What is the significance of 808 ??

Factual Questions
1

I had thought I asked this before. Always wanted to ask it, and my post count now reminds me of it.
What exactly does 808 mean?

  1. Why does it appear on Bicycle Ace of spades, and Jokers?

2.What do the beastie boys mean when they say “…Like an 808” ? (Super Disco)

2
  1. “808” in rap music generally refers to the Roland TR-808, an early 80s-era drum machine that had some kick-ass sounds, particularly the kick drum. It’s still very much prized for its sounds.
3

It’s got a double meaning, also being a (California?) penal code, for breach of the peace.

4

Was gonna say too that 808 in some old school stuff usually refers to the deep bass sound the Roland 808 made. I remember hearing the phrase “808 bass”, because it kinda rhymed, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the term Roland in more than one song.
Don’t know about the Ace of spades part or the Joker.

5

I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.

6

808 also happens to be Hawaii’s area code. Not that I think that has much to do with common usage.

7

Hmm…never heard this one. Do you have a source on that? Not that I don’t believe you, I just can’t find a reference to this anywhere, not even urbandictionary.com, and in the context of rap songs I’ve heard, the “808” refers to the drum machine. (Actually, the only lyric that comes to mind right now is the Beastie Boys’ “Super Disco Breaking” line “nothing sounds quite like an 8-0-8.”)

8

I’ve heard the penal code explanation juxtaposed with other such examples, e.g.

9

Definitely the drum machine for the rap question, but that still doesn’t answer the card question.

(And in this internet day and age, I’m tempted to think that a general “808” would mean “I’ve looked twice, and still didn’t find your file.”)

10

It appears to be a case for Occam’s Razor:

http://www.usplayingcard.com/history.html

11

I clicked on that link, and my workplace web filter blocked it, saying “Sex” is filtered. :eek:

WTF?

12

Hmmm, the closest I see to Sex on that page is the word Specs. Maybe your filter even filters out words that rhyme with sex. :smiley: Where do you work, in Utah?

13

Checked out the source for the page. The main content frame is hosted away from the tr-808.com domain:

(URL has been fudged so that this thread doesn’t get anyone in hot water – but you get the idea.) Every link on the page (innocent though they may be) also points to that provocative-sounding domain.

14

This is the text of Section 808 of the California Penal Code:

  1. The following persons are magistrates:
    (a) The judges of the Supreme Court.
    (b) The judges of the courts of appeal.
    (c) The judges of the superior courts.
    The California Penal Code section for homicide is 187.
15

Darn and drat. I guess the drum machine has it. (Where the hell did my memory take that wrong turn? :mad: )

16

On an LED display, it reads as “Bob.”

17

Upside down…even.