While few can say that they saw it coming, DJ Premier collaborating with A$AP Ferg is not really all that surprising. Just look at the history. Preemo has galvanized Hip-Hop culture from coast-to-coast, North and South, old and new, for more than 25 years. Meanwhile, Ferg regularly serves catchy “Rap Caviar” hits with a reach in the millions. However, on all of his albums, he’s called upon great veteran lyricists ranging from Method Man and Chuck D to ONYX and Busta Rhymes for gap-bridging looks in important places.

DJ Premier and A$AP Ferg finally cross paths with “Our Streets.” Preemo’s beat has all the elements of his signature late-’90s-to-early-2000s sound. The beat is a layered chunk of samples, built around a dominant drum rhythm. At the chorus, the Gang Starr O.G. scratches in “Harlem,” along with homages to the A$AP Mob. Ferg’s verse acknowledges the song’s legendary producer while detailing his New York City, one that’s forever gritty. Later in the song, the rapper with two gold-certified singles spits about using his impact for good—both inside his family and abroad. Guided by the G-Code, Ferg’s musings on a Preemo’ track are like so many of the great Big Apple MCs that sought out the Works Of Mart for a specific groove.

“With [A$AP] Ferg, or anybody I work with, they already know my history so they know that I come from the 90s era,” DJ Premier said in a press statement. “Ferg just automatically said, ‘Don’t do what I’ve been doing on my albums – I want you to do a Preemo’-style and let me show I can rap to that,’ so I was like ‘Let’s do it.’ Everybody was happy off jump – no suggestions, no ‘I think we should go this direction’ – it was an automatic in, out, done, in one day.”

“It’s a dream to be able to work with the legendary DJ Premier on this record” Ferg added. “Preemo’ has worked with all the New York City Hip-Hop icons and greats – Nas, Biggie, Guru, [JAY-Z], KRS-ONE, and The LOX. Just knowing I was working with him pushed me as an MC.”

This collaboration comes as part of the 25th-anniversary-relaunch of Payday Records. The New York City-based imprint, founded by Patrick Moxey, was behind such important Hip-Hop albums as Showbiz & A.G.’s Runaway Slave, O.C.’s Jewelz, Jeru The Damaja’s The Sun Rises In The East, and The imprint had an ear for talent. Besides releasing JAY-Z’s solo breakout “In My Lifetime,” the label backed early Mos Def group Urban Thermo Dynamics (U.T.D.) and J Dilla & Phat Kat’s 1st Down group.

Additionally, with “Our Streets,” it has been announced that Preemo has signed to Payday Records, and reunited with Moxey (Gang Starr’s longtime manager). The label previously housed much of the Gang Starr Foundation and affiliates, and DJ Premier released Haze Presents...New York Reality Check 101 there. Now, the artist who boasts two labels (To The Top and Year Round) is in business with a familiar ally.

Earlier this year, Premier released MC Eiht’s Which Way Iz West and Torii Wolf’s Flow Riot on his two labels, respectively.