dj premier Archives

Finding The GOAT: Guru vs. Large Professor…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

November 17, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier Give All Access In The First Part of This Gripping Mini-Documentary (Video)

On the simple surface, Royce Da 5'9" & DJ Premier's PRhyme project may seem like a purist's buffet of rhymes and beats. However, there's much more to this storyline in the two careers that frequently intersected over the last 15 years. In part one to the "Raiders Of The Lost... Read more

November 17, 2014 Fresh, Video

Giveaway: Gang Starr’s Daily Operation Vinyl LP (Respect The Classics Reissue)

AFH is proud to offer one of our Heads a vinyl LP copy of Gang Starr's Daily Operation. Reissued as part of UMe's "Respect The Classics" series, the 2014 version includes a 3D cover of the artwork prominently featuring the late Guru, DJ Premier, and a symbolic portrait of Malcolm... Read more

November 13, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

With DJ Premier Executive Producing, M.O.P Drops Street Certified Artwork & Tracklisting

Three years removed from their Sparta LP with German production outfit The Snowgoons, M.O.P. brings it back Stateside for their first EP. Street Certified is a nine-track effort, releasing November 18 (one week from today). Coming on Nature Sounds (Blu, J Dilla, Havoc), this release is executive produced by DJ... Read more

November 11, 2014 Fresh

Hear Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier’s Foundation In Their PRhyme Title Track (Audio)

Nearly 15 years after "Boom," Royce Da 5'9" & DJ Premier's full-length together, as PRhyme, is less than one month away. The actualization of the pair's longstanding working relationship to a true LP welcomes guests ranging from Jay Electronica to Killer Mike, Mac Miller to Common. However, for the title... Read more

November 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Slaughterhouse & DJ Premier Open Up Shop Then Tear It Down (Video)

Less than 24 hours after Slaughterhouse's "Ya'll Ready Know" released in audio, the DJ Premier collaboration comes in living color. The impact of Crooked I, Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, and Joe Budden's full-fledged run-in with DJ Premier is clear in the video, as Preem is prominently featured, arguably the... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Slaughterhouse & DJ Premier Come Together Fully? Results Are As Expected! (Audio)

Half of Slaughterhouse (Royce Da 5'9" and Joell Ortiz) have extensively worked with DJ Premier, while Crooked I and Joe Budden have not. Back in 2009, before Eminem and Shady Records took backing of the four-man lyrical militia, on a tight eOne Entertainment budget, it was DJ Premier who hosted... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of October 2014 (Audio)

October yielded some of the hardest Hip-Hop of the year. Whether it was seasonal, Mercury in retrograde or something in the water, MCs brought their A-games. Here's a playlist of some of the best music of the month. You'll hear tracks from Redman, Big K.R.I.T., Logic, The Lox, Rah Digga,... Read more

November 2, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage

Snoop Dogg & DJ Premier Recall Making The Final Gang Starr Song, An MC Eiht Battle (Video)

Snoop Dogg's GGN interview series is reaching that whole other level. Tha Doggfather welcomes DJ Premier to the guest seat. Snoop and Premo, who have worked together a number of times, still find a way to unearth some really grabbing stuff here. Going back to the final Gang Starr album,... Read more

October 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Saigon Offers A Stripped-Down DJ Premier Remix Of His Big Daddy Kane Collab (Audio)

Following last month's original, DJ Premier-produced version of "One Foot In The Door," Saigon has a remix. Still maintaining the same opening intro, an early 2000s on-the-spot cosign from Jay Z, this mix has an organic, piano-driven beat. This allows Heads to hear the wrath of Kane, and Sai Giddy's... Read more

October 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

DJ Premier Unleashes A Gang Starr Tape Of B-Sides, Rarities & Remixes (Mixtape)

Today (October 24), DJ Premier opened up the online Gang Starr merchandise store through his PremierWuzHere website. With an assortment of shirts, hats, hoodies, and more—exclusively set up by the Texan-turned-New Yorker, sharing its proceeds with the family of late partner Guru, Preem got behind the wheels of steel to... Read more

