dj premier Archives

In 1997, Jeru Rapped For The Love Of Hip-Hop, Not The Paper

In the mid-1990s, Brooklyn, New York was steadily delivering legions of the lyricists to the Hip-Hop masses. From seemingly every section of the borough, representing just about every style of Rap, names like Biggie Smalls, Busta Rhymes, GZA, Buckshot Shorty, JAY-Z, RZA, M.O.P., Foxy Brown, Non-Phixion, AZ, East Flatbush Project,... Read more

May 2, 2019 Do Remember

ScHoolboy Q Chops A DJ Premier And Royce 5’9 Sample & Adds Some Boom

In less than 48 hours (April 26), ScHoolboy Q is releasing his fifth album, CrasH Talk. The Grammy-nominated TDE artist had previously dropped two video singles in his LP campaign. Less than six weeks ago, Q led with “Numb Numb Juice." He followed with the Travis Scott-assisted "CHopstix." Now he... Read more

April 24, 2019 Audio

Nas’ Illmatic Turns 25. This New Mix Reminds Why It Might Be Hip-Hop’s Greatest Album

Twenty-five years ago today (April 19), Nas released the album that future generations will likely use to measure Rap greatness. At the age of 20, Nasir Jones delivered Illmatic, a 10-track coming of age reflection that pulled images from Rotten Apple-era New York City, emphasized dreams of being a Rap... Read more

April 19, 2019 Audio, Mixes

DJ Premier Recalls Nas & Big L Signing Their Record Deals Together (Video)

DJ Premier has been a part of many albums that are considered classics by Heads. However, few can equal the importance of Nas’ 1994 debut Illmatic. Mass Appeal recently launched a new video series where producers behind this magnum opus detail its creation and importance, leading up to the LP’s... Read more

April 18, 2019 Throwback, Video

38 Spesh Displays Why OGs Like Kool G Rap, DJ Premier & D.I.T.C. Co-Sign Him (Video)

Rochester is not a city regularly associated with Hip-Hop. This Upstate New York burg is the home of DJ Green Lantern, who, along with Emilio Rojas, is one of the few artists from the area to make an impact on the game in the last two decades. But that is... Read more

March 27, 2019 Video

DJ Premier Discusses The Making Of Gang Starr’s Hard To Earn 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years ago this month (March 8, 1994), Gang Starr released its fourth album, Hard To Earn. A rightful inclusion in one of the Rap genre's most celebrated calendar years, the work displays some of the finest chemistry between Guru and DJ Premier, who had already galvanized a creative and... Read more

March 16, 2019 Interview

DJ Premier & Evidence Add A Chapter To Masta Ace & Marco Polo’s Breukelen Story

There are very few Hip-Hop artists who started in the 1980s that are arguably making some of the best music of their careers in the late 2010s. Masta Ace is one of those MCs. Throughout the last 30 years, Ace has always remained relevant. The Brooklyn, New Yorker, who used... Read more

March 1, 2019 Audio

AZ Releases A Mixtape Of Freestyles & Guest Appearances To Remind His Legacy Is Strong

It may seem like the nearly decade-long wait for AZ's Doe Or Die 2 has lasted forever. However, the East New York MC has been putting out some appetizers to hold fans over for the main course, and he has done so on a consistent basis. Earlier this month, Ambrosia... Read more

January 29, 2019 Audio, Mixes

Edwin Birdsong Has Passed Away. His Music Has Been Sampled In Several Hip-Hop Hits

Edwin Birdsong is a Jazz, Funk, and Disco keyboardist who made a series of albums in the 1970s and 1980s. Some of those songs earned wide recognition as the basis of samples in hit songs by Daft Punk, De La Soul, and Kanye West, among others. OkayPlayer has confirmed that... Read more

January 22, 2019 News

Evidence’s Weather Or Not Is Your Best Rap Album Of 2018

Last night (December 30), the tournament to decide 2018's Best Rap Album came to a close. Evidence's Weather Or Not bested Royce 5'9's Book Of Ryan, 63% to 37%. Thus, the veteran Los Angeles, California MC/producer takes home the top honors in the second annual month-long voter-decided competition. Notably, Ev's third... Read more

