Contrary to popular belief, he did not found nor even co-found Gang Starr.
He was introduced to DJing while attending school at Prairie View A&M in Houston, Texas. DJ Premier's original stage name was Waxmaster C, the "C" taken from his first name, Chris, although he had already changed it to DJ Premier at the time he joined Gang Starr.
Considered by many fans to be one of the greatest hip hop producers, DJ Premier has produced countless tracks, for many groups and solo artists since the early 1990s. These include notable tracks for artists such as Jay-Z ("D'Evils", "So Ghetto"), Big L ("The Enemy"), The Notorious B.I.G. ("Unbelievable", "Kick In The Door", "Ten Crack Commandments"), Nas ("N.Y. State of Mind", "Nas Is Like"), Pitch Black ("It's All Real"), M.O.P. ("Downtown Swinga"), Jeru the Damaja ("Come Clean", "My Mind Spray"), KRS-One ("MC's Act Like They Don't Know"), Mos Def ("Mathematics"), Non Phixion ("Rockstars"), and Royce da 5'9" ("Boom").(Full list: djpremiertrackology.8kilo.com)
Collaborations
Outside of Gang Starr, some of Premier's most lauded work is his collaborations with Jeru the Damaja and Group Home. With the former, Premier crafted one of the East Coast's landmark albums in the form of The Sun Rises in the East, released in 1994. Their follow up to this, 1996's Wrath of the Math, was regarded as a solid effort but not on par with its predecessor, although it did contain Jeru's biggest hit to date, "Ya Playin' Yaself". Group Home's Livin' Proof (1995), although greatly overlooked at the time of its release, has eventually come to be critically acclaimed.
In 1994, DJ Premier collaborated extensively with jazz musician Branford Marsalis's experimental group, Buckshot Lefonque, for their debut album. During the making of music video director, Hype Williams' 1998 film, Belly, DJ Premier collaborated with neo soul leader D'Angelo for a song called "Devil's Pie", which was originally intended only for the film's accompanying soundtrack. However D'Angelo soon changed his mind and decided to include the song on his sophomore album Voodoo (2000) In 2006 he co-produced Christina Aguilera's Back To Basics album.
Samples
DJ Premier's style of production epitomises the New York sound from his earlier peers. He is known for sampling jazz, funk, and soul artists, as well as sampling an artist's past work, when he is creating a new track for that same artist. In addition, his photographic memory of rap lyrics allows him to distinctively "speak with his hands" by scratching in lyrics from several different songs to construct new phrases [1]. Premier's non-Gang Starr collaborations are well-known for his often-imitated signature of combining short vocal samples, often from multiple artists, to create a chorus. For example, for the chorus of Mos Def's "Mathematics", Premier cuts, in quick succession:
"The Mighty Mos Def..." (from Mos Def's "Body Rock"),
"It's simple mathematics" (from Fat Joe's "John Blaze"),
"I revolve around science..." (from Ghostface Killah's verse on Raekwon's "Criminology"),
"What are we talking about here..." (unknown origin),
"Do your math.." (from Erykah Badu's "On & On"), and
"One, two, three, four" (from James Brown's "Funky Drummer")
On certain artists' work the vocal samples will all be vocal samples of the artist from the artists' past work; "Nas Is Like" and "2nd Childhood" with Nas are two well-known examples of this.
On Jeru the Damaja's "Physical Stamina," however, Premier sampled and chopped up recordings of seminal electro-acoustic music from the 1960s.
Melodies
Premier usually creates a two-bar melody that repeats itself throughout the song. The aim of this is to showcase the MC's skills by bringing focus away from the beat, while creating the song's mood and a solid backdrop. Premier often changes speeds, filters and chops his breaks and adds scope to the melody with chimes and strings.
He has also shown innovation by playing rarely-used elements into a rap song (such as the xylophones on Biggie's "Kick in the Door" or the ambient nature sounds on Nas' "Nas is Like"), and his wide range of instruments (the piano loop on Jay-Z's "D'Evils" versus the strings on Rakim's "New York (Ya Out There?") and production techniques (he played the melody backwards during the second half of Jay-Z's "A Million and One Questions (Rhyme No More)").