October 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

DJ Premier & Royce Da 5’9″ Release Their 1st Video as PRhyme (Video)

A few weeks ago, DJ Premier & Royce Da 5'9" released a teaser video that set the Internet on FIRE. Days later, they would reveal that Premier has teamed with Royce to form his first group since Gang Starr. Now, they release the entire version of that visual which turns... Read more

October 22, 2014 Video

PRhyme (DJ Premier and Royce Da 5’9″) Release the Artwork and Tracklist for Their New EP

DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9" shook up the Hip-Hop world last month when they announced they were forming a group called PRhyme, Premier's first since Gang Starr. After releasing a teaser and a single, they now reveal the artwork and tracklist. The project will feature production from Preemo, samples... Read more

October 14, 2014 Fresh

Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier Are PRhyme With Courtesy (Audio)

Royce Da 5'9" rocks some stream of consciousness as DJ Premier lays down a gliding organ arrangement, complete with a scratch-chorus. Along the way, Nickel Nine opens up about his family's addictions, his latest sportscar purchase, and the respect he's out for. "This one's for my lyricists, courtesy of my... Read more

October 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Saigon Bursts From Comment Sections To Chillin’ With DJ Premier & Lil Cease (Video)

A product of the Internet-era of Hip-Hop, Saigon has always been an artist for the streets before the servers. In his video for the GSN3: The Troubled Times Of Brian Carenard single, "Nunya," Saigon highlights his haters in the message boards and comments sections, and then laughs about it alongside... Read more

September 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

DJ Premier Posts Vintage Footage of Gang Starr on Video Music Box in 1990 (Video)

On the heels of announcing he is forming his first group since the legendary Gang Starr (PRhyme with Royce Da 5'9") DJ Premier reposts some vintage footage of Gang Starr on Video Music Box in 1990. Found on Primo's blog Premier Wuz Here, here's what he had to say about... Read more

September 25, 2014 Throwback

Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier Announce Group, Joint Album: PRhyme

Today (September 24), DJ Premier has announced his first group since Gang Starr, the legendary duo that spans more than 25 years back to debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy. This unit will be an extension of a decade-plus of working with Royce Da 5'9". Before Slaughterhouse and around... Read more

September 24, 2014 Fresh

The Week in Hip-Hop Video: Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier, Common, Styles P, Cormega, Joey Bada$$, Jeezy, Big KRIT & More (Video Playlist)

The week in video brought an incredible teaser from Royce Da 5'9", DJ Premier & Adrian Younge, dope freestyles from Joey Bada$$ and Murda Mook, videos from Styles P & Chris Rivers, Cormega, Mursday, Jeezy and Apollo Brown & Ras Kass, conversations with Big K.R.I.T. and Ab-Soul, and an amazing... Read more

September 21, 2014 Playlists, Video

How About A One-Hour DJ Premier Mix Featuring AC/DC, Heart, Rage Against The Machine? (Audio)

Heads who do the research know that, while DJ Premier's sound has been at the epicenter of Hip-Hop for 25 years, Christopher Martin is a Rock & Roll Head to the fullest. With his older sisters sliding him wax of groups like Van Halen, AC/DC, and the Bay City Rollers,... Read more

September 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Saigon is Joined By the Legendary Big Daddy Kane on a DJ Premier Track (Audio)

Saigon's GSN3: The Troubled Times Of Brian Carenard is two weeks away (September 30). However, the veteran New York MC unleashed one of the LP's most anticipated tracks in "One Foot In The Door." On the DJ Premier-produced cut (the second Premo premier in less than 12 hours), the Yardfather... Read more

September 16, 2014 Audio

What are DJ Premier, Royce Da 5’9″ and Adrian Younge Cooking Up? Crack Music…(Video)

DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9" have released a short video clip that looks like a teaser for something bigger to come. As Premier is on the wheels and producer Adrian Younge dusts off records, Royce lets off a BLISTERING verse. Whatever the case may be, Hip-Hop needs more of... Read more

