Sibling rivalry.
Less than 10,000 TR-909s were made during its short production run, but the machine’s lasting impact is apparent on dance floors to this day. Much like the TR-808’s dominance in rap and hip-hop, the TR-909 left an indelible mark on electronic music styles like techno, house, acid, and industrial. From the “uhn tiss” of its thumpy kick and chunky hihats to the snappy snare rolls used in dramatic builds, it’s the sound you hear in your head when you think of hard-driving, floor-shaking dance music.