On this date in 1989, Boston native Keith Elam and Houston native Christopher Martin, better known as Guru and DJ Premier, came together to continue the legacy of Gangstarr and released the group’s first full studio album entitled No More Mr. Nice Guy.
Released by overseas label Chrysalis Records, Gangstarr, and their debut release ironically heavily influenced the NYC Hip Hop sound, even though neither artists were native New Yorkers. Tracks such as “Positivity,” “Conscious Be Free,” and the album’s lead single, “Manifest,” exposed Guru’s unparalleled slow flow, while instrumentals like “DJ Premier In Deep Concentration” just set the pace for who Hip Hop would later recognize as one of the greatest producers in the game.
A supreme salute goes out to DJ Premier, Guru(RIP), the Elam family, the Gangstarr Foundation, and the entire East New York for creating a pivotal moment in Hip Hop history.
Tha Dogg Pound are back and better than ever. The West Coast powerhouse has been promoting the hell out of their upcoming album on podcasts. Kurupt and Daz Dillinger have mended fences after years of dissent, and everything we’ve heard so far suggests that they put their best foot forward when it came to making W.A.W.G. (We All We Got). Even the title advertises the newfound sense of unity the group feels. Now that Dogg Pound has dropped the tracklist, though, we can confidently say they have a lot.
Snoop Dogg is technically not a member of Dogg Pound. The group always comprised of Kurupt and Daz, with Snoop being part of the larger D.P.G.C. (Dogg Pound Gangsta Clicc). That being said, he’s a major part of this album. Tha Doggfather is featured on eight of the album’s fourteen tracks, which is more than enough to qualify him as the honorary “third” member. It doesn’t hurt that Snoop is now the owner of Death Row Records, which W.A.W.G. is being released through.
Fans of the Death Row heyday will be thrilled to know that other OGs are in the mix. Lady of Rage and RBX will contribute verses to the last song, which is fitting given their essential contributions to the Dr. Dre album that started it all, The Chronic. There will also be multiple features from Butch Cassidy, who wasn’t present for Death Row but has worked with all of its affiliates over the years. Cassidy is a Long Beach native, just like Snoop and Daz. The more intriguing collaborators come from the production.
Mike & Keys handled the lion’s share of the album’s songs, which makes sense given their LA sound. It’s cool to see a producer as capable as Daz, who produced most of the first two Dogg Pound albums, hand over the reigns to younger artists to see what they can provide. It will ensure that W.E.W.G. doesn’t sound like a retread. Hyphy legend Rick Rock will work his magic on two songs, one of which features Will.i.am. The most exciting producer choice, though, is Dogg Pound linking up with DJ Premier for the outro, titled “Who Da Hardest.” That one is going to hit hard.
Chance the Rapper, renowned for his innovative approach to music and storytelling, has once again captured hearts with his latest release, “Together.” Produced by the legendary DJ Premier, this soul-stirring track celebrates the home-front while presenting a rallying cry to protect it.
The self-directed visual for “Together” centers on lyrics of reminiscence and pride, set against a backdrop of vintage personal home videos and archival footage from community-led political movements through history. Nostalgic clips of block club parties, barbecues, and Black Panther rallies highlight the varying nature of Black communal spaces.
In the first verse, Chance underscores the importance of the community built within the home, while the second verse looks outward, emphasizing the significance of organizing with neighbors. Themes of housing justice, displacement, and gentrification are woven throughout the record.
In a bold move, Chance explicitly calls for a community benefits agreement from former President Barack Obama regarding the development of the new Presidential Library in the residential neighborhood of South Shore in Chicago, IL.
“‘Together’ is really a call to action for Housing Justice in Chicago and abroad,” Chance the Rapper said. “It’s one of the key themes of the Star Line project, and for this song I wanted to try to paint that point with nostalgia rather than trauma.
“Losing granny’s house is a fear and reality a lot of us deal with and instead of lingering on the negatives of that reality I wanted to highlight why those spaces are so important: they’re where we build memories, move family when they need somewhere to stay, raise our kids, do hospice. All of it.”
