Yesterday, Technics maker Panasonic released some sad news for anybody who is a fan of Hip Hop and analogous DJ'ing - amidst dropping sales numbers of analog equipment, Panasonic has decided to discontinue the production of Technics turntables. Since 1972, 3.5 million SL-1200 turntables have been sold, as well as countless accessories and headphones bearing the famous Technics name.
Most commonly known as Tec 12's, this analog turntable became a staple item of the majority of DJ's, mainly because of its 27 pound base, Direct Drive mechanism and solid shelf-life.
Tec 12's were not the only analog turntables on the market, but unequivocally, they were the best with more than 3 decades of reliability to its name. Should you happen to own a Tec 12, or preferably a set, hold on to it because like all other outdated electronics, these will become antiques and will certainly be of great value to collector's in the near future.
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The death of the Technics SL-1200 is an example of the increasingly-quick decline of hip hop music. As somebody who grew-up on hip hop - it is saddening to see the game like this. In and around the time I entered high school, some of the best hip hop records ever released could be found fighting for space on the shelves at local record shops.
Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers was as pivotal of a release as any, and had me contemplating wearing black toques in the summer months and balaclavas in public places. Mobb Deep's The Infamous and Nas' Illmatic painted a picture of struggle and despair in Queens, New York that by virtue of the growth of hip hop, could not be replicated today. Illmatic still stands as my favorite album of all time. Not to be left of the list, Biggie's debut album Ready to Die hit stores in '94. Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders also dropped in 1993 and is also as listenable today as it was 17 years ago. On the west coast, Dr. Dre released The Chronic and Snoop broke-out onto the scene with Doggy Style - two of the best albums to drive-around to looking for trouble/honeys ever. In addition to the said albums released within this time frame, there were also highly influential releases from Tupac, Geto Boys, De La Soul, etc that marks this period as the Renaissance of Hip Hop.
Seven of the greatest accomplishments in the history of hip hop music were released within a window of a year, and despite my comfortable upbringing, I could identify with the artists and translate their struggles with gang life and broken-homes into my own with acne and losing my virginity. I feel sorry for kids growing-up today idolizing the likes of Lil' Wayne and Drake. Not to discredit the aforementioned artists, because I used to love me some Hot Boyz era Weezy, but how can any child identify with these artists and use the music as inspiration when all they're rapping about is cars, ice and hoes. At least with Mobb and Nas, I could hear their frustrations and attempt to empathize with their struggles.
The death if the Technics SL-1200 turntables is another piece of evidence of the decaying nature of hip hop music. It's sad.
Like Biggie said on Ready to Die - Things Done Changed.
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