DJ Premier

Today in Hip Hop History: Rakim Released Solo Debut Album ‘The 18th Letter’ 27 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, veteran MC Rakim released his debut solo LP, The 18th Letter. Coming off of the infamous split of Eric B. and Rakim and a five-year hiatus, this album was surprisingly thorough and left no room to doubt Rakim’s resilience in the ever-changing Hip-Hop world.

Although far removed from his heyday, Rakim delivered an LP that debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and stayed true to the technique that made him rich. Tapping-producing legends DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Clark Kent(RIP), and Father Shaheed(RIP), Rakim produced a solid Golden Era album at a time when mafioso rap was taking New York by storm. Peaking only one spot beneath one of New York’s newest brightest stars, Jay-Z, this album proves that Rakim ages like wine regarding his lyrical mastery and microphone prowess.

The album also came with a second disc, The Book of Life, which was an Eric B & Rakim greatest hits album.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Rakim Released Solo Debut Album ‘The 18th Letter’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on .

Gang Starr Drops Surprise New Single “Finishem” On Fifth Anniversary Of Final Album

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On the fifth anniversary of the duo’s final album, One of the Best Yet, the legendary Gang Starr is back with a single to commemorate the occasion. Since MC Guru’s death in 2010, producer DJ Premier has worked closely with Guru’s family to release the remaining verses in Guru’s collection. The result of that meticulous effort was One of the Best Yet, the first new album under the Gang Starr name since 2003’s The Ownerz. It was an emotional tribute to one of hip-hop’s greatest ever duos, boasting a long list of features as well. Their new song, titled “Finishem,” does not suggest that another posthumous full-length release is on the way, but it is a reminder of just how many songs and verses Guru recorded while he was alive.

“As One of the Best Yet was approaching the five-year anniversary mark, that milestone moved me to create a new track to match the occasion,” Preemo said in a statement first published by Rock The Bells. “The album is special on so many different levels; what it meant to me, Guru’s family, and the fans, it warranted something new to honor the occasion. I started going through files, looking for something that stood out and fit; and as soon as I heard Guru’s hook ‘now I’m about to finish ’em, my rep alone could diminish ’em,’ I knew that was it and went to work crafting a beat for it.” It’s another good track, and Premier and Guru’s family continue to handle posthumous Guru releases with an appropriate amount of respect. Check out the new single from the iconic hip-hop duo below.

Read More: Hottest Hip-Hop Albums & Songs Of October 2024

Gang Starr – “Finishem”

Quotable Lyrics:

Two men enter, and one must fall
Only one man leaves, only one icon, y’all
This is your final fight, it’s your final night
Your last chance to dance, go ‘head, try your might
When I spit, I’ma show you complete hostility
Hurt you bad just for thinking you’d be as ill as me
Get your face bashed in, a few choppers lost
Get your chest caved in, headpiece, ya need a gauze

[Via]

The post Gang Starr Drops Surprise New Single “Finishem” On Fifth Anniversary Of Final Album appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Jeru The Damaja Released ‘The Wrath Of The Math’ 28 Years Ago

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TodayinHip HopHistory:JeruTheDamajaReleases'TheWrathOfTheMath'YearsAgo

On this date in 1996, Gangstarr Foundation representative Jeru The Damaja of the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels dropped his sophomore LP Wrath Of The Math on the Payday/Polygram imprint.

Serving as a continuation from his debut album The Sun Rises In The East, Jeru’s second album contained more of the social consciousness in his lyrical content as on The Sun album, complete with part two to the “Can’t Stop The Prophet” saga in his fight against “Mr. Ignorance.” Produced exclusively by behind the boards legend DJ Premier, Wrath Of The Math was the perfect combination of intelligence, lyrical dexterity, and head-bangin’ production.

Some of the key tracks that propelled the album include “One Day”, where Jeru hypothetically went to Puff Daddy and Suge Knight in an attempt to save Hip-Hop, “The Bullshit”, an imaginary ode to studio gangsters, “Physical Stamina”, which features the album’s only guest appearance by Afu-Ra and the project’s trademark track “Ya Playin’ Yaself”.

Salute to Jeru, Premier, DRS, the Gangstarr Foundation and the whole East New York for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

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Tito Jackson’s Death Spawns Tributes From Questlove And DJ Premier

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The music world suffered a tremendous loss on September 16. Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5, has died. Jackson was 70 years old, and his death was confirmed by his family. The singer’s three sons paid tribute to him via social media. That said, Tito Jackson’s legacy goes beyond his famous lineage. Luminaries within the hip hop community, including Questlove and DJ Premier, took to Instagram to pay their respects to the late great.

Questlove posted a photograph of Tito Jackson alongside his famous brother, Michael, in the 1980s. He also articulated the impact that the Jackson 5 had on his own musical knowledge growing up. “All of the Jackson brothers are heroes to me,” he explained. “I really don’t have the words right now. May the entire Jackson family find comfort & peace In this moment. Thank You Tito. rest in melody.” Questlove has been vocal about his love for Tito Jackson and the rest of the titular group. In his memoir, Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove, The Roots drummer talked about the Jackson 5’s tireless schedule while on tour, and how it informed his perception of hard work.

Read More: Michael Jackson’s Son Says Harry Styles Doesn’t Deserve “King Of Pop” Title

DJ Premier Dubbed Tito Jackson An “Icon”

DJ Premier is a bit older than Questlove, so his tribute had more to do with the impact that Tito Jackson and the rest of the Jacksons had on him in real time. “My musical childhood is based on one of the ILLest groups: Jackson 5,” the producer asserted. “To know all of their names back in 1970 when I was 4 years old, and their roles in the group has continued to carry the same effect.” Premo also made sure to single out Tito Jackson for being part of what he considered to be the ultimate family group. “No family group has ever done it like them,” he wrote. “Thank You for your contribution to shaping my professionalism in this music sh*t. SALUTE ICON.”

Tito Jackson continued to perform up until his untimely death. The singer and musician has been playing alongside surviving brothers Marlon and Jackie Jackson as The Jacksons. The trio were even booked to perform in Atlantic City on October 25. Entertainment Tonight stated that Tito Jackson’s death was brought about by a heart attack on Sunday, September 15.

Read More: Taj Jackson Rejects Beyoncé Being “King Of Pop,” Says Title “Is Not Up For Grabs”

The post Tito Jackson’s Death Spawns Tributes From Questlove And DJ Premier appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Today in Hip Hop History: Notorious B.I.G.’s Debut LP ‘Ready To Die’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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On September 13, 1994, Notorious B.I.G., alongside producers Easy Mo Bee, DJ Premier, Poke of the Trackmasters, and none other than “Puffy” (as Diddy was called then) as the executive producer, released the Hip Hop masterpiece known as Ready To Die.

As Big’s debut album, this highly anticipated release shows the lyrical prowess of the Bed-Stuy big man, and besides Method Man’s assistance on the epic “The What?” track, Mr. Wallace made it happen all by himself. Other than Nas’ Illmatic, no other solo emcee accomplished that feat on the East Coast during that era. Recognized as “The King Of New York” and as seen on a vintage 1995 Source Magazine cover, Big’s legacy was etched in stone with this LP.

Timeless classics from that four-and-a-half mic-er include the DJ Premier-produced “Unbelievable,” the back-and-forth storytelling adventures of “Warning” and “Gimme The Loot,” and the eerie title track itself were just a few of the highlights of this legendary project. That’s not to forget the mainstream success of singles such as “One More Chance,” the Brooklynplayalistic sound of “Big Poppa,” and, of course, the hood inspirational, Mtume-based “Juicy.”

We only had the chance to get one more album(prophetically named Life After Death) out of one of the game’s greatest lyricists before he was prematurely killed in Los Angeles in 1997. Still, this album will always remind us that B.I.G. was “Ready to Die” because his talent was and will always be larger than life.

Salute to Big (RIP), Premier, Easy, Poke, Lord Finesse, Diddy, Lil’ Kim, and the entire Wallace family for this classic masterpiece!

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Notorious B.I.G.’s Debut LP ‘Ready To Die’ Turns 30 Years Old! first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Notorious B.I.G.’s Debut LP ‘Ready To Die’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Hip-Hop Mourns The Tragic Passing Of M.O.P Affiliate, Foxx

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Foxx, M.O.P.’s former tour manager and former member of the rap group Lethal, died on August 3 after a 15-year battle with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease. The Bronx native’s respirator was removed from her on August 2 in the hospital. She was 55. DJ Kid Capri, a childhood friend of Foxx’s, broke the news on Instagram in a heartfelt post, paying tribute and detailing the story of the last time he saw her in the hospital.