December 31, 2018 Best Rap Album 2018

Waka Flocka Flame Uses Classic DJ Premier To Show He Can Really RAP

Few artists can claim to have had as prolific of a mixtape career as Waka Flocka Flame. While the Atlanta, Georgia representative is often recognized for his Trap beat ear and boisterous delivery, he can sometimes unload a track that shows a deft lyricist who often downplays his talent or... Read more

December 27, 2018 Audio

Which Of These Albums Deserves To Compete For Best Of 2018? You Decide.

Earlier today, Ambrosia For Heads announced our picks for the 15 Best Albums Of 2018. As we did last year, we are having you decide which one of these albums (or any one that we missed) is the album of the year, based on your votes in an NCAA-style tournament... Read more

December 4, 2018 Best Rap Album 2018

DJ Premier Reveals He’s The Person Who Sequenced Nas’ Illmatic Album (Audio)

DJ Premier has an extensive background in Hip-Hop music and production. This week the legendary Gang Starr member (deemed "The Greatest Hip-Hop Producer Of All-Time" by Ambrosia For Heads readers) native casually dropped another line to add to his already lengthy resume. On the latest episode of crooner Anderson .Paak's .Paak... Read more

November 6, 2018 Audio, Throwback, Throwback

Jeru The Damaja & Afu-Ra’s Lyrics Still Kick Like Kung-Fu 20 Years Later (Audio)

The Wu-Tang Clan weren’t the only Hip-Hop crew flexing a Kung-Fu style in the early 1990s. On Jeru The Damaja’s celebrated 1994 debut, The Sun Rises In The East, he introduced the Perverted Monks squad. The head of that group, Afu Ra, impressed with an ill appearance on the joint... Read more

October 25, 2018 Do Remember

DJ Premier Re-Creates The “Ten Crack Commandments” Beat Using Turntables (Video)

The 14th Annual A3C Festival has been taking place since Wednesday in Atlanta, Georgia. As usual, this premiere Hip-Hop gathering had an amazing line-up of the genre’s best and brightest performing. Names like Wu-Tang Clan, The Diplomats, Talib Kweli, Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, and PRhyme have been headlining the event... Read more

October 7, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Swizz Beatz Names His Top 5 Producers Of All-Time (Video)

Swizz Beatz is slated to release his second ever solo studio album and first in 11 years this November. Poison, which is co-executive produced by J. Cole, features a star-studded feature list, including Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Young Thug, Pusha T, Jim Jones, Jadakiss, Styles P and Lil Wayne, among others.... Read more

September 28, 2018 Video

Finding The GOAT Group: OutKast vs. Gang Starr. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

September 14, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT Group: Eric B. & Rakim vs. Gang Starr. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

August 30, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Casanova & DJ Premier Make Haters Think Twice About What They Say (Video)

Casanova 2X is the type of hard-nosed East Coast MC that always seems to seek out the sounds of DJ Premier. The Brooklyn, New Yorker's mic style can be traced to artists such as M.O.P., The LOX, Bumpy Knuckles, Screwball, and Non-Phixion. The artist that Memphis Bleek ushered into Roc... Read more

August 24, 2018 Video

Mickey Factz Serves Up A Next Level Freestyle Over 1 Of DJ Premier’s Best Beats (Video)

Mickey Factz is renowned for his freestyle skills. The Bronx, New Yorker seems to just get better with these kind of bars with age—in addition to releasing some quality projects that show a different gift from the veteran MC. He battles beats like so many opponents left duffed out in... Read more

August 21, 2018 Video

One Of The Most Sampled Songs In Hip-Hop Now Has A Sequel (Audio)

Since the early 1970s, pioneering Hip-Hop DJs played records with specific instrumental breakdown sections that could make B-boys and B-girls dance. As the culture grew, one of the artists who created breaks that DJs—and later, producers, gravitated towards was Bob James. The keyboardist, arranger, and record producer has since become... Read more

