How It Was Recorded

Gear · drum machine

Akai MPC3000

Records it appears on · 3

  • Lose Yourself

    Eminem · 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture, 2002

    • Beat · InstrumentReportedThe journalist suggests the 808-style beat was probably programmed by Eminem on an Akai MPC3000; this is a guess, not a statement from anyone involved.
  • 4 Minutes

    Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland · Hard Candy, 2008

    • Backing track programming and recording · InstrumentReportedUsed by Timbaland and Danja, along with other instruments, to build the backing track at SARM.
  • Elephunk

    The Black Eyed Peas · Album, 2004

    • Drums · InstrumentInferredUsual practice, not stated for this record: Formerly used by will.i.am to program drums, a job he says he now does in Pro Tools.

Sources for each use are on the record’s own page.

Get the sound

First choice · Approximate

Akai Professional MPC Beats

instrument · free

Akai's free MPC software. It gives the MPC way of working, not the sound of this hardware.

Get the plugin ↗

Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.