DJ Premier returns to the scene with a bang as he teams up with rap legend Snoop Dogg for their latest single, “Can U Dig That?” This collaboration marks a reunion of icons, with Premier and Snoop previously joining forces on various projects, showcasing their undeniable chemistry.
Released under DJ Premier and Ian Schwartzman’s independent imprint TTT, “Can U Dig That?” delivers both artists’ signature sounds. Premier’s pulsating lo-fi production sets the stage for Snoop’s stream-of-consciousness raps, enhanced by Premier’s patented scratch chorus.
On this day in Hip Hop history, super producer and generational sound shaper DJ Premier was born in 1966. As a producer, DJ Premier has worked with the likes of Big L (RIP), Big Daddy Kane, Bun B, Common, D’Angelo, Dr. Dre, The Game, Joey Bada$$, KRS-One, Ludacris, Mos Def, Nas, Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G {RIP), Jay-Z, Kanye West, Immortal Technique and Busta Rhymes. As a founding member of Gang Starr, Premier and the late Guru helped the New York boom-bap sound get national acclaim and be the standard of Hip Hop throughout the 90s.
Known for his smooth soul samples and steady drums, DJ Premier either worked with or influenced a majority of the more prominent and most respected producers in Hip Hop. As Gang Starr, DJ Premier, and Guru put out six studio albums; No More Mr. Nice Guy, Step in Arena, Daily Operation, Hard to Earn, Moment of Truth, and The Ownerz. Although the group never got any official accolades or received any music awards, their influence can be heard almost anywhere real Hip Hop is found.
DJ Premier is responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed tracks throughout Hip-Hop history. In honor of his born day, below are some of his most popular songs that helped to define his career as a beatmaker.
Gang Starr – Mass Appeal
Notorious B.I.G. – Kick in the Door
Nas – Nas Is Like
Big L – Platinum Plus
KRS- One – MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know
From everyone at The Source Magazine, Happy Born Day DJ Premier. Thank you for all that you’ve done for this culture that we all love.
Over the past few years, former Uproxx cover star Russ has really earned the respect of the hip-hop community despite sometimes making abrasive comments. His love for the genre and culture are evident, and his skills on the mic have earned him co-signs (in the form of features) from the likes of rap vets Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah, Jadakiss, Rick Ross, and more, with multiple collabs with Gang Starr’s DJ Premier. Premier and Russ have linked up once again, this time for a preview of Premo’s upcoming album. The song, “Work It Out,” is a mellow, reflective track revolving around lush keys and steady, Premier-signature drums.
Over the past few months, DJ Premier has been sharing stories from his long, illustrious career on social media, detailing the creations of collaborations with acts like Black Eyed Peas, Brandy, Jay-Z, and more. Preem’s truly fulfilling his role as a hip-hop vanguard, preserving history for future generations, while maintaining his contemporary relevance by sharing his production skills will a wide array of current and up-and-coming artists.
Russ and DJ Premier are legends in their own right. While people might be a bit more hesitant to give that title up to Russ, he has certainly worked his tail off, independently we might add. The New Jersey rapper has released so many singles and projects without too much extra help, making his resume all that more impressive. Today he is back with a new single with the legendary Houston, Texas producer.
Over the last couple of years this duo has put out a small handful of tracks together. That may be a little bit stunning to some, but they really do complement each other’s respective styles. Their works include 2020’s “Inside Job” and 2022’s “Free.” Russ and Premier are building out their synergy further with “Work This Out.”
It is a relationship cut that we have seen Russ do before, about wanting to fix things. This is an exciting time for Premier because this track is teasing his next album. There is not much information on it, but this could be the second taster from the record. We did get “In Moe (Speculation)” with Common in November, so we could have a compilation-like LP with guest rappers.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “Work This Out,” by Russ and DJ Premier? Is the duo’s strongest track together so far, why or why not? What is your favorite element of the song and why? Does this get you excited for the producer’s upcoming album? 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 Russ and DJ Premier. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
Let’s get out of town, we been goin’ ’round and ’round, there’s a hotel in the South of Virginia (Virginia) We’ll make it a road trip, we’ll listen to old s***, you tell me that it’s hard to forgive you (Forgive you) Girl, I know, I know, I know (Girl, I know) And I won’t, I won’t, I won’t (Girl, I won’t) Act like it’s easy (It’s easy) Oh-oh, act like you need me (Act like you need me)
On this day twenty-eight ago, Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal aka Guru and DJ Premier dropped their fourth album aptly entitled Hard To Earn.
As one of Gangstarr’s most circulated but underrated projects, Hard To Earn, released on the Chrysalis/EMI imprint, set the pace for the Gangstarr sound and legacy. Exclusively produced by the legendary duo, Hard To Earn is a prototypical representation of authentic Hip Hop aimed to please aficionados of the culture and the music rather than seeking mainstream success.