September 15, 2014 Video

The Notorious B.I.G’s Ready To Die 20 Years Later, The Best Of All Worlds (Food For Thought)

Twenty years ago today (September 13, 1994), The Notorious B.I.G and Bad Boy Records released Ready To Die, one (and many argue the best) of the two handfuls of incredible debut albums introduced in 1994. A long hot summer after Nas' Illmatic, with Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)... Read more

September 13, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh, Throwback

M.O.P’s Billy Danze Recalls To The Death, How About Some Hardcore 20 Years Later

This year, M.O.P's debut album, To The Death, turns an astounding 20 years old. Released by Select Records on April 5, 1994, the LP was nearly entirely produced by fellow Brownsville, Brooklyn native D/R Period, who in addition to work with Smoothe Da Hustler, The Diplomats, and Shyheim Da Rugged... Read more

September 10, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

DJ Premier Breaks Down 14 of His Classic Tracks in a Deadly Mix (Audio)

Here's volume 1 of DJ Derezon & Tre The Boy Wonder's mix series titled 14 Deadly Secrets. The duo chooses 14 classic cuts from an iconic Hip-Hop producer and then has the producer narrate a blazing mix of those tracks with behind the scenes stories. The first installment of the... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio, Throwback

How About Some Hardcore? Diabolic Links With DJ Premier (Audio)

For a decade and a half, Diabolic has been aggressively laying down lyrics. A onetime Viper Records artist and Immortal Technique artist, the Long Islander is a critical voice in the hardcore Hip-Hop community that includes Tech, Army Of The Pharaohs, La Coka Nostra, and others. In one of those... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Saigon Kicks Some Reality Rap Over a DJ Premier Track (Audio)

Saigon addresses rumors about himself, his role on Love & Hip-Hop and more over a boom bap DJ Premier track. Sai's message? It's "Nunya" business. Check it out. Related: Saigon, Papoose & Omar Epps Look To The Skies To Make A Sinner’s Prayer (Video)... Read more

August 21, 2014 Audio

Catch Up On the Best in Hip-Hop Video From the Last Week (Video Playlist)

The last week brought several gems in Hip-Hop video. Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff reunited to perform "Summertime" in Vegas, DJ Babu recounted what happened to a fan who punched DJ Premier in the face, Marco Polo made a compelling and entertainment argument about why "Your Old Droog" is... Read more

August 17, 2014 Video

What Becomes Of A Hallucinating Fan Who Punches DJ Premier? Babu Explains (Video)

In 1999 Dilated Peoples joined Gang Starr and Rage Against The Machine on tour. These experiences were well-chronicled on the later track, "Gang Starr Bus" by Bumpy Knuckles, produced by DJ Premier. Three legendary outfits toured in a well-remembered time in music. Gearing up for his own new release with... Read more

August 13, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kool G Rap & Spe$h Get Mafiaso In Their DJ Premier-Produced Meeting (Video)

In late May, artist Spe$h linked with Kool G Rap to drop "The Meeting." Produced by DJ Premier, the track was an account of some mob business, with lyrics to go. Two months and some change later, the video arrives, finding Spe$h and G waiting in idling cars, tailing victims,... Read more

August 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

De La Soul’s Next Mixtape Is Produced Entirely By DJ Premier & Pete Rock

In March, De La Soul hipped Heads to the fact that Smell The Da.I.S.Y , their mixtape which featured strictly J. Dilla beats, was only the beginning, as far as 2014 is concerned. Posdnous, Dave, and Maseo are hard at work on the group's eighth studio album, rumored to be... Read more

August 5, 2014 Fresh

M.O.P., DJ Premier Scratches & A Classic ’80s Pop Loop Equals Amazing (Audio)

M.O.P. and First Family have been around for 25 years. However, Billy Danze and Lil Fame (who now only goes by Fame) started making some serious noise when they crossed paths with DJ Premier in the early 1990s. With the Brownsville, Brooklyn duo's rugged microphone assaults, a Premo scratch-chorus only... Read more

