DJ Premier + Jay-Z Collaborations: Ranked!

One of the most beautiful blends in 95-96 was created in the world famous D&D studios. Now known as HeadQCourterz, where the infamous DJ Premier creates his Works of (M)art, the studio in New York once held sessions between a young emcee, Sean Carter, and the aforementioned producer, while both were in their prime. The combination was scary. We saw marvelous joints on Reasonable Doubt turn into undoubted hip hop classics, but we also saw a few tracks throughout Jay-z’s discography get blessed with a Chris Martin beat. Here we are, on 11 Days of Jay and on DJ Premier Wednesdays breaking down and ranking every DJ Premier and Jay-z collaboration.

8. “Intro: Hand It Down”
From: Vol 2… Hard Knock Life (1998)

Would’ve been really, really great to hear Jay-z rap over this. Instead, he gave this chance to Memphis Bleek (while he was still hungry and capable of dropping some hot rhymes). Needless to say, it’s a dope intro, and could’ve been a marvelous album cut if Hov had stepped in and even dropped a quick 16.

7. “Friend or Foe”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Once those horns kick in, you know Mr. Carter ain’t up to no good. He’s looking for blood, ain’t he? Premier sets the perfect backdrop for Jay to address his suspect and interrogate, front-to-back, and go through his train of thought. Slightly comical, slightly suspenseful, 100% dope. Still, the song is just a little too short and doesn’t hit that next level. Of course, its predecessor does in ’98.

6. “So Ghetto” by Jay-z
From: Vol 3… Life & Times of S. Carter (1999)

Sure, I may get flack for this, but this beat doesn’t resonate up there with the more impressive Jay/Preem collabs. It stands out on Volume 3 as one of the best tracks on the album, and it’s by no means a “weak track,” but I can’t help but feel that with a song of this potential and this monumental set up, it falls short.

5. “Show and Prove”
From: Daddy’s Home (1994)

If we are to simply analyze Jay-z on “Show and Prove,” we can obviously acknowledge his quick, rapid-fire flow. Hov seldom raps like this, but it’s always refreshing going back and listening to him over a simple, yet totally posse-cut-appropriate Premier beat. Even more impressive was how Jay went toe-to-toe with the likes of ODB and Big Daddy Kane. He jumps on the joint, and frankly, steals the show.

4. “Bring It On”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Every emcee delivers a top notch performance over this Premier melody. The strings are fantastic, and the Fat Joe lyric proves to be right at home on the chorus. The song carries a certain avant-garde atmosphere while being quite retro, a very “black and white” effect if you will. Like walking into a pool hall, lights dim, smoke in the air, cigar ash all around. Yeah, this track gives you that “new” throwback feeling doesn’t it?

3. “Friend or Foe 98″
From: In My Lifetime, Vol 1 (1997)

Just when you thought the beat couldn’t get harder than the horns, Premier drops this gem. The beat is, as Jay states at the beginning, “motion picture shit.” To add to the cinematic experience, Jay-z recaps the original briefly, then jumps into this present story and hits a climax 20 seconds into the joint. The lyrical wordsmith proved to be able to paint a picture so vividly, so clearly, and so precisely that no questions were left unanswered and no doubts were left unaddressed. Coming in at 2 minutes and 10 second, “Friend of Foe 98” should hit any listener like a ton of bricks. It’s nearly flawless.

2. “D’evils”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

While I do feel like “D’evils” is arguably Jay’s finest moment, I don’t necessarily think that it is the best Premier and Jay collaboration. It does just about everything right. The scratch-chorus is remarkably fitting, the atmosphere is set, and the tone of the song changes thoroughly, even though everything remains untouched. It contains some of Hov’s best verses and most memorable lines: “I never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti,” or “Was thought to be a pleasant guy all my fuc*ing life/ so now I’m down for whatever, ain’t nothin’ nice.” Jay is invincible on “D’evils” alongside Premier. Funny though isn’t it? This is certainly a match made in Heaven.

1. “A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More”
From: In My Lifetime, Vol 1 (1997)

This piano loop is something out of this world. Throw on the Aaliyah voice snippet alongside some of Premier’s snares, the track’s production is unquestionably a feat in itself. Jay skates on this production, effortlessly. It could quite possibly be one of the best introduction tracks in hip hop. Add on to the fact that Jay is addressing a million and one questions about his life and career, well, that’s just the icing on the cake. And I haven’t even gotten to “Rhyme no More,” another two minutes of goodness. Jay continues to glide on the track, he doesn’t stop and Premier simply keeps feeding him hot beats to rap on. The transition is seamless and the outcome is perfection.

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