The hip-hop community best knows Foxx as the “mother figure” of the Brownsville-based duo M.O.P. She played an integral part in the duo’s successful run in the late 1990s and early 2000s. “M.O.P. wouldn’t get nowhere if it wasn’t for me. I’m like their Mother Goose,” said Foxx in a previous interview. “They don’t got no mothers, no fathers, none of that sh*t. I can put them in check, and I’m probably the only one that can do that, partly because I’m older than them.” Of course, the hip-hop community paid tribute following Capri’s announcement.

Read More: Chino XL’s Passing Has The Entire Hip-Hop World Mourning

Foxx Passes Away At 55, Hip-Hop Legends Mourn

DJ Premier also shared a tribute to Foxx, accompanied by a video from 1998 of her rapping on a tour bus while she was traveling with Gang Starr. “I’m hurt in more ways than one, but your pain is gone now,” he said. “Even tho I saw you in the hospital Tuesday, it sucks to get that call. We all are gonna miss you so much but the fun times are documented in our souls. You were HardCore and Sweet at the same time. Would f*ck up anybody that fronted on us or you. My beautiful Foxx Beige sleep peacefully Queen.” Fat Joe referred to her as “family,” while The Alchemist expressed his condolences as well, calling her “the illest.”

Foxx’s death is the latest in what has been a sad last few weeks for hip-hop. Chino XL, long considered one of the most underrated rappers of his era, unexpectedly died on July 28. DJ Polo, the former Juice Crew member best known for his career-defining work with Kool G Rap, passed away the day before. The hip-hop world continues to mourn the passing of its legends. We would like to extend our condolences as well.

The post Hip-Hop Mourns The Tragic Passing Of M.O.P Affiliate, Foxx appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, & Big Sean Preach The Gospel Of Hustle On DJ Premier’s “Ya Don’t Stop”

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If you want to be able to succeed and live a fulfilling life, you are going to need a hardworking mindset. That is something that Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Big Sean and DJ Premier certainly have, as all four music titans land on one track called “Ya Don’t Stop”. This is the latter’s newest release, and it follows-up “Gonna Be Me (the friendship song)” with O.A.R. and Brady Watt most recently. However, it also comes after collaborations with Chance the Rapper, Nas, Snoop Dogg and Daz Dillinger, as well as Russ. With so many big-time voices and just three minutes of run time, how does it all come together?

In our opinion, DJ Premier has another successful offering here with “Ya Don’t Stop”. Leading up to it’s release, some fans were pointing out that Ross and Wayne were going to be on this record. This would not even be a subplot a few years ago. However, with Drake being is Rozay’s crosshairs and Weezy mostly being okay with The Boy (maybe?), things are different. Thankfully, the chemistry is solid all around. Big Sean ties everything up nicely with his catchy hook that centers the song’s focus on grinding to live lavishly. Wayne probably has the best performance of everyone, as he continues to shred his feature appearances lately.

Read More: Druski Gets Candid About Rubi Rose Breakup: “You Better Have Them Pockets Ready”

“Ya Don’t Stop”- DJ Premier, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, & Big Sean

Quotable Lyrics:

I don’t stop, I can’t stop, I won’t stop, I can’t breathe
Especially when your knee is on top, deep breath (Uh)
Microphone drop, I keep going like the freeway
Shoutout Freeway, it’s the Roc
I got guns like Fortnite, a sharp tongue for sword fights
I look like a born again Christian Dior, right?

Read More: B. Simone & Pretty Vee Respond To Soulja Boy Following His Heated Rant

The post Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, & Big Sean Preach The Gospel Of Hustle On DJ Premier’s “Ya Don’t Stop” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Big Sean, And DJ Premier’s Song ‘Ya Don’t Stop’ Proves They All Are At The Height Of Their Games

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As a year full of hip-hop heavyweights linking up for chart-topping diss tracks, DJ Premier’s latest song “Ya Don’t Stop” proves there is still unity in the culture.

The record with features masterful bars from Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and Big Sean is hip-hop at its purest. All emcees put on their best showing and demonstrated just how they’ve earned their stripes — one verse at a time. From Ross’ breezy Miami flow to Wayne’s clever wordplay and Big Sean’s triumphant storytelling, DJ Premier’s production finds a way to spotlight the best of each rapper’s lyrical worlds.