July 24, 2018 Audio

Finding The GOAT Group: Method Man & Redman vs. Gang Starr. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

July 20, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

DJ Premier & Casanova Take It Back To The Days Of Gully Hip-Hop (Audio)

DJ Premier has been a go-to sound provider for some of the more vocally aggressive MCs in Hip-Hop. Names like M.O.P., Bumpy Knuckles, Just-Ice, Pitch Black, Ill Bill, and Big Shug have made gems alongside the Gang Starr producer and DJ. In that style of Rap, especially within the five... Read more

July 19, 2018 Audio

Kool G Rap’s New LP Has Production From DJ Premier, Pete Rock & Alchemist. Listen Here (Audio)

Kool G Rap doesn't let his legend status stop him from continuing to do what he loves. Last year, the Corona, Queens veteran dropped his Return Of The Don album, and in 2018, he's following up the solid effort with a collaborative album full of heavy hitters behind the boards... Read more

July 6, 2018 Audio

DJ Premier Explains Why He Broke Two Of His Cardinal Rules To Work With Drake

A standout song on Drake's just-released Scorpion album is “Sandra’s Rose.” The Disc 1 entry, partially a dedication to Drake's mother, Sandi Graham, only came together because its co-producer, DJ Premier, was willing to break two of his rules. Well, “rules” might be too strong a word but Preemo does... Read more

July 1, 2018 Fresh

Finding The GOAT Group: Gang Starr vs. The Beatnuts. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

June 15, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Pete Rock & Bootsy Collins Unleash A Storm Of Soul & Funk With Tyler, The Creator (Audio)

Pete Rock may be a Hip-Hop legend, but it certainly isn't the only realm in music he has the ability to reign supreme. The New York producer was tapped to create the remix to songstress Kali Uchis' "After The Storm," a standout track on her recently-released debut album Isolation. As... Read more

June 8, 2018 Audio

DJ Premier Postpones “PRhyme 2” Tour Dates To Care For His Father

DJ Premier has revealed that he and Royce Da 5'9, his partner in PRhyme, must prematurely postpone the remainder of their PRhyme 2 Tour due to his father's declining health. The Gang Starr member released the following statement to fans, as told to Ambrosia For Heads: "Throughout the duration of my... Read more

June 4, 2018 News

DJ Premier Takes J. Cole’s Lil Rapper Diss & Makes It Even More O.G. (Audio)

One of the focal points of J. Cole's chart-topping 2018 gold album, KOD, is "1985 - Intro To 'The Falloff.'" The song is a wisdom-drenched reply to Lil Pump, Smokepurrp, and others who had defamed Cole's name in recent years. While Jermaine's issues with Pump now appear to be squashed... Read more

May 29, 2018 Audio

Royce 5’9 Explains In Detail What Went Wrong With Slaughterhouse (Video)

This month, Hip-Hop fans learned that Slaughterhouse has disbanded. One week ago, KXNG Crooked (aka Crooked I) announced his group exit on social media. Within days, Royce 5'9 explained how without Crook, that the group also including Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz would not continue as a unit. He added... Read more

April 29, 2018 Video

Pete Rock Gives A Fantastic Update On The De La Soul Project He & DJ Premier Are Producing

Hip-Hop luminary and Grammy-winning producer/DJ Pete Rock was on hand for the Seattle, Washington Museum of Pop Culture’s grand opening of their new exhibit, Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes. The legendary beat creator was invited to DJ the engagement and was also an honored guest. While Rock wasn’t conducting interviews... Read more

April 24, 2018 Exclusive, News

Dynasty Teaches That Simplicity Is Genius Over A Brilliant Apollo Brown Beat (Video)

Queens, New York's Dynasty embodies power, leadership, and sovereignty. All of this is apparent from her past work with Talib Kweli and DJ Premier. From her 2016 album Forever, DY; Dynasty recently dropped the visuals for her single, "One Day," produced by Detroit, Michigan’s Apollo Brown (Ras Kass, O.C., Planet Asia).... Read more

