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The other amazing thing with cassettes is that you could now record yourself and make your own music. The only problem is the dread of the tape coming out and having to use a pencil to wind it back in. They were small, transportable, cheap and sounded ok. Cassettes existed in a post vinyl, pre-CD, era and a lot of music – especially hip hop – was traded around by cassette.Ĭassettes were perfect. And this is probably due to cassette tapes. Some people overlook this, but the rise of the Boombox was instrumental in the rise of hip-hop.
#Flashdance soundtrack vinyl portable
What you now had was a portable concert that had enough volume for a whole street. What you now had was a portable television studio. This meant things like microphones and turntables could be plugged into them. Besides having an AM/FM tuner, the biggest inclusion – which was fundamental to the rise of hip hop – was the adding of input and output jacks. The main thing that all of the different models had in common was their ability to crank out the volume. Companies like Sony, Panasonic, and GE were creating a great crossover between a home stereo and a portable radio. As the late 70s rolled around, different manufacturers were finetuning what a Boombox could be.
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The Japanese versions were more innovative and had better technology and sound. The sound quality was pretty sketchy, but, at the same time, Boomboxes were being developed in Japan. It was called the “Radiorecorder” and it was the first time a machine had a tape player that could record off the radio. But the first Boombox as we know it was created by Phillips in 1966. Various forms of portable radios have gone back to the late 1930s. Speaking of the car battery, some units could take a sealed 12-volt lead-acid battery, or be swapped out for what’s under the hood of your dad’s Oldsmobile. If you remember those old D’s, ten or more of them could make the entire unit weigh up to 26 pounds. Boomboxes were notorious battery hogs and the bigger ones would require up to 10 D batteries. Thanks to Sony, black became more of the aesthetic for technology going into the 90s, so the golden age of Boomboxes would have that metal look to them, This was the main design of Boomboxes in the 80s. To me, the thing that determines if a portable tape player is indeed a Boombox or Ghetto Blaster is that it’s made of metal or at least has that chrome look. You may remember the odd giant one being powered by a car battery. All good Boomboxes also can be powered by AC or DC cables, but can still run off batteries. You wrap all this up into a plastic or metal case, slap a handle on it and you’re ready to go. You can obviously picture what a Boombox or Ghetto Blaster looks like, but what are the components that make it what it is? A Boombox is technically: The real Boomboxes, on the other hand, have a history that goes into the 70s, before they became more prominent in the 80s. It was one of those black Casio type ones that looked non-threatening and the amp power of a coughing church mouse. I ended up getting a Boombox eventually, but it was like a Boombox that had been hit by a shrinking ray. That probably wouldn’t have gone over well at any block parties. My musical love in the 80s was hip hop, but probably not as hardcore as others.īut I was also listening to Young MC, MC Hammer, and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. But not only would I never be able to get one, I probably never had the guts to even take one out in public. I wanted a Ghetto Blaster more than life itself. This is a look back on the Boombox or if you referred to it like me, The Ghetto Blaster
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It was part instrument, part status symbol, and part cultural identity. You could take the party with you and EVERYONE could hear it. The bigger the Boombox, the bigger the persona, and they became mainstays at any outdoor event. The Ghetto Blaster was an identity that showed who you were, the music you liked, and the culture you were a part of. This wasn’t just used to play music, it was a statement. They became part of urban culture and play a key role in the launch and evolution of hip hop.īefore Alexa, Siri, Bluetooth, or any portable speakers, there was the Ghetto Blaster or Boombox. You could record and play music on them with the larger ones producing high volume.
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The Ghetto Blaster, or Boombox, was a portable music player and transistor that had at least one cassette deck. Not only was it the must-have accessory if you wanted to take your music on the go, but it is also responsible for the rise of Hip Hop culture