Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer
The original behind the Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer is the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer — $399 retail vs Supreme's $568.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
The Roland TR-08 is a compact recreation of the TR-808 Rhythm Composer in Roland's Boutique format, using Analog Circuit Behavior modeling to replicate the original's bass drum, cowbell, and rimshot voices. It carries a 16-step sequencer with sub-steps, individual trigger output, audio output, and USB-MIDI in a palm-sized chassis. The original TR-808 was produced by Roland in Hamamatsu, Japan from 1980 to 1983 in fewer than 12,000 units and is widely credited as the defining drum machine of hip-hop, electro, and house music. Roland introduced the TR-08 in 2017 for the 808's 30th anniversary. The SS24 Supreme version prints the box logo on the face panel and retailed at $568; the circuitry matches the standard TR-08.
About Roland
Roland Corporation is a Japanese electronic musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1972 by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka. The company produced the TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines, the TB-303 bass synthesizer, and the Jupiter-8 and JUNO-60 polyphonic synthesizers, instruments heard across hip-hop, house, techno, and pop production. Roland also developed the MIDI protocol in 1983 alongside Sequential Circuits. The current product range covers synthesizers, V-Drums electronic kits, digital pianos, and guitar processors. Supreme released a co-branded Roland TR-08 drum machine as part of its FW20 accessories lineup.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $568 |
|---|---|
| Roland retail | $399 |
| Hype tax | +42% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer just the regular TR-08 Rhythm Composer?
The Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer, released in Spring/Summer 2024, is based on the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $568 for the Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer; the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer retails for $399. That's a 42% markup — buying the original saves you $169, or 30% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer?
You can buy the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer from Amazon. Retail price is $399. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