Yesterday (July 25), in a behind-the-scenes vlog captured by Poe, DJ Premier opened up about how the massive collaboration came to be. “[I reached out to Ross. He said, ‘Send me the joint.’ The same night he sent it back,” he said. “Boom, I reached out to Lil Wayne and said, ‘I have two songs.’ The same night, he says, ‘Take ’em both. Do whatever you want with [the verses].’ Done deal.”

As for how Big Sean came into the picture, that was a surprising turn of mutual admiration. “Big Sean hits me up,” he said. “He says, ‘I need a scratcher. What can I do in return?’ I said, ‘Do a hook for me on this [record].’ He sends it back, and I’m like, ‘That’s it. As a producer, and a DJ, you just know when its cooked. And now, we’re serving it.”

Listen to “Ya Don’t Stop” above.

DJ Premier Featuring Lil Wayne, Rick Ross And Big Sean “Ya Don’t Stop”

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Dating back to the end of 2023, DJ Premier has been on a prolific run, releasing singles with Common, Russ, Snoop Dogg, Chance The Rapper and Nas.  When Premier and Nas released “Define My Name,” in April, they also revealed that their long-awaited and landmark collaborative album would be released later this year.

Now, DJ Premier has brought more legends and icons together, or as Rick Ross asserts “It’s the biggest in the game”, as Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and Big Sean join him on “Ya Don’t Stop.” Premier’s cyclone of strings sets the stage for Ross, Sean and Wayne’s distinctive styles and vivid storytelling from three of the genre’s most influential artists. 

“I’ve been on a run, and releasing singles more consistently.  I had an idea and wanted to initially get Wayne and Ross on the same track” DJ Premier recalled.  “I reached out to Rozay first and he sent me back vocals the same day.  I sent two tracks to Wayne to choose from and he sent both back the same night and told me to keep them both.  Big Sean called me to do a scratch hook for him.  In return, he hopped on as well.  Cipher complete!”

The post DJ Premier Featuring Lil Wayne, Rick Ross And Big Sean “Ya Don’t Stop” first appeared on The Source.

The post DJ Premier Featuring Lil Wayne, Rick Ross And Big Sean “Ya Don’t Stop” appeared first on The Source.

DJ Premier Announces Lil Wayne And Rick Ross Collab Amidst Drake Beef

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DJ Premier can still bring out the A-list. The legendary producer confirmed that he’ll be dropping a brand new single on Friday, July 26. Big Sean, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne will contribute bars to the song, which is titled “Ya Don’t Stop.” We can practically hear the DJ scratch chorus already. It’s a stellar roster of talent, but the thing that caught most people’s eye has nothing to do with the song itself. Rozay has spent all of 2024 dissing one Aubrey Drake Graham. Lil Wayne, on the other hand, has been one of the few who has stayed in the 6 God’s corner. Is this not a conflict of interests?

Rick Ross and Lil Wayne have a working relationship outside of Drake, of course. The two rappers have been collaborating for nearly two decades. The thing is, Drake has served as the glue on their biggest hits. “I’m on One,” “No New Friends” and “Pop That” are anchored by Drizzy bars, and in some cases, Drizzy hooks. Ross has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the Toronto rapper, dropping a diss record and making numerous jokes over social media. Ross has been blasting Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” all summer. Lil Wayne, on the other hand, has tried to rework the lyrics of “Not Like Us” and was booed for it.

Read More: DJ Premier Credits Travis Scott’s Father For Teaching Him Music

DJ Premier’s Star-Studded Single Drops On July 26

DJ Premier is a name that commands respect, so one can assume that Ross and Wayne are going to set their differences aside. Ironically, the only rapper of the bunch who’s landed a DJ Premier beat on their album is Drake. The Toronto rapper enlisted Preemo for 2018’s “Sandra’s Rose.” To be fair to Ross and Wayne, the rappers have been in similarly tense circumstances in the past. Both men have had issues with Cash Money founder Birdman, and even taken out their frustrations on record. There was also the “Splash Brothers” drama in April.

French Montana planned to release the posse cut “Splash Brothers” with Drake, Ross, and Wayne. Then, at the last minute, French removed Drake from the final version. There was speculation that Drake was to blame for the change, but there’s been no proof either way. It seems like Ross and Wayne have been able to maintain their friendship in light of recent beef. We’re eager to hear them over DJ Premier production, especially with Big Sean thrown in for good measure. We’ll also be listening for any subliminals on Ross’ part.

Read More: Ab-Soul Calls DJ Premier Collab A “Dream Come True”

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