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I use an alesis sr16
But like $100 on the used market
Found while casually browing ... https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Engineering-Programmable-Synthesizer-Sequencer/dp/B08LHBLNCS/
Believe it or not, the mate is the cheapest DAW alternative hardware to ever come out. Musicians all over the internet were freaking out at how cheap it was.
For comparison, the previous reigning champion of the space is the OP-1, coming in at $2000.
For crying outloud, people pay 80$ for a shitty half-built calculator that can only play a prerecorded set of instruments in a loop.
https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Engineering-Programmable-Synthesizer-Sequencer/dp/B08LHBLNCS/
A friend and I used to jam and he used one of these. It is relatively economical and sounded decent.
For some reason it did seem hard to find, but I found it. $60 now. po-24 Office is still available for $50. Not sure if they fluctuate. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W40PCES/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KES6G17H9F437QAMDCK6
One thing that has really helped me understand the unique sound and structure of hip-hop is fooling around with a hardware sampler. I think the limited grid helps you understand the basic structure of a beat (okay, I’ve got four quarter notes, place a kick on the 1 and snare or clap on the 2 and 4). Sampling helps you understand how you build a beat from little pieces of sound.
This sampler is a hundred bucks — less if you get it used:
https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Engineering-Pocket-Operator-PO-33/dp/B079M56Z4G
Get a 3.5 mm stereo cable and you can plug your phone or laptop into the input and sample snippets from songs on YouTube. (Or you can play synth or drum apps, which are very cheap.) If you sample a drum break, you can slice it into individual hits — kick, snare, hats, percussion. Or you can sample melodic loops and pitch them up or down. Use your wits and some experimentation to place your samples on the grid, and you’re off to the races. Instant beats. It’s really satisfying. (And when you’re feeling adventurous, there are effects buttons for stutter, roll, and reverse effects, so you can live-improvise variations on your beat.)
There are more sophisticated versions of the same thing — like the new SP-404 — but the PO is affordable and you can take it anywhere.
(Obviously most modern hip-hop is made on the computer, and the recommendations to learn a DAW and an instrument are right on, too. But I think sampling on hardware helps you connect to the way people originally developed this kind of music. Plus it’s incredibly fun!)
Seems just right for me considering the Sub is $60 now
They’re technically in Ottawa now
The teenage engineering pocket synths are great gifts and will be both fun and useful for your friend no matter what their workflow is. They start at around $50: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W40PCES/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_m8CeCb7R9V199
Thanks. i just contacted them http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00940TIBE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
this is the link of the one i bought, except i went under used. In the questions someone asked if it comes with the software and the answer was yes, but i'm not sure if that was for the used ones too
They're not exactly cheap, but Korg makes this:
http://www.amazon.com/Korg-CLIPHIT-1-Piece-Drum-White/dp/B00NAVETVM
I'm lucky to live with people who encourage music making, so I can drum to my hearts content (just not after 10pm).