April 24, 2018 Ready Or Not

O.C.’s Tiny Desk Concert Shows Time Is Never Up For Classic Hip-Hop (Video)

There’s a special kind of flavor required for an MC to shine at one of NPR’s "Tiny Desk" concerts, and Brooklyn, New York spitter, O.C. really spreads it on for his five-song set. The low-key backdrop provided by Soul'D U Out, a Jazz band headed by Maurice “Mobetta” Brown (Talib... Read more

April 19, 2018 Video

Nas, Rakim, Pete Rock & More Break Down Why AZ Is 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Best Visualizers (Video)

Twenty years ago this month, AZ released his sophomore album, Pieces Of A Man. The Brooklyn, New York MC, author, and co-founder of The Firm has a decorated career that is still very much in swing. Previously, BET released portions of their #20YrsLtr: Doe or Die documentary featuring AZ, but... Read more

April 17, 2018 Video

DJ Premier Speaks About How Real Moment Of Truth Was For Hip-Hop & Gang Starr (Video)

On March 30, 1998, Gang Starr stepped forth with Moment Of Truth. Guru and DJ Premier had taken four years since giving the masses their seminal album, Hard To Earn, and Hip-Hop was at a pivotal place in history. "We had platinum-respect. You'd think we were platinum artists that sold... Read more

April 4, 2018 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Interview, Throwback, Video

Royce 5’9 & DJ Premier Considered Madlib For PRhyme. They Can Rock It Regardless (Video)

Last Sunday night (February 25), Royce 5'9 and DJ Premier unveiled the tracklist for March 16's PRhyme 2 album. The LP is confirmed to involve Rapsody, Big K.R.I.T., 2 Chainz, and Yelawolf. It is a cast (also including CeeLo Green) that seemingly favors southern voices. Already, PRhyme 2's first video... Read more

February 28, 2018 Video

M.O.P., Apathy & Celph Titled Warn They’ll Stomp Out Rappers Like Godzilla (Audio)

Next week, Apathy is releasing The Widow's Son. The celebrated member of Demigodz and Army Of The Pharaohs has promoted his upcoming release with a plethora of exciting looks. It began with the Nottz-produced "Alien Weaponry" last month (which premiered on Ambrosia For Heads). Then, the Connecticut vet' followed up... Read more

February 23, 2018 Audio

PRhyme Return To Rock It With One Of Their Best Tracks Yet (Audio)

For more than two years, listeners have been anticipating the return of PRhyme, the collective of DJ Premier and Royce 5'9. The duo's surprise formation in 2014 led to one of the year's best projects, bringing out the best in both Royce and Preemo, as they mined the sounds of... Read more

February 22, 2018 Audio

DJ Premier & Royce 5’9 Release The First Video From Their Upcoming PRhyme 2 Album

Royce 5'9 and DJ Premier's PRhyme group announced a March 16 release date for PRhyme 2 earlier today (February 1). The news came with the arrival of first P2 single, “Era,” featuring Dave East. Only hours later, the visual, directed by Jacob Arden McClure is unveiled. The dark aesthetic is... Read more

February 2, 2018 Video

Evidence Explains How Weather Or Not Is A Personal & Therapeutic Album (Video)

Just days ago, Evidence released his fourth solo project, Weather Or Not. Featuring Styles P, Alchemist, Rapsody, and his Dilated Peoples cohorts Rakaa and DJ Babu (among others), the Rhymesayers release closes out a nearly 11-year-old album series from Mr. Slow Flow. Last night (January 31), on a Midtown Manhattan... Read more

February 1, 2018 Exclusive, Interview, Video

PRhyme 2 Is Coming Soon & The First Single Signals A New Era (Audio)

In late 2014, DJ Premier and Royce 5'9 released PRhyme, an album that challenged all others that year as one of the best. Preemo launched his first group since Gang Starr, and Nickel Nine extended his exceptional collaborative stride that began with Slaughterhouse and Bad Meets Evil. The tandem used... Read more

