On 11 May 1981, Kraftwerk released their eighth studio album, 'Computer World'. The album is themed around computer technology and its rise within society. Computer World maintains a distinct influence over subsequent releases across a multitude of genres; this influence is particularly noticeable in early and contemporary hip-hop and rap.
Retrospectively, Computer World has frequently appeared in numerous 'Best'-listings. In 2012, Slant Magazine placed it at No. 25 on its list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s. In 2018, Computer World was listed by Pitchfork as the 18th best album of the 1980s. Pitchfork listed the track "Computer Love" as the 53rd best song of the 1980s. Rolling Stone named Computer World the 10th greatest EDM album of all time in 2012.