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".
Head Over Wheels
DJ Premier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your man is John Recoup, same as my climbing boot
Blase blase blah, I'm not a star, I don't have a car
Fuck all the chatter, you cannot have the bra
Peep the framework, see if the game work
Heard she gave my man Hurt, the same dirt
on the same skirt, as the week passed; It's like
the freak fast, catchin whiplash when them Jeeps pass
before I bag it after that it's chickenhead bitch
I only got the digits when I met you; Tootsie had a Benz-why
boned your friends and got some head too
?? hoes, don't doze cause the mic goes
pop, when I rock all these silly psychoes
But that's another matter, this ain't a love chatter
So I can ?? rock and duck ?? rumps that's fatter
Like, I know we're slickin, right at the stoplight
Pulled the Jag up, you get bagged up like this was Shop-right
I guess it's all that, layin like doormats..peed
When I make this hit you try to catch me
I told her, ?nine-sixty years? all the papers near
Now I need me a gasmask til all these vapors clear
for hours, with all her powers just to see how
your Range Rover feel, on the real, that's head over wheels
Chorus: G-Depp
So what's the deal huh? Let's keep it real huh?
You like these wheels huh? Tell me how they feel huh?
Head over wheels huh...
... uhh, head over wheels huh, uhh
Yo honey bust it let's discuss it for a little bit
I know the middle stick, so GO HEAD with your little tits
A nigga rollin in the car from taggin, lookin tight ragged
On the night racket, concoctin Reeboks and the flight jacket
But that's OK cause when you play there's a price to pay
A small way, tend to hallways, twice a day
Don't front though, I make the flow through the gut slow
or the butt, ohh, made her scream like I struck gold
That's cold, better yet it's freezin, honey steady teasin
Tis the season for skeezin, no teasin just some heavy breathin
Hoe pros and when she blows, only heaven knows
No clothes, ohh! Got that fifty-four-eleven though
That trick, I guess I tricked for this pair of kicks
Just to gas em have her girlfriends askin can we share his dick
Divide it equally, and dick it frequently, they always beepin me
We do this secretly, so yeah don't speak to me
Get noid with Floyd, creep up the backstreet ain't that sweet
You don't see them hookers in this backseat
Time and time to get the bump n grind, I guess love is blind
Or he caught you in your eye with his brother's nine
I'd rather use my know of flicks, and the known face
Watch em plead just to get them keys on your court date
Hon Dawn got it goin on, since you're gone pal
Your man Shawn get the horn now, pow
Chorus 2X
I lift this honey in the air, like no gravity
Cause of her thoughts, now she's in the porch of her sanity
So as you enter, since you commence to
play the roll you gon' play the coal in the winter
And if you get another fuck it, fuckin
no less than her circumfrence then I'm hosted in another bucket
I be the one to pass by ya with the cash kinda, crass
You still behind that ass in my Pathfinder
Tryin to front like she fond-of, niggaz and ganja
Til I pull ups-on-ja, wild, forget the menage-a-trois
in the car with Rhonda, hittin the tits
She smell herself, cause she sell herself like Honda's
These bitches is bugged, all thugged out
Cause I told her the ride was over GET THE FUCK OUT
Get your Lugz out and get to walkin, that's how the wind blows
Power windows so I can't hear the shit you talkin
You want to drive stick, combine my prize with
chinky eyes with ?lilet? all that old fly shit
But wake up, without makeup, and get the clear view
Only place I'll be seein you is in the rearview
Chorus 2X
The lyrics of DJ Premier’s song “Head Over Wheels” tell a story of a man who is flirting with a woman while driving around in his car. He tries to impress her with his car, but admits that he is not wealthy and doesn't own a car. He talks about a man named John Recoup who is the woman’s partner but insinuates that he has slept with her by saying that he heard that she gave Hurt (his man) the same dirt on the same skirt as the week passed. He uses sexual innuendos throughout the song, talking about her little tits and getting head over wheels. He also talks about him just getting her digits but he has previously had sex with her friends.
The song is mostly about sex, and the man's attitudes towards women are objectifying and disrespectful. He doesn’t value the women he’s with and is only using them for his sexual pleasure. The lyrics are meant to be humorous and provide social commentary on how some men objectify women.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess I troop, honey, what the scoop? You're kinda cute
I came to your location, what's happening? You're attractive
Your man is John Recoup, same as my climbing boot
You have a boyfriend named John Recoup, irrelevant to me
Blase blase blah, I'm not a star, I don't have a car
I'm just a regular guy, I don't have fame or a car
Fuck all the chatter, you cannot have the bra
Disregard all the talk, you cannot have my number
Peep the framework, see if the game work
Take a look at my approach, see if it works for you
Heard she gave my man Hurt, the same dirt
I heard she slept with my friend Hurt, and it's common knowledge
on the same skirt, as the week passed; It's like the freak fast, catchin whiplash when them Jeeps pass
She wore the same clothes the following week, she moves quick and it's noticeable
Throw on the switch just to get rich; call you hon, before I bag it after that it's chickenhead bitch
I'm just using you to make some money, I'll call you honey until I'm done with you then you're a worthless woman
I only got the digits when I met you; Tootsie had a Benz-why boned your friends and got some head too
I only got your phone number when we met, previously Tootsie slept with your friends and got oral sex from them
?? hoes, don't doze cause the mic goes pop, when I rock all these silly psychoes
Ladies, stay awake because my music will grab your attention, even the irrational ones
But that's another matter, this ain't a love chatter
But that's off-topic, this is not a conversation about love
So I can ?? rock and duck ?? rumps that's fatter
I can dance and avoid women with bigger behinds
Like, I know we're slickin, right at the stoplight
I'm aware we're being sneaky, right at the stoplight
Pulled the Jag up, you get bagged up like this was Shop-right
I parked the Jaguar and you are going inside like it's Shoprite
I guess it's all that, layin like doormats??peed
I guess that's common, women are available for sex
When I make this hit you try to catch me
When I make this song you'll try to understand me
I told her, ?nine-sixty years? all the papers near
I told her it feels like it's been 960 years, and papers were nearby
Now I need me a gasmask til all these vapors clear
Now I need a gas mask to filter out all the toxicity in the air
for hours, with all her powers just to see how your Range Rover feel, on the real, that's head over wheels
She was with me for hours, doing everything she could just to drive my Range Rover, that's head over heels
So what's the deal huh? Let's keep it real huh? You like these wheels huh? Tell me how they feel huh?
