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Culturegasm: The Casio Rapman: an unparalleled tool of joy and sophistication

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  1.  
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      CommentAuthorTrotsky
    • CommentTimeJan 25th 2008
     (636.1)
    casio rapmancasio rapman
    The World's First Rap Keyboard

    This little baby came out in the early 90's, and is absolutely my favorite toy right now, my love for it is paramount.

    Put the Casio Rapman in the hands of any sane individual, and they immediately lose all dignity and ability to feel shame!

    Casi-Oh-My!
  2.  (636.2)
    I love the YO! on the top right corner...
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      CommentAuthorAlan Tyson
    • CommentTimeJan 25th 2008
     (636.3)
    Huh. That wasn't too bad, as far as 90s rap goes. Certainly looks a hell of a lot easier to use than GarageBand.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTrotsky
    • CommentTimeJan 25th 2008
     (636.4)
    It strikes again!

    look what it did to this young man:
    feel his pain!
  5.  (636.5)
    my friend bought a 15 dollar keyboard at walgreens that is quite similar. loads of late night boredom induced fun! it even had misspelled labels on it.
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      CommentAuthorlx rudis
    • CommentTimeJan 25th 2008
     (636.6)
    it's my favorite casio.

    the beats are so idiotically cool that one is compelled to rock out.

    once the the casio EM4131 mic is plugged in the temptation to say something 'hiphop' can be overpowering, which usually leads to one's first rhyme...

    and then the long, ugly culture-diving slide into baggy jeans and Bling begins, yo. did you know there is a difference between 'serious' Miami Bass and 'pop' Miami Bass?

    here is another blog-fueled rapman frenzy. note mention of the extremely rare 'rap-2' rapman:

    http://blogs.oreilly.com/digitalmedia/2006/06/the-worlds-1st-rap-keyboard.html

    ...we got any other rapman owners here? casio freaks? circuit benders? own up!

    x
    • CommentAuthortulpa
    • CommentTimeJan 26th 2008
     (636.7)
    I don't claim to be an expert, but I have a lot of fun playing with alligator clips and the circuitboard of a toy chainsaw. Or the circuit board of anything that makes electronic noises.

    I want a Rapman right now, it looks like the greatest thing ever.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTrotsky
    • CommentTimeJan 26th 2008 edited
     (636.8)
    @ joe.distort,
    when you encounter misspelled labels on a piece of machinery, that means you've gotten your hands on something epic!
    But seriously, the amount of 'Idiot Glee" which can be archived with a 15 dollar toy is pretty remarkable.

    We've put the rapman in the hands of some of our more serious friends, and sat back to watch what happens.

    Trust me, it rocks.


    In addition, One could also in theory patch it into a Korg MS-20, and make it sound super aggressive, which is thrilling, and what happened to me here:

    rapman 1

    rapman 2


    rapman 4

    (no YouTube Video though, thank God)
    • CommentAuthortezifon
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2008
     (636.9)
    seems a must have for chiptune, hows working for circuit bending?
    •  
      CommentAuthorgwferguson
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2008
     (636.10)
    @ Trotsky

    No, no, no, no, NO! You don't tease us and get off THAT easily! I'll expect a video by the weekend.
  11.  (636.11)
    Trotsky,
    I respect you for having wires hanging all over your gear. I'm not impressed with the coming wireless world. Half the fun of gear is the wires. Of course, I imprinted on units like the Arp 2600 in my youth, so, on my planet, there's no such thing as too many wires.
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      CommentAuthorTrotsky
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2008
     (636.12)
    Kadrey, If you think that's a lot of wires, you should see this:
    MASSES DISEASED BY POPE TAPE LOOPING
    •  
      CommentAuthorthom_wong
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2008
     (636.13)
    Bought one at Value Village for 7 dollars, and watched my friend work his magic one night with the mic set to...chipmunk. Or whatever that sound is. The scratch pad is so ridiculously enjoyable.
  14.  (636.14)
    This video no longer available!
  15.  (636.15)
    I respect you for having wires hanging all over your gear. I'm not impressed with the coming wireless world. Half the fun of gear is the wires. Of course, I imprinted on units like the Arp 2600 in my youth, so, on my planet, there's no such thing as too many wires.


    Richard, sorry to disagree with you, but I have to. There's nothing more annoying to me than spending five minutes separating wires that somehow tied to each other.
  16.  (636.16)
    You have to look at wires like they're cats. They are both amusing and annoying and will always get in your way, but that's part of their charm. Sadly, wires don't purr. On the plus side, they don't poop on your stuff as revenge when you go away for the weekend.

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