MIDI Production Center 3000 Limited Edition used by J Dilla: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An AKAI MPC 3000 Limited Edition integrated rhythm machine, drum sampler, and midi sequencer used by record producer and artist J Dilla. The machine consists of a black plastic box with a small screen in the upper left corner, multiple key pads, and a vertical design of black musical notes along the left, center and right of the box. Grey type at the top of the machine reads, [AKAI/professional/Roger Linn/INTEGRATED RHYTHM MACHINE 16 BIT DRUM SAMPLER/MIDI SEQUENCER]. Gold plaque above the type reads, [Limited Edition/MPC3000/EDITION NO. 0449].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2000
• Manufactured by: Akai Professional, founded 1984
• Used by: J Dilla, American, 1974 - 2006
• Designed by: Roger Linn, American
• Type: electronic instruments
• Medium: plastic, rubber, metal
• Dimensions: 4 7/8 × 17 3/8 × 15 3/4 in. (12.4 × 44.1 × 40 cm)
• Place used: Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America
• Place used: Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Object number: 2014.139.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Maureen Yancy
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.