What's the situation? Let's be honest. Do you like my car? How do they feel to you?
Yo honey bust it let's discuss it for a little bit
Hey girl, let's talk about this for a bit
I know the middle stick, so GO HEAD with your little tits
I know what I'm doing, so go ahead and show off your breasts
A nigga rollin in the car from taggin, lookin tight ragged
I'm driving a car that's been modified and looks impressive
On the night racket, concoctin Reeboks and the flight jacket
Doing nefarious activities, wearing Reebok sneakers and a jacket for a specific airline
But that's OK cause when you play there's a price to pay
But it's okay because when you live this lifestyle, there are consequences
A small way, tend to hallways, twice a day
It's a small detail, I use the hallway twice a day
Don't front though, I make the flow through the gut slow or the butt, ohh, made her scream like I struck gold
Don't pretend, I made her internal organs feel good, she screamed as if I found a precious metal
That's cold, better yet it's freezin, honey steady teasin
That's harsh, in fact it's freezing. The woman keeps teasing me
Tis the season for skeezin, no teasin just some heavy breathin
It's the time of year for promiscuity, no teasing, just heavy breathing
Hoe pros and when she blows, only heaven knows
Women that are experts in sexual activity. When she performs oral sex, only heaven knows what will happen
No clothes, ohh! Got that fifty-four-eleven though
She's naked, ohh! But she has a nice figure
That trick, I guess I tricked for this pair of kicks
She's a trick, I suppose I spent money on her like I spent money on this pair of shoes
Just to gas em have her girlfriends askin can we share his dick
Just to impress her friends, they ask if they can also engage in sexual activity with me
Divide it equally, and dick it frequently, they always beepin me
Split it fairly, have sex frequently, they're always contacting me
We do this secretly, so yeah don't speak to me
We do this in secret, so don't mention it to me later
Get noid with Floyd, creep up the backstreet ain't that sweet
Get paranoid with Floyd, sneak down the backstreet, isn't that a pleasant surprise?
You don't see them hookers in this backseat
You don't see prostitutes in the back of this car
Time and time to get the bump n grind, I guess love is blind
Time after time we engage in sexual activity, I suppose love makes people oblivious
Or he caught you in your eye with his brother's nine
Or he witnessed you being shot by his brother
I'd rather use my know of flicks, and the known face
I prefer to use my knowledge of cinema and the recognizable face
Watch em plead just to get them keys on your court date
Watch them beg in court to get their keys back on their court date
Hon Dawn got it goin on, since you're gone pal
Hon Dawn is doing great, you've been replaced my friend
Your man Shawn get the horn now, pow
Your man Shawn is getting the attention now, pow
I lift this honey in the air, like no gravity
I pick up this girl, as if there is no force pulling us down
Cause of her thoughts, now she's in the porch of her sanity
Because of my influence, now she is at the point of losing her mind
So as you enter, since you commence to play the roll you gon' play the coal in the winter
As you participate, since you chose this role, you're going to be the one suffering in the winter
And if you get another fuck it, fuckin no less than her circumfrence then I'm hosted in another bucket
And if you find another person to have sex with, make sure she is just as large as you, otherwise, I'm moving on
I be the one to pass by ya with the cash kinda, crass
I'm the one to drive by you with cash, in a rude manner
You still behind that ass in my Pathfinder
You are still following me in your Nissan Pathfinder
Tryin to front like she fond-of, niggaz and ganja
Trying to act like she loves men and smoking marijuana
Til I pull ups-on-ja, wild, forget the menage-a-trois in the car with Rhonda, hittin the tits
Until I surprise you, forget about the three-way in the car with Rhonda, touching her breasts
She smell herself, cause she sell herself like Honda's
She's arrogant, she sells herself like Honda cars
These bitches is bugged, all thugged out
These women are crazy, acting tough
Cause I told her the ride was over GET THE FUCK OUT
Because I told her the car ride was finished, she needs to leave immediately
Get your Lugz out and get to walkin, that's how the wind blows
Take off your Lugz shoes and get walking, that's how things go
Power windows so I can't hear the shit you talkin
The windows are closed so I can no longer hear what you're saying
You want to drive stick, combine my prize with chinky eyes with ?lilet? all that old fly shit
You want to have sex, combining my prize with your