July 31, 2014 Throwback

Doo Wop Features A New DJ Premier & Tony Touch Joint, Freestyles From Cory Gunz, Termanology & Planet Asia (Mixtape)

Legendary game-changing DJ, Doo Wop has always been vocal. The New Yorker, who boasts being a longtime member of both Bounce Squad and Flip Squad DJ's has rapped alongside Tony Touch (Diaz Brothers), toured the world with the late Guru, and made a host of certified classic mixtapes in the... Read more

July 20, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Loaded Lux Joins DJ Premier For Bars In The Booth (Video)

Throughout the last 25 years, DJ Premier has thrived when working with battle-tested MCs, ranging from Rah Digga ("Lessons Of Today") to Craig G ("Ready Set Begin") to Canibus ("Golden Terra Of Rap"). So with Battle Rap at arguably its pinnacle since the 1990s, why not go to one of... Read more

July 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Statik Selektah & Termanology’s Protege Ea$y Money Gets A DJ Premier-Produced Single (Video)

DJ Premier's connection to ShowOff Records runs deep. While Statik Selektah has been on the boards for some recent Premo greatness (see: Fat Joe's "(Thank God For) That White"), the Gang Starr giant has returned the favor, producing some scorchers for REKS and Termanology. A longtime ST.Records product, Term's right-hand... Read more

July 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

You Thought That They Were Gone For Good, But Dilated Peoples Are Back (Video)

Dilated Peoples, who have a vibrant underground following and most notably made their way onto the Billboard 100 ten years ago with John Legend and Kanye West on their collaborative track, "This Way," are back with all new material for your ears. The Los Angeles Hip-Hop collective meet out in... Read more

June 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Episode 1 of The Message Documentary Speaks on Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., LL Coo J & Much More (Full Video)

Episode 1 of BET's Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, covers roughly the first decade of Hip-Hop. It addresses pioneers like Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Cold Crush Brothers and more. It also features several luminaries including Doug E Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Ice Cube, DJ Premier,... Read more

June 11, 2014 Throwback

The Giant Is Greater, As A.G. Steps Into DJ Premier’s Bars In The Booth Series (Video)

After rocking out with The Black Sheep's Dres and Papoose, DJ Premier keeps things in that New York City gritty getting down with A.G. The Diggin' In The Crates crew/Showbiz & A.G. MC goes back over 25 years with Preem, when the two worked together in some of the Bronx... Read more

June 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Nas, RZA & More Discuss The Earliest Days of Hip-Hop in The Message Hip-Hop Documentary (Video)

BET's 4-part Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, premieres tonight at 10pm. Part 1 focuses on the early days of Hip-Hop and features Doug E Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Ice Cube, DJ Premier, Grand Wizard Theodore, Nas, MC Lyte, Questlove, Russell Simmons, Snoop, RZA, Sway, Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, Eve, Swizz Beatz... Read more

June 4, 2014 Throwback

Skyzoo & Torae Get a Rough and Rugged Beat from DJ Premier (Audio)

Skyzoo and Torae's album, Barrel Brothers, hit stores earlier this week. If you're in search of strong lyrics and beats with that BOOM BAP, look no further. Their DJ Premier-produced track, "The Aura," is proof positive. Check it out below and pick up the album here. Related: Skyzoo & Torae’s... Read more

May 30, 2014 Audio

Kool G Rap & DJ Premier Make Another Joint, Courtesy Of Spe$h. Scratch Chorus Lovers Rejoice (Audio)

Since "First Nigga" back in the Rawkus Records era, DJ Premier has been one of the masters in showcasing Kool G Rap's genius. The former partner of DJ Polo came in the game destroying the silence over beats by Marley Marl, Large Professor, and Dr. Butcher, but these days, Giancana... Read more

