Christopher E. Martin (born March 21, 1966), better known as DJ Premier (or… Read Full Bio ↴Christopher E. Martin (born March 21, 1966), better known as DJ Premier (or Primo by his fans, fellow musicians, and critics), is a prominent American hip hop producer and DJ, and the instrumental half of the duos Gang Starr and PRhyme.
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 protegรฉs NYG'z long delayed debut album "Pros and Cons".
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 protegรฉs NYG'z long delayed debut album "Pros and Cons".
Dirty Game
DJ Premier Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Dirty Game' by these artists:
B-Rich The galaxy Eye bruh I'm not gon lie I do not fuck with…
Bankroll Fresh You gotta keep your eyes open now, man This shit is…
Big Lurch 23 years old and cold and sheizy as the game These…
Cormega Yeah Know what I'm sayin' Premo' Tell these niggas about m…
Crossfire I met a girl , she was looking so hot I…
Dirt-E Yea Roll up in the spot Ugh Tooly Ugh hunnid fully Ugh Ugh Y…
Energe Dirty life Thatโฒs why I live trifling Dirty game That's why …
Jangy Leeon Vengo a fottere la calma nella Pace del tuo Ashram disseto…
Lil B The galaxy Eye bruh I am not gon lie I do not FUCK…
LilCJ Kasino Lemme tell you how this shit came about, Smoking tooking jok…
Speedknot mobstaz Life, pain [Hook] It's so hard to survive in this world …
Speedknot Mobstaz/Twista Life, pain [Hook] It's so hard to survive in this world of…
Stitches It's a dirty game, it's a dirty world I sell cocaine…
Twista Life, pain [Hook] It's so hard to survive in this world of…
Willie the Kid (Intro) Yeah I rap about shit I know about Fly forreal Baby…
ๅๅฑใขใณใ Maybe you ่ชฐใใจcloser ๅฅๆฐใชใใชใ ใใๅ ๆธ I'm tired I bet you don't ๆใฎ…
ๅๅฑใขใณใ (Anna Tsuchiya) Maybe you dareka to closer kenage na furi mo iikagen I'm…
We have lyrics for these tracks by DJ Premier:
100 to 1 In city shoes, Of clueless blues, Pays the views, And no-man…
2 LOVIN U I pled my case with the Gods, woman Just place your…
Beat Breaks Ayy, yo, Nas, you know what I wanna do? Let's take…
Book of Rhymes I don't smile, I don't frown, get two up or…
Change At the end of 1974, when daddy dukes went raw The…
Dear Hip Hop This shit's special DJ Khaled! And if I cry two tears for…
dj premier 19-motherfuckin' 1985, I arrived 33 years, damn, I'm gratef…
Get Down ("Get nothin' but a beat down!") Refrain 4x Punks jump…
Head Over Wheels I guess I troop, honey, what the scoop? You're kinda…
Headlines Okay (okay) Yeah You know what's up, nigga (My team) living …
Hip Hop This shit's special DJ Khaled! And if I cry two tears for…
Hold The City Down "I got to hold down the city" "Got to let you…
I Damn, here we go again Common passed on this beat I made…
Lettin' Off Steam Joey Bad and Big Preem and we lettin' off steam And…
Mortgage Free What up Preem? That nigga Statik told me start sayin' 2…
Our Streets Ferg, Ferg Check it, check it, check it Pull up, pull up,…
Premier 19-motherfuckin' 1985, I arrived 33 years, damn, I'm gratef…
Remy Rap With the def female Let's rap Remy Ma No lie, it's only…
Runway That ol' real shit, that ol' real shit, that ol'…
Sing Like Bilal [Joell Ortiz] (Sample Of Lil' Fame) Uh! Uh! Y-Y, Y-Y-Y-YAOOO…
Terrible 2's Run your, run your Run your, run your damn jewels Run your,…
The Life It's always about money, It's always about money because... …
The Premier 19-motherfuckin' 1985, I arrived 33 years, damn, I'm gratef…
The root of all You know this ain't a game to us My future's lookin'…
WUT U SAID Yo what's good two time? What up g'z how were you? Ain't…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Ason Unique
I spend my days in a steel cage, where brothers feel rage
And get real with razor blades in ill ways
So when my cell close, my brain cells expose
And my pen excels to a part of hell froze
Inside of me was lookin' for a way out
Reality was tellin' me if I find a way out
I had to stay out, plans I had to lay out
In order to elevate from my identity
Mentally accelerate
I seen a lot of men break down being an inmate
Now I realize I couldn't make the same mistakes
It was real being concealed in steel gates
Where brothers who feel hate against another race
Which only indicates a snake mentality
These are my days of reality
The streets is a dirty game, my heart's still roamin' the streets
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
But niggas stay strappedย in the hood
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
My heart's still roamin' the streets, they still callin'
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
But niggasย stay strapped in the hood
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
My heart's still roamin' the streets
Often I think of my people the board
Denied they freedom, a mirage disappearin' before our eyes
We were born to strife, now living in courts decide
Missing their children we can feel it when our mommas cry
We was hustlin' but would the jury find me guilty?
They seen us strugglin', doin' what we have to do to ease the sufferin'
We know its wrong but so was havin' us freezin'
Left the stove on wearin' our sneakers until the soles are gone
We constantly holdin' on, being broke
And hopin' our phone is our only escape
And when our favorite TV shows is on shots ringin'
Echo in the ear before the copsย came kids was everywhere
And women cryin' niggas goin' to jail
A mothers eyes fill with tears as she nears
Realizin' he's survivin' she exhales like Angela Bassett
I'm a poet amongst slums, project, crack addicts
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
But niggas stay strapped in the hood
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
My heart's still roamin' the streets, they still callin'
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
But niggas stay strapped in the hood
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
My heart's still roamin' the streets
I live a lonely existence, lately I've become a mathematician
As I divide my friends with phony niggas I confide in God
As for sins may He forgive 'em if you have dreams
They can be achieved never give up
Look at me, once a convicted felon, once addicted to sellin'
The substance which corrupted many men in my era
I stood in awe at the dope fiends drove by thoseย caught in the coke game
Some proper, some locked up, some sold claim
The main team wanted the shine
Streets so alive I felt the air breathe not only did I misplace time
I could remember as an inmate at Midstate I stayed in the law library
Some chose to lift weight, fine
As if they content with they time, they strip us at the visit
Limit our education, ridicule us niggas, modern enslavement
Even though I'm out of the cages
I'm the voice of the soldier in the yard with the banger
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
But niggas stay strapped in the hood
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
My heart's still roamin' the streets, they still callin'
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
But niggas stay strapped in the hood
It's a damn shame, the streets is a dirty game
My heart's still roamin' the streets, the streets, the streets
1Wit$elf
The main team wanted the shine
Streets so alive I felt the air breathe
Not only did I misplace time
I could remember as an inmate
At midstate I stayed in the law library
Some chose to lift weight, fine
As if they content with they time
They strip us at the visit
Limit our education"
๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ
AP
This is one of the best rap songs ever.
Mike Woszczynski
It fukin is
Mike Larry
it really is though
1st WORLD
No DOUBT!!!
Michael Lewis
๐ฏ
Joaquin
Still get chills every time I hear this.
Adam Gordon
Real talk ๐ฅ๐ฅ
That Guy
Facts
Wally M Werdek
Only the real ones can feel this right here.
Jose Ortiz
Between him and az literally the most underrated rappers of all time from rhymes to keeping it street from making u visualize the street life with your eyes close and seeing the suffering and not the illusion of it is inane felt this from heart to heart for real !