Drums
Premier's drums have been known for complimenting his melodies. For example, during Nas' "NY State of Mind", two bars have a simple round of kicks and snares; in the following two, a complementing second set of drums plays out. This is repeated throughout.
Label ownership and future projects
DJ Premier currently owns two record labels. "Year Round Records" was founded in 2002 and has so far released several DJ Premier mixtapes as well as two 12" vinyl singles for NYG'z and Blaq Poet. "Works Of Mart", which is also the name of his publishing company, was founded in mid 2006 and released 12" vinyl singles for artists Tef (aka Teflon) and F.A.B.I.D. (H. Stax and Mike Rone).
Since 2001, DJ Premier mentioned several times the plan to release a solo album entitled "A Man Of Few Words", which has yet to be released. Other confirmed upcoming projects are a full-length colaboration with Nas, Blaq Poet's long delayed album "The Best That Never Did It", Tef's (aka Teflon) long announced album "Contraband" and last but not least protegés NYG'z long delayed debut album "Pros and Cons".
Change
DJ Premier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The chosen sperm to explore and reach the egg for sure
A child through the birth canal on the nine mo' trial
Released on this wild earth, my generation hit worst
Will my development arrested by the government
Younga niggas strugglin', livin' life got me wonderin'
New shit I'm discoverin', yo son I can't sleep
Situation so deep, my niggas drownin' in the streets
Another rapist'll stalk, a younger murder is walked
They got shit locked in a fort, a buck fif' if you're tossed
Verbalizin' hard times, findin' ways to recline
Dedicated to the rhyme brought your shades and your wine
I survived hard times prime time, as I rewind
My thoughts and remmeniss, sippin' O.E. quarts
Rest in peace to my peeps who died up in the streets
Fuck Halloween treats cause ain't shit sweet
Change, my life has changed
Change, (change) and I will never be the same
Change, my life has changed
Change, (change) and I will never be the same
Growin' up on the Brooklyn streets
It was hard for Black T to make these motherfuckin ends meet
The first store that closed up got stuck
and if you didn't gimme your cash
I'd put one in somebody's gut
I ran buckwild through these streets with this group of individuals
committing crimes well performed like a ritual
Until one day my momz tried to send me up-state to job core
I didn't know what the fuck for
So I, pulled out my pals
And called up the nigga Al
What's the deal son it's been a fuckin' long while
He said yo Black T, I had this dream about this cream
I'm going all out for mines by any fuckin' means
We grabbed our pen and pads
And wrote about this world gone mad
And how times was getting real bad
But what we need to do
Is connect with them other two
And make that dream you had come true
I'm out the front door
Don't want to deal with this bullshit no more
What for? I'm ready to throw this heart on the floor
Back in the days, yo, Ty had it all
Women on call, sex and all
Summer, winter, spring, and the fall
Then my momz broke out to get away from men why no doubt
Then I settled down and made one girl a spouce
Should of known, couldn't replace momz
My heart rang the alarm, situation was da bomb
I roamed the streets, started smokin weed
Drinkin Heinie's tappin' hinies
Writin' words to rich beats
Became an everyday stuggler
Stereotyped a hustler
Constant bother
Resided with my father frequently talked with my mother
Reactions crazy, revenge thoughts, maybe
Asking what am I doin here
Someone come save me
'Cause I feel I got no purpose
Dabilatino surface
There's different type moves
With an attitude that's nervous
And nothing can help me maintain my mind frame
Now I'm doing shit I never did before
Change, my life has changed
Change, (change) and I will never be the same
Change, the world has changed
Change, (change) and it will never be the same
Brought up on green and patch
You'll never have no ash
and everyday I find myself in the same old fashion
Saddened, my same fuckin' Pumas and Lees
Tore up at the knees
That would always squeeze
My buns, I have no funds
I'm young and dumb
Left school at three o' clock
To face an eviction
In tears as it appears my crib for years
Has just been rented to the landlord kids
No rhythm, cause my rep grows rather rash
Surpassed third class quick to stash, when the photo flash
In contrast, I was labeled as an outcast
Afraid to tell the cast
Cause chicks can tell me kiss they ass
Low self esteem but mom dukes kept me clean
Swayed from Spalding, Paydays and madman drinks
Shantlell my princess, she will live to be a queen
And as the moonbeam
Me and my team we'll be countin' cream
Change, my life has changed
Change, (change) and I will never be the same
Change, the world has changed
Change, (change) and it will never be the same
Change, you should make a change
Change, (change) and you must never be the same
Change, Evil Dee has changed
Change, (change) and he will never be the same
Change, Beatminerz change
Change, (change) and it will never be the same
Change, yes the world has changed
Change, (change) and it will never be the same
The song "Change" by DJ Premier deals with the theme of evolution and progression, both personally and universally. The song is a collection of individual stories told from multiple perspectives that are representative of DJ Premier's generation. The opening lines speak about the singer's birth, suggesting that a lot has happened since then that has influenced their life.
