Own a Piece of the Wu-Tang Legacy: RZA’s E-Mu SP-1200 Up for Auction
Sotheby’s, the renowned auction house, is set to auction off a piece of hip-hop history. The E-Mu SP-1200, a vintage sampler that RZA, the mastermind behind the Wu-Tang Clan, used to create their groundbreaking debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), is now up for bid. The starting bid for this iconic piece of music technology is set at a cool $35,000.
The E-Mu SP-1200: A Revolution in Music Production
The E-Mu SP-1200, launched in 1987, was a hip-hop production game-changer. It was instrumental in advancing the art of sampling, a technique that has become a cornerstone of hip-hop. Despite its technological limitations compared to today’s advanced music production tools, the SP-1200’s vintage charm has not only led to its re-release by the original designer but also sparked new interpretations, like the S2400 by Isla Instruments.
A Treasure Trove of Hip-Hop Memorabilia
But the SP-1200 isn’t the only piece of hip-hop history on the auction block. Sotheby’s is also offering other hip-hop artifacts, including RZA’s handwritten liner notes for Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and another E-Mu SP-1200, this one owned and autographed by Ice-T and producer Afrika Islam. The auction also includes four original floppy disks and a collection of 119 hip-hop items, all to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the genre.
In summary, the auction features the legendary SP-1200 sampler used by RZA, along with a wealth of other hip-hop memorabilia. It’s a testament to the enduring influence and appeal of hip-hop, and a chance for fans and collectors to own a piece of the genre’s history.
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