“Together” is more than just a song; it is a poignant commentary on the necessity of preserving and protecting communal spaces. Chance the Rapper’s latest release continues to solidify his role as an artist deeply connected to his community and committed to advocating for social justice.
Chance the Rapper, the renowned artist known for his innovative approach to music and storytelling, has once again captured hearts with his latest release, “Together.” Produced by the legendary DJ Premier, this soul-stirring track both celebrates the home-front while also presenting a rallying cry to protect it. The self-directed visual centers on lyrics of reminiscence and pride, against a backdrop of vintage personal home video and archival footage from community-led political movements through history.
Nostalgic footage of Block club parties, barbecues, and Black Panther rallies contextualize the varying nature of Black communal spaces. While the first verse works to highlight the community built with the home, the second verse looks outwardly, toward the importance of organizing with those in your neighborhood. Housing Justice, displacement, and gentrification are alluded to throughout the record and Chance explicitly calls for a community benefits agreement from former President Barack Obama in the development of the new Presidential Library in the residential neighborhood of South Shore in Chicago, Il.
“‘Together’ is really a call to action for Housing Justice in Chicago and abroad. It’s one of the key themes of the Star Line project, and for this song I wanted to try to paint that point with nostalgia rather than trauma. Losing granny’s house is a fear and reality a lot of us deal with and instead of lingering on the negatives of that reality I wanted to highlight why those spaces are so important: they’re where we build memories, move family when they need somewhere to stay, raise our kids, do hospice. All of it,” states Chance the Rapper.
Chance the Rapper is on the comeback trail. He wisely stepped away from music following the horrible reception to The Big Day, but he’s back and he appears reenergized. There’s an emphasis on lyricism and musicality that was really lacking on his studio debut, and fans are hopeful he can get back to his Acid Rap prime. “Buried Alive” was the first teaser we heard, but now Chano has dropped off an official music video for his new single “Together.”
For starters, the production is much better than whatever was happening on The Big Day. Chance got a classic DJ Premier beat, complete with soulful vocal chops and stuttering piano keys. It evokes the same kind of nostalgia that Chance harnessed so effectively on the aforementioned Acip Rap. That being said, it does mark a distinct musical change.
Gone are the bombastic horns and gospel breakdowns, and in its place is something quieter and more contemplative. It’s the sort of beat Common would have rapped on circa Like Water for Chocolate. The comparison feels especially apt, given that Com was another Chicago legend who worked with Preemo.
“Together” also thrives on Chano’s improved pen game. The rapper dropped the preachiness that soured millions of fans and strips it down, focusing on his life as a child. “If you keep the house in the family, you can keep the family in the house,” he raps. “We used to watch ‘Annie, are you okay’ on the couch. My cousin used to slam me til I punched him in the mouth.” The video is perfectly suited to the material, as it’s made up of old video footage cobbled together from family parties.
Chance the Rapper isn’t breaking the mold with this song, but he’s proving that he’s back to making good music again, and that’s ultimately more important.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new music video for “Together” by Chance the Rapper and DJ Premier? Is this the best song Chance has put out in years? Does he fit over Preemo production? Does the song get you excited for his comeback mixtape? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Chance the Rapper. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
DJ Premier has announced that he’s launched his own record store, in celebration of the vinyl medium that enhances his and so many other Hip Hop DJs’ careers.
“NEW BUSINESS ALERT: My manager and business partner @ianschwartzman and I created our own digital record store,” he captioned.
“My passion for digging, collectibles, vinyls, test presses, tapes, cd’s and merchandise inspired us to bring this to life. This isn’t just for me and our TTT releases either, it’s bigger and will be the home for original music collectibles for all my peers too.”
Nothing beats a classic rap record, and a few MCs were dropping them on the regular quite like the legendary ’90s rap duo Gang Starr. The group, consisting of Guru holding things down on the mic and DJ Premier handling the head-bumping production, dropped six albums in their career before calling it quits in 2003.
While a reunion album was reportedly planned, Guru passed away on April 19, 2010, before the project could be completed or properly executed. While the Hip-Hop community definitely took a blow due to the loss, the work they created while recording influenced the genre in ways that we still see today. One LP that specifically represents Gang Starr’s influential legacy is their third album Daily Operation, which celebrates its 32nd anniversary today.