The lyrics depict the harsh realities of life, ranging from crime, poverty, drug abuse, and death. The song highlights the struggles that the Black community faced and how they tried to overcome it. The lyrics also talk about how the singer tries to make changes in their life and transcend the difficulties of their past.
The refrain "Change, my life has changed, Change, and I will never be the same" serves as a reminder that life is dynamic and that one should strive to evolve and not remain stagnant. The song urges the listener to challenge themselves, try new things, and change the things that are not working in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
At the end of 1974, when daddy dukes went raw
When the year 1974 was coming to a close and my father took a risk
The chosen sperm to explore and reach the egg for sure
His sperm was selected to embark on a journey to fertilize the egg successfully
A child through the birth canal on the nine mo' trial
I entered this world after a nine-month trial through the birth canal
Released on this wild earth, my generation hit worst
Being born into this chaotic world, my generation was heavily affected
Will my development arrested by the government
I worry if the government will hinder my progress and growth
Younga niggas strugglin', livin' life got me wonderin'
Seeing younger people like me struggle in life makes me contemplate deeply
New shit I'm discoverin', yo son I can't sleep
I'm constantly exploring new experiences and it keeps me up at night
Situation so deep, my niggas drownin' in the streets
The circumstances are so dire that my friends are suffocating in the streets
Another rapist'll stalk, a younger murder is walked
More rapists are lurking and young murderers are getting away with their crimes
They got shit locked in a fort, a buck fif' if you're tossed
Those in power have control like a fortress, and if you cross them, you may pay a high price
Verbalizin' hard times, findin' ways to recline
Expressing the difficulties of life and trying to find ways to relax
Dedicated to the rhyme brought your shades and your wine
Dedicated to the art of rap, bring your sunglasses and wine to enjoy the journey
I survived hard times prime time, as I rewind
I managed to endure tough times during my peak years, reflecting on them now
My thoughts and remmeniss, sippin' O.E. quarts
Reflecting on memories and sipping on bottles of Olde English quart
Rest in peace to my peeps who died up in the streets
Honoring and remembering my friends who lost their lives in the streets
Fuck Halloween treats cause ain't shit sweet
I don't care for hollow, deceptive treats because nothing is truly pleasant in reality
Change, my life has changed
My life has transformed
Change, (change) and I will never be the same
And I will always be different
Growin' up on the Brooklyn streets
Experiencing childhood on the streets of Brooklyn
It was hard for Black T to make these motherfuckin ends meet
Black T struggled to make enough money to make ends meet
The first store that closed up got stuck
Whenever a store closed down, we would rob it
and if you didn't gimme your cash
And if you didn't give me your money
I'd put one in somebody's gut
I would violently attack someone
I ran buckwild through these streets with this group of individuals
I would act recklessly with this group of people
committing crimes well performed like a ritual
Engaging in criminal activities with skill, almost like a ritual
Until one day my momz tried to send me up-state to job core
Until one day my mother attempted to send me to a job training program upstate
I didn't know what the fuck for
I had no idea why
So I, pulled out my pals
So, I contacted my friends
And called up the nigga Al
And reached out to my friend Al
What's the deal son it's been a fuckin' long while
What's going on, it's been a very long time
He said yo Black T, I had this dream about this cream
He said, hey Black T, I had a dream about this money
I'm going all out for mines by any fuckin' means
I will do whatever it takes to acquire wealth
We grabbed our pen and pads
We took our pens and notebooks
And wrote about this world gone mad
And wrote about the chaotic state of the world
And how times was getting real bad
And how times were deteriorating
But what we need to do