May 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

10 Years Later, Dave Chappelle Brings His Block Party Indoors, And Who’s He Sharing The Stage With?

A decade ago, Dave Chappelle famously held his "Block Party" in Brooklyn, New York. Held for free at a secret location, the event was the subject of a Michel Gondry-directed film. The Ohio comedian/actor curated a concert, sharing the stage with an extremely rare reunited Fugees performance, in addition to... Read more

May 28, 2014 Fresh

Jeru The Damaja Tells the Story of the Making of The Sun Rises in the East (Audio)

Today (5/24), marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Jeru The Damaja's album The Sun Rises in the East. Here's a super dope podcast, by Up North Trips, featuring Jeru, himself, narrating the stories behind the making of the album, track by track. Check out the podcast below and... Read more

May 24, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Logic Shows Off His Lyrical Skills Over a DJ Premier Beat (Video)

Still sleeping on Logic's skills? Watch how he blisters the mic over this DJ Premier track on Statik Selektah's Show Off Radio. Part written. Part off the top. All dope. Related: Logic Re-Interprets a Common Classic In Finding Forever (Audio)... Read more

May 20, 2014 Video

DJ Premier Narrates a Mixtape of Some of His Classic and Rare Cuts (Mixtape)

The LA Leakers have released a new mixtape dedicated to some of the works of the one and only DJ Premier. The Audio Biography Of DJ Premier features 16 Primo productions--some well known and some more rare. Even more dope, the mixtape features commentary from Premier himself about some of... Read more

May 15, 2014 Mixes

Torae & Skyzoo Fire Off A Warning Shot With The Barrel Brothers Album Sampler (Audio)

On May 27, Skyzoo & Torae will release their debut collaborative album, Barrel Brothers. After a decade of collaborations, the Brooklyn independent mainstays are teaming with Fokis' Loyalty Digital imprint and Empire Distribution to offer Heads a full glimpse at the chemistry from the vets, who have found success in satellite... Read more

May 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

D.I.T.C. Gives Away The Remix Project, Featuring New Mixes By DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Alchemist & Diamond D (Download)

The Diggin' In The Crates crew surprised Heads today (May 7). The respected New York City veteran producer/MC collective including Showbiz, A.G., Diamond D, Lord Finesse, O.C., Buckwild, Fat Joe, and the late Big L have been releasing a series of remixes from their Remix Project. The LP features new mixes... Read more

May 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Beard Gang Got Bars In The Booth As DJ Premier Invites Jakk Frost To The Lab (Video)

At the conclusion of 2013, DJ Premier shared his annual list of things he found particularly dope. In the past, this list has been album-driven. For '13, Preem's list was about songs. Some Heads were shocked, perhaps illuminated to see West Philadelphia MC veteran Jakk Frost at the top of... Read more

May 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

Here’s a Mind-Blowingly Comprehensive Oral History of Rawkus Records

Here's a mind-blowingly comprehensive oral history of Rawkus Records, one of the last great Hip-Hop record labels, put together by MySpace. The piece features contributions from DJ Premier, DJ Spinna, El-P, Evil Dee, Kool G Rap, Pharoahe Monch, Q-Tip and many, many more. Check out an excerpt and link to... Read more

April 30, 2014 Throwback

Bink Remixes Big L & Fat Joe’s Historic D.I.T.C. Moment Together (Audio)

Philadelphia native producer Bink is known for producing joints for nearly 20 years, including Jay Z's "Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)," Mr. Cheeks' "Lights, Camera, Action," and Kanye West's "Devil In A New Dress." The onetime Roc-A-Fella affiliate now takes a hand at D.I.T.C.'s "Da Enemy." The late '90s track was... Read more

April 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Close Out The Nas’ Illmatic Celebrations With DJ Moneyshot’s Amazing Sample-Sourced Mega Mix (Mixtape)

In one week, it'll be May, and much of the April coverage celebrating the 20th anniversary of one of Hip-Hop's hallmarks, Nas' Illmatic, will seem out of vogue, or passé, while other things are highlighted. Before the calendars change, Solid Steel's DJ Moneyshot, who has previously re-considered and extensively examined... Read more

April 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes