Quick intro: There were some rules here. I tried to keep it to a maximum of 2 joints per artist that he has done multiple beats with (KRS, Nas, Jay-z, etc) and tried to provide some stuff you guys might be familiar with but as a compiled overall listen, your appreciate will surely grow. This could be considered the prime of his career. Everyone wanted to work with him, and although he was pricey it was certainly worth the cost. All of these are gems and once again show his versatility, ability to explore a sound and deliver…let’s take a slide to the ill side of town.

1. Jay-Z: A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More (In My Lifetime Vol 1)
   • An arguable top Premier beat. The piano is beautiful on both beats (and a third beat that isn’t on this but on another version of the song). The way that Jigga flowed in his early days made rap seem so simple and these two worked very well together.
2. MOP feat. Kool G Rap: Stick To Ya Gunz (Firing Squad)
   • I mentioned in my last edition that MOP and Premier were/are extremely close and worked well together because of how Premier could direct their animosity. On this track, Fame and Danze seem somewhat tame to one hell of a beast. Guys, if you haven’t heard this G Rap verse, its one for the ages. He already has one of hip hop’s best verses under his belt with his Symphony verse, but I’ll be damned if KGR over these Premier strings can’t compete with Marley’s piano.
3. Notorious BIG: Kick In The Door (Life After Death)
   • The extremely controversial song where Biggie takes shots at Nas, Jeru, Rae & Ghost, and even the man behind the beats, Premier!!! Aside from the ridiculously dope animosity that Biggie displays, lets talk about the “I Put A Spell on You” sample that Premier flips and makes into this. This isn’t easy folks.
4. Nas: Memory Lane (Illmatic)
   • The best song on the best album in hip hop…I think so. If I was to compile a “best hip hop songs ever” list, this would be in a top 3 along T.R.O.Y and H.E.R because of how perfect it is. It was a nostalgic track then and it is now, talk about a timeless throwback track. This is a very difficult beat to make work and Premier did it.
5. Brand Nubian: The Return (The Foundation)
   • Ignore the title in the file; the track is called The Return off of the VERY overlooked reunion album by a great group. This beat is fully loaded, the chorus is typical Premier genius and has Jamar, X, and Puba flowing like a plastic bag in a breeze. Beautiful and a sleeper pick for most.
6. Jay-Z: D’evils (Reasonable Doubt)
   • If A Million and One isn’t the best Jigga-Preemo link up, then this is. Some regard this as the best song on the album and even put it up there with some of Jay-z’s elite tracklist. I wouldn’t dare disagree. This track is perfect in subject matter to fit the beat, the haunting devilish beat. The vocal samples on the chorus…perfect
7. O.C: My World (Jewelz)
   • On my last mix, cats thought I slept on O.C, get out of town. Go out and buy every one of his albums because he is easily a top 20 MC in the game. The beat on this is just…unreal. Think of the album title, then think about where you might hear the main sound of this beat in, something ‘out of this world’ like the X-Files or Outer Limits or Twilight Zone. It’s so brilliant and fitting.
8. Rakim: When I Be On The Mic (The Master)
   • He was often overlooked in his solo career at being past his prime, but The 18^th Letter and The Master were both very good albums. This track brought the best of both worlds on one track on his 2^nd solo album. Very fast paced (a huge change from another track you’ll see on this album) and Rakim does his rapid fire flow on it.
9. Nas: Nas Is Like (I Am…)
   • Everyone’s favourite Premier beat? Probably. Personally, I thank this track for getting me into Premier and making me one of his biggest fans, after this I started paying attention. I hope that Kev showed you guys that sample drop on how Premier picked this up. If that doesn’t validate anything, I don’t know what will.
10. KRS-One: MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know (KRS-One)
    • Wow. Catchy hip hop at it’s finest, boom bap at its finest…this track STILL gives me chills. The bells in the chorus are unreal next to the scratching and the drums. No one brings Boom Bap out of Premier like KRS One does.
11. Notorious BIG: Unbelievable (Ready to Die)
    • A top 5 DJ Premier beat for me because while this might be one of the subtlest beats he has and ever will do, it packs a tremendously huge punch. The R Kelly sample is a big deal and so is how he looped Patrice Rushen sample. All relates back to the name of this song.
12. KRS-One: Rappaz R N Dainja (KRS One)
    • Easily my favourite DJ Premier chorus. It is so powerful and jam packed and lifts up the song to levels that wouldn’t be there without it. The beat is simple but placements and timings make it that much more special.
13. Jermaine Dupri feat. Snoop Dogg and R.O.C: Protectors of 1472 (Life in 1472)
    • Save your judgment for after. Listen to the song and shake your head in shame as Jermaine Dupri gets one hell of a gem from Premier is spits a verse on it. What a beat. Snoop usually does great on his numerous Premier appearances. This is one of my favourite Premier beats because of how orchestrated it is. Listen..now.
14. Rakim: It’s Been A Long Time (The 18^th Letter)
    • Remember I said that When I Be On The Mic is a huge change of pace? This came before it and it’s a slow melody with beautiful strings and horns and a great drum back beat. Once again, the timing and instrumental placements are ridiculous.
15. Crooklyn Dodgers 95: Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers (Clockers)
    • Chubb Rock, OC, and Jeru combine for the Crooklyn Dodgers version 2. I really can’t think of much to say about this except that if you want a definition of New York hip hop…it’s right here.
16. Janet Jackson: Together Again Premier Remix (Together Again Single)
    • This song had multiple remixes and this was simply the most beautiful one. The solo r and b track on this mix (wait for the Aguilara tracks that’ll blow your mind) this track has always been a favourite of mine. Just shows the versatility of him. And although this track screams r and b, it manages to stay hip hop.
17. Big Daddy Kane feat. Sauce Money, Shyheim, Jay-z, Scoob Lover, ODB: Show & Prove (Daddy’s Home)
    • Aside from the Original Flavor stuff, this would be the first time you heard Jay-z. It was also the first time ODB was on a Premier track. Shyheim went on to do a few other cuts (easily one of the best youngest rappers ever). The track itself seems repetitive but it serves the purpose of a posse cut. Everyone gets a fair chance to display what they got and pretty much showed that Premier circa 94 could take it back to 88 if he wanted to.
18. Show & AG: Next Level (Nyte Time Mix) (Goodfellas)
    • Sound familiar? That’s because you heard it in 8 Mile. Great beat that is pure cruising at midnight music. It is soooooo laid back, so smooth because of the bass guitar’s subtle usage. The drum pattern is perfect and the night time sounds are all in affect.
19. D&D All Stars: 1,2 Pass It (The D&D Project)
    • Doug E. Fresh, Fat Joe, Jeru the Damaja, KRS-One, Mad Lion and Smif-N-Wessun contribute to this track. Although I like the remix much better (Kev if you have it, up it for them) this still has its moments. The guitar is familiar because Timbaland used it on Luv 2 Luv Ya. Great cut with a lot of talent and firepower on it. The beat of this is extremely subtle and grimey at the same time. Explain that.

If I could re-do this, I really wouldn’t do much. I mean to choose TWO Nas tracks is nearly impossible. Put in “NY State of Mind” or “Represent” if you want, it really doesn’t make a difference. They have yet to fail. I would have, however, liked to include “Outta Here” instead of “Rappaz R N Dainja”.
Enjoy peoples… support Premier.

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• Vol I: Gang Starr Foundation

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