But what we have to do
Is connect with them other two
Is to connect with the other two individuals
And make that dream you had come true
And make that dream you had a reality
I'm out the front door
I'm leaving through the front door
Don't want to deal with this bullshit no more
I don't want to handle this nonsense anymore
What for? I'm ready to throw this heart on the floor
Why bother? I'm willing to give up and abandon my emotions
Back in the days, yo, Ty had it all
In the past, Ty had everything
Women on call, sex and all
Women would always be available for him, including for sexual encounters
Summer, winter, spring, and the fall
Throughout all seasons
Then my momz broke out to get away from men why no doubt
Then my mother left to escape from relationships, without a doubt
Then I settled down and made one girl a spouce
Then I calmed down and committed to one woman as my spouse
Should of known, couldn't replace momz
I should have realized that I couldn't replace my mother
My heart rang the alarm, situation was da bomb
My heart alerted me to the alarming situation, which was explosive
I roamed the streets, started smokin weed
I wandered the streets and began smoking marijuana
Drinkin Heinie's tappin' hinies
Drinking Heinekens and flirting with attractive women
Writin' words to rich beats
Writing lyrics to accompany powerful beats
Became an everyday stuggler
I turned into someone who struggled every day
Stereotyped a hustler
I was labeled as a hustler due to stereotypes
Constant bother
A constant source of annoyance
Resided with my father frequently talked with my mother
I lived with my father but still had regular conversations with my mother
Reactions crazy, revenge thoughts, maybe
My reactions were wild, full of thoughts of seeking revenge, perhaps
Asking what am I doin here
Wondering about my purpose and existence
Someone come save me
I need someone to rescue me
'Cause I feel I got no purpose
Because I feel like I have no purpose
Dabilatino surface
My inner thoughts and emotions are now exposed
There's different type moves
There are various paths to take
With an attitude that's nervous
Approaching them with a nervous attitude
And nothing can help me maintain my mind frame
Nothing can assist me in preserving my state of mind
Now I'm doing shit I never did before
Now I'm engaging in activities I've never done before
Brought up on green and patch
Raised in poverty and struggle
You'll never have no ash
You'll never have any money
and everyday I find myself in the same old fashion
Every day, I find myself in the same repetitive situation
Saddened, my same fuckin' Pumas and Lees
Feeling down, wearing the same old Puma sneakers and Levis jeans
Tore up at the knees
Worn down with holes at the knees
That would always squeeze
They were always tight and snug
My buns, I have no funds
I have no money
I'm young and dumb
I'm young and naive
Left school at three o' clock
Left school early at three o'clock
To face an eviction
To confront the threat of being evicted
In tears as it appears my crib for years
Crying as it becomes apparent that the place I called home for years
Has just been rented to the landlord kids
Has now been rented to the landlord's children
No rhythm, cause my rep grows rather rash
I'm losing my rhythm and my reputation is deteriorating
Surpassed third class quick to stash, when the photo flash
Moving past third-class status, quickly hiding things when a photograph is taken
In contrast, I was labeled as an outcast
In contrast, I was seen as an outsider
Afraid to tell the cast
Fearful of confiding in others
Cause chicks can tell me kiss they ass
Because women would often disregard or disrespect me
Low self esteem but mom dukes kept me clean
Having low self-esteem, but my mother ensured I stayed presentable
Swayed from Spalding, Paydays and madman drinks
Steered away from playing basketball, consuming Payday candy bars, and drinking excessively
Shantlell my princess, she will live to be a queen
My daughter Shantlell, she will grow up to become a remarkable woman
And as the moonbeam
And like a moonbeam
Me and my team we'll be countin' cream
My friends and I will be counting money
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander Rubin, Jeffrey B. Franzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind