This week's Find of the Week is the stuff of R&B royalty: an Akai MPC3000 previously owned by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the Grammy-winning production duo behind several classic Janet Jackson albums.
Jam & Lewis originally hail from Minneapolis, where they cut their teeth as members of Prince's band The Time before the two left the band to produce classic singles for 80s R&B luminaries such as Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal. Their partnership with the King of Pop's kid sister began with her 1986 album Control, and they've gone on to produce all but one of her records to follow, including the pioneering new jack swing masterpiece Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989).
Initially released in 1993, Akai's MPC3000 MIDI production center picked up where their MPC60 left off when it was first introduced in 1988. Equipped with the classic sixteen drum pads, analog-style edit functions and effects, and 16-bit stereo samples, it quickly earned a reputation as hip-hop production's weapon of choice used by Dre and Dilla alike.
The California-based seller points out that the MPC is outfitted with a zip drive and some extra discs, one of which has some samples taken directly from an old Jam & Lewis session. There's a sticker on the side marking it as the property of Flyte Tyme Productions, the name of the duo's business entity.
Now, you too can lead a rhythm nation of your own: check out the full listing for more photos and info, and make an offer on this piece of pop music history.