Chrysalis Records
Comprised of jazz-tinged samples and lyrics that illustrated life in the streets of New York City during the early ’90s, Daily Operation saw Gang Starr striding smoothly towards the legendary status that we now place the group in today. The project is East Coast-inspired through and through, from recording the LP entirely at the dearly missed D&D Studios on West 37th Street in Midtown Manhattan all the way to lamenting about Brooklyn on the opening track “The Place We Dwell.” Other standout cuts include “I’m The Man,” featuring the solely credited cameos by Group Home member Lil Dap and Jeru the Damaja, “B.Y.S.” — cleverly abbreviated for “Bust Yo’ Shit” — and the lead single “Ex Girl to Next Girl” that gave us one of the most 90s-looking music videos ever created.
The key to Gang Starr is that, while none of their albums ever crossed Top 5 status on the Billboard 200 — their highest placement happened in 1998 when Moment of Truth hit #6 — sales were never the thing that represented their effect on the game; the music always came first and foremost. Daily Operation received all sorts of critical acclaim nonetheless, and we even included it on our “100 Best Rap Albums” list for The Source’s 100th issue (January 1998). So, while it only reached #65 on the Billboard 200 and faired slightly better on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at #14, those numbers mean nothing when compared to the slick verses, smooth-yet-rugged instrumentals, and thought-provoking bars that still makes this album a certified classic almost three decades after its original release.
Last Friday, Nas and DJ Premier unleashed their latest collaborative single, “Define My Name.” The song’s release coincides with the 30th anniversary of Nas’s iconic debut album, Illmatic, on which Premier produced three tracks. Near the end of the “Define My Name,” Nas confirms that he and his longtime collaborator will finally release a full-length collaboration, which has been rumored to be in the works for many years. He says, “30 years later we back in the lab, it’s album time.” Nas previously referenced the possibility of collaborating on the song “30,” rapping, “Premier album still might happen.” While they go back a way, the esteemed beatmaker has not produced on a Nas album since 2001’s Stillmatic on the song “2nd Childhood.” However, the two have continued to work together, with Preemo featuring on 2021’s Magic.
The announcement of a collaborative album comes off the heels of Nas’s legendary six-album run with Hit-Boy that began in 2020 and ended late last year. Both the King’s Disease and Magic trilogies were his first projects to be handled by a singular producer. DJ Premier also has a historic track record of producing full-length albums as a member of Gang Starr and PRhyme. Now that they are finally gearing up for their long-awaited joint album, here are five things we want from Nas and DJ Premier’s upcoming release.
A Concise Tracklist
In light of Illmatic’s 30th anniversary, part of what makes the album so classic is that its lean tracklist and short run time are nothing but top-quality material. At ten songs and 39 minutes, there is no room for error. Its cohesion contributes to its legendary status. Given that DJ Premier produced three songs from Nas’s debut, one can hope for the two to deliver high-caliber material at an adequate length. Nas’s last six studio albums with Hit-Boy did not exceed one hour.
Even before that, his NASIR album with Kanye West clocked in at 26 minutes. While Nas has released a lengthy double disc before, his recent output has taken a “quality over quantity” approach. Many of DJ Premier’s greatest collaborations, including Gang Starr’s Hard To Earn and PRhyme’s self-titled debut, were rather concise. Based on the tracklist of Illmatic and their other masterful works, one can hope for a succinct runtime.
Classic DJ Premier Production
One can count on DJ Premier to contribute classic hip hop production to any song. His signature style of beat-making is instantly recognizable. Preemo’s beats often have a unique swinging rhythm with a powerful sample loop. Throughout his career, he has remained true to his sound. Recently, he has put his signature touch on songs from Ab-Soul, 2 Chainz, Russ, Busta Rhymes, and Griselda. DJ Premier and Nas reconnected in 2022 for “Beat Breaks,” which saw the legend rapping over his top-tier production. Their latest single, “Define My Name,” contains a classic Preemo-style beat, which hopefully gives fans a glimpse of what is to come from their upcoming album.
