yep, as has been stated, it’s the Roland TR-808 drum machine. LEGENDARY bass drum sounds – a staple of hip-hop.