February 1, 2018 Audio

Evidence’s Weather Or Not Album Forecasts A Great 2018 In Hip-Hop (Audio)

Evidence has not released a solo album in more than five years. The co-founder of Dilated Peoples and Step Brothers changes that this week with his Weather Or Not. The last in a trilogy of acclaimed LPs that dates back to 2007's The Weatherman LP and also included 2012's Cats... Read more

January 25, 2018 Audio

Apathy Battles Aliens With Battlestar Bars On A Nottz Beat (Audio Premiere)

It doesn’t matter what planet you’re from, no one is safe from Apathy in “Alien Weaponry.” The first single off his forthcoming LP, The Widow’s Son is produced by Nottz, and the beat is just bizarre enough to take the edge of Ap’s sharp tongue. This track nods to the... Read more

January 18, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

Ras Kass, J57 & El Gant’s Jamo Gang Has Eyes On Them & Scopes Too (Video)

UPDATE: Stream and purchase the Jamo Gang's self-titled EP: Jamo Gang EP by Jamo Gang ORIGINAL JANUARY 17 STORY: It's been a year since Ras Kass, El Gant, and J57 announced they had formed the Jamo Gang. With that news, the trio with the Irish whiskey-inspired name released their first... Read more

January 17, 2018 Ready Or Not, Video

Evidence & DJ Premier Show They’re True Masters Of This Thing Called Hip-Hop (Video)

Evidence is just two weeks away from his third solo album, Weather Or Not. Coming January 26 on Rhymesayers Entertainment, the Dilated Peoples and Step Brothers member's first solo LP in more than six years already promises to be something serious. In 2017, Heads got a taste of the realness... Read more

January 12, 2018 Video

JSWISS’ Latest Video Shows His Dedication To Overcome & Be Heard

Up-and-coming New York MC JSWISS is getting all the right kind of attention, and the accolades are sure to continue following the release of this simple, but highly effective visual for “Dedicate.LoveSomethin,” the latest single from his No Music EP. “Dedicate.LoveSomethin” is produced by Brady Watt, a well-known bass player from New... Read more

December 14, 2017 Ready Or Not, Video

DJ Premier Says He & Pete Rock May Be Exclusively Producing De La Soul’s Next Album (Video)

DJ Premier has had one of his busiest years in recent memory. The Gang Starr member released and produced albums by MC Eiht and Torii Wolf. He just followed those efforts with a video collaboration with A$AP Ferg, helping relaunch '90s Hip-Hop source Payday Records. Preemo is the latest guest... Read more

December 11, 2017 News, Video

A$AP Ferg Rocks A DJ Premier Beat As Hard As Anyone Has In Ages (Video)

Just under one month ago, DJ Premier and A$AP Ferg linked for "Our Streets." The hard-nosed Hip-Hop collaboration marked the relaunch of Payday Records, once home to JAY-Z, Jeru The Damaja, Showbiz & A.G., Group Home, WC, and more. Setting December off in style, Preemo and Ferg deliver the video,... Read more

December 1, 2017 Video

MICK Has Created The Ultimate DJ Premier x JAY-Z Mashup Mix (Audio)

DJ Premier and JAY-Z have a history that goes back more than 20 years. Preemo was a major contributor on Jay's debut, Reasonable Doubt, the album Jay still contends is the finest work he ever created. Premier would go on to have a presence on Jay's next 3 albums, but... Read more

November 22, 2017 Audio

DJ Premier & A$AP Ferg’s Conversation Shows Rap’s Generations Have More In Common Than Not (Video)

Gang Starr's DJ Premier is an important part of the Bad Boy Records story. He produced "Unbelievable," one of Biggie Smalls' most beloved songs. The Ready To Die inclusion first released as the B-side to crossover hit "Juicy." For the diamond-certified Life After Death, Preemo laced The Notorious B.I.G. with... Read more

November 17, 2017 Video