Plenty Of Scratching
With any DJ Premier production, scratching from the hip hop legend is almost guaranteed. Nearly all his most iconic beats see him putting his DJ skills on full display. He often incorporates elements of other rap songs into hooks as he scratches. DJ Premier will sometimes even scratch on songs he did not produce, including The Game and Kanye West’s “Eazy” and Nas’s “Wave Gods,” which are both Hit-Boy beats. “Define My Name” is quintessential DJ Premier in its production and scratching. One can certainly anticipate some impressive scratching from Preemo on his upcoming album with Nas.
A Nod To Their Most Iconic Collabs
Nas and DJ Premier’s collaborative history began 30 years ago on Illmatic on “Represent,” “Memory Lane,” and, of course, “NY State of Mind.” Premier also produced the latter’s sequel on 1999’s I Am…, on which he also produced “Nas Is Like.” “Define My Name” nods to that song with its title deriving from one of its most well-known lyrics: “As far as rap go, it’s only natural I explain / My plateau and also what defines my name.” Additionally, DJ Premier scratches the lyrics on their latest single, nodding to one of their most iconic collaborations. He also notably produced “I Gave You Power,” “Come Get Me,” “2nd Childhood,” and “Classic.” In the vein of “Define My Name,” we hope for Nas and DJ Premier to continue the lineage of their collaborative history, recalling some of their most classic collaborations.
An Unreleased Guru Verse
Throughout his career, Nas has proved that he can hold down an album on his own. Guest features are not a necessity for his upcoming album with DJ Premier, but if there was going to be one guest, it should be an unreleased verse from Guru. Unfortunately, Nas and Guru never appeared on a song with each other before the Gang Starr member’s passing in 2010. Posthumous vocals are often seen as a distasteful money grab, but DJ Premier proved them to be the opposite in the case of Gang Starr’s 2019 album, One of the Best Yet. Before its release, Premier alluded to Nas’s inclusion on the album in an Instagram post, which never materialized. The long-awaited album from Nas and DJ Premier would provide the perfect opportunity to hear them on a song together.
A true O.G. and undisputed West Coast Royalty, after three prodigious decades in the game, Spice 1’s longevity and influence speaks for itself. The Bay Area legend’s brand of vivid, raw and uncut lyricism, venting on the complexities of street life, has resulted in three Gold plaques, standout soundtrack singles (“Trigga Gots No Heart” from the award-winning Menace II Society Film), and respect from Hip-Hop’s elite; including making classics with Tupac, Too Short, MC Eiht, E-40, Method Man, Ice-T and UGK among others.
In the summer of 2019, Spice made a triumphant return with Platinum O.G., which debuted in the top 10 on DSP’s and included collaborations with comrades Too Short, Pimp C, MC Eiht, Kurupt, Devin The Dude, Tha Outlawz, Yukmouth (Luniz), Digital Underground’s Money B and more.
After announcing Platinum O.G. 2 with “Gangsta Shhh” featuring Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross & Q Bosilini, and following it up with “Crumbs With Bums” featuring Conway The Machine, Spice 1 is back with a new focus track, “Since The Day,” which features DJ Premier, CL Smooth and Mike Epps. “Since The Day” is now available!
“Since The Day” is really what my Platinum O.G. trilogy is all about, bringing the culture together that laid the foundation for making Hip-Hop what it is today” Spice 1 declares.
The chilling and powerful story-telling that separates Spice 1 from his peers is still in effect with Platinum O.G. 2. The album is narrated by Sway Calloway, and produced by N.O. Joe (Geto Boys, Scarface, UGK, Ice Cube, Devin The Dude, AZ, LL Cool J) & Ryan Elder; Elder who also executive produced the album states “I think Spice is the most underrated rapper of all time” he offers. “His significance and importance on the culture should be recognized. I truly care about preserving his legacy and would never do a sequel if I felt we couldn’t top the first one, and we did that. No one likes a bad sequel.”
Spice 1’s Platinum O.G.2 will be released on 5-3-24 and features appearances from Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Conway The Machine, DJ Premier, Paul Wall, Treach, MC Eiht, Devin The Dude, Bushwick Bill, KXNG Crooked, CL Smooth, Lil Flip, Sway Calloway and more.
