J Dilla's beat-making gear will be shown at the Smithsonian — theverge.com

The Smithsonian is still in the midst of building the National Museum of African American History and Culture, but it just got a very high-profile boost, securing two central pieces of gear from the late and beloved producer J Dilla. According to a Smithsoanian announcement, the new museum's collection will include both Dilla's Moog synthesizer and the Akai MPC 3000 sampler that became crucial to Dilla's offbeat production style. The instruments will be part of the "Musical Crossroads" exhibit, alongside similar items from Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry, and George Clinton.

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