The result? A timeless single (“DWYCK”) featuring Nice N’ Smooth, another groundbreaking single whose title is now being used as a thriving magazine name (“Mass Appeal”), and several other tracks (“Tonz O’ Gunz,” “Code Of The Streets,” “The Planet”) that further solidified Gangstarr’s position as one of the most influential duos in Hip-Hop history.
Salute to Guru(R.I.P.), DJ Premier, Jeru Da Damaja, Lil Dap, and the rest of the Gangstarr Foundation for this crucial piece of Hip-Hop history!
30 years ago today, Nas dropped his debut LP, ‘Illmatic.’ Released by Columbia Records in 94′ Nas recorded the album at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Produced by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself, the bangers on the album will be embedded in Hip Hop culture as classics merely based on their production alone.
The album sold 60,000 in the first week and debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the RIAA. In 2001 it earned a platinum certification after shipping 1,000,000 copies in the United States alone.
Lyrically, Nas delivered certified street verses on ‘Illmatic’ that influenced the majority of the ’90s and is regarded as one of the greatest LPs of all time by critics and major publications globally.
On this date over three decades ago, Chris Martin b.k.a the legendary DJ Premier and Keith Elam b.k.a the Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) put together Gang Starr’s second and possibly most memorable album, Step Into The Arena. The duo was one of the first groups signed the newly formed Chysalis/EMI label after ditching Wild Pitch Records following their debut album, No More Mr. Nice Guy.
With production solely in the hands of Preemo and Guru, the raw, gritty sound that helped mold New York Hip Hop during its Golden Era can be found in many facets of this project, which is somewhat surprising coming from a rapping teacher from Boston and a DJ from Houston, Texas who just happened to link up in East New York, Brooklyn. Tracks such as the jux-inspired “Just To Get A Rep”, the consciously cool lyricism of “Who’s Gonna Take The Weight” and the hilarious bug-a-boo fueled “What You Want This Time?” showed and proved Gang Starr’s innate ability to capture an experience on wax that all listeners can feel.
Salute to Preemo, the Elam family and everyone else involved in creating this piece of Hip Hop history!
DJ Premier has been fairly active this year for his standards. He is not one to release a lot of material period. But for some reason he has been extra generous this time around. He has put out a project and several singles.
The Houston, Texas producer continued his series of Beats That Collected Dust with the third volume. On the singles side of things, he has worked with some underground names and more mainstream artists too. Namely, he teamed up with Westside Gunna and Rome Streetz on “Runway.” This time, he is back, but with a rerelease of song from 21 years ago.
Listen To “Rock Stars” By Non Phixion, ILL BILL, And DJ Premier
It was a beat he made for underground rap outfit Non Phixion and ILL BILL. “Rock Stars” painted a picture of fame and living like a superstar after making it in music. The song landed on Phixion’s 2002 record, The Future Is Now. All three have decided to push it back out to the public with a clean and instrumental version. You can hear the new renditions above.
What were your initial thoughts on “Rock Stars” by DJ Premier, ILL BILL, and Non Phixion? Was this the best song from The Future Is Now, why or why not? If not, which song was better in your opinion? Where does this rank amongst the rest of Premier’s beats? Who had the best performance on the track and why? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around DJ Premier, Non Phixion, and ILL BILL. Finally, stay with us for all of the best song drops throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
If I say rock star, I’m talking about rocking the mic My s***’s hot like the rock a fiend drop in a pipe These cats is idiots, with raps so p***y they catch periods I’m serious, my life is like a drug experience A p**no movie with no plot and I’m the only guy in it Like Vivid videos with Kobe Tai dime b*****s
DJ Premier is an iconic producer who has really influenced many others to follow in his footsteps. His career has lasted for decades and it is pretty obvious as to why. He might go down in hip-hop history as the greatest to ever lay down an instrumental. Over the course of his time in the industry, he has not dropped too many projects of his own.
However, over the past year and change, Premier has been staying pretty active. Just last year, he teamed up with Bumpy Knuckles for a 17-song project, KoleXXXion. Then, at the end of June 2023, Premier did his thing for Teflon’s tape, 2 Sides To Every Story. Finally, the Houston native came out with his first solo LP in about 12 years. That was with the third installment of the Beats That Collected Dust series, which began in 2008.
Listen To “In Moe (Speculation)” By DJ Premier And Common
Now, one of those beats is getting some serious bars laid down on it. The rapper joining him in the booth this time is Illinois legend, Common. He tackles the slow-mo, boom-bap production on “In Moe.” The new title was revamped to “In Moe (Specuation).” Common is still showing flashes of greatness all these years later.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new single from DJ Premier and Common, “In Moe (Speculation)?” Is Common a top-five rapper of all time? Is DJ Premier a top-five producer of all time? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around DJ Premier and Common. Furthermore, stay with us for all of the best song drops.
Quotable Lyrics:
Charge into the game or give Chicago crash Chi’ n****s get dough, is that just how they bred? Carryin’ toasts like a celebration Why do they hate he, like a undeveloped nation? It’s levels to this, mines is elevation I excel, LL acceleration
