I am confident that even if you don't know who DJ Premier is, you've heard a beat that he has made. He is acclaimed as one of the best producers of all-time due to his classic material, longevity and not to mention his influence in the New York hip-hop scene.
Born in H-Town, Texas, Premier moved back and forth between New York and Houston before settling in Brooklyn. He then began collaborating with artists in the late eighties - at the time he was known as the Waxmaster C. He is most famous for being the instrumental half of the duo Gang Starr with MC Guru. His influences range from some of eighties most prominent producers, DJs and turntablists like Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Jam Master Jay, Marley Marl and more. Aside from working with Guru, Premier entirely produced Jeru the Damaja's first two albums The Sun Rises in the East and Wrath of Math - both widely praised for lyricism and production.
Premier's sound is unmatched when it comes to 90s hip-hop in Brooklyn. His use of aggressive piano, string and horn loops and scratching bring all of the important elements of the grimy New York City rap scene. After releasing albums under Gang Starr and Jeru's The Sun Rises in the East, Premier did some work on Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, Nas's Illmatic and Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt to name a few. Since then he has gone on to produce even more classic works for renowned artists like Kool G Rap, Ludacris, M.O.P., Big L, Royce 5'9", D'Angelo and many, many more. His main market is from New York rappers looking for that authentic east coast sound.
Some of my favorite Premier beats:
