Get the sound of classic hip hop, sampled off a floppy disk by veteran producer Marco Polo

Berlin, February 17, 2026 – Native Instruments today launched Marco Polo Drums, a new addition to the Play Series created in collaboration with legendary hip hop producer Marco Polo. Built for the free Kontakt Player and Kontakt 8, the instrument delivers authentic boom bap kits shaped by decades of crate digging, studio craft, and hard-hitting production.

Celebrated for his recent contributions to DJ Premier and Nas’ latest album Light Years, and for defining the rhythmic backbone of records by Rakim, Masta Ace, Talib Kweli, Scarface, Pharoahe Monch, and Westside Gunn, Marco Polo packs his unmistakable grit and swing into production-ready kits. The result is a drum instrument that captures the weight, texture, and character of classic hip hop, while keeping producers in the creative flow.

“Inspiration can hit fast, and when it does, you don’t want friction,” says Marco Polo. “I wanted producers to have drums that cut through the mix instantly and knock the way they’re supposed to. Everything here is designed to let you move the moment inspiration strikes.”

Marco Polo Drums features 21 kits and 336 individual sounds, each tested and used in Marco’s own productions. Many samples were processed through his personal analogue hardware chain, with select sounds sourced directly from original floppy disks and Zip drives. The result is authentic hardware warmth translated into a modern digital instrument.

· 21 golden-era boom bap drum kits curated by Marco Polo

· 336 finished drum sounds, ready to drop into your mix

· 16 MIDI groove patterns per kit with drag-and-drop export

· Custom macro effects for instant shaping and character

· Intuitive Play Series interface for focused, real-time control

· Compatible with free Kontakt Player and Kontakt 8.8+

Marco Polo Drums joins Native Instruments’ Play Series, a range of expressive, easy-to-use instruments designed to deliver outstanding sound. With carefully crafted presets and focused controls, the Play Series supports fast creativity without sacrificing depth.

Get all the details at www.native-instruments.com

MSRP: $49 - €49 - £44

press@native-instruments.com

For more than 25 years, Native Instruments has been at the center of musical innovation. The company has created communities, pushed technological boundaries, and opened new creative horizons for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Today, driven by their mission to make music creation more inclusive and accessible, the company's hardware, software across Native Instruments, iZotope and Plugin Alliance brands, provide fully-integrated solutions for musicians, producers, and DJs of all genres and levels of experience.