Roland X New Balance NM808 sneakers celebrate 808 Day, hip-hop & skating
The Roland NM808 sneakers, named after renowned Brazilian skateboarder Tiago Lemos, have been designed to commemorate the legacy of the TR-808 while infusing elements of late ‘90s fashion and modern skateboarding technology.
In an exciting collaboration, Roland and New Balance unveil the limited-edition Tiago Lemos NM808 sneakers, celebrating 808 Day on August 8th with a nod to skate culture and the iconic TR-808 drum machine.
NM808 sneakers celebrate the 808 drumx machine, hip-hop, skating and the relationship between
Truly reminiscent of the TR-808, the Tiago Lemos NM808 shoes boast a distinctive black colourway accented by vibrant yellow and orange details.
The sneakers feature a reinforced toecap, internal foam pods for a secure fit and foot-locking straps to ensure they deliver on style, comfortability and performance. Consequently, these x808-themed kicks are high-quality skate shoes that honour the cultural significance of the TR-808.
Highlighting the intersection between skateboarding, hip-hop and fashion, Tiago Lemos expressed his excitement about the collaboration. He comments, “Hip-hop has been the soundtrack for my skating, and at the heart of many classics was the 808. [To collaborate] with the legendary Roland 808 on my shoe is an honour.”
Roland and New Balance have launched an additional capsule collection of clothing such as hoodies, t-shirts, and hats all available exclusively on the Roland Lifestyle web store.
The New Balance x Roland Tiago Lemos NM808 sneakers are now available on the New Balance website for $119.99 and will be released at select retailers globally on August 8th.
The shoes and clothing line offer fans a chance to own a piece of unique merchandise celebrating the history of the 808 drum machine and Roland.
Roland partners with Twitch for an 8-hour hip-hop spectacle
Furthermore, Roland is partnering with Twitch to celebrate 808 Day with an online event named “808 Live”.
This eight-hour livestream will feature performances by legendary DJs such as Grandmaster Flash, DJ Roueche (the official DJ of the Los Angeles Lakers), Skratch Bastid, DJ Melo-D and DJ Bella Hue.
The event will not only highlight the influence of the TR-808 in music but also mark the launch of Twitch’s new DJ category, promising to support DJs with licensed music and a dedicated channel.
The online DJ stream trend first began during COVID-19 lockdowns but quickly became haunted by music licensing.
Silent tracks and stream takedowns over copyright issues meant DJs weren’t assured their mixes would remain online. However, the launch of Twitch’s new DJ category promises to change that.
Finally, Roland Lifestyle is hosting a special launch event at The Spotlight in Los Angeles at 10 pm on 808 Day. Attendees can RSVP for the public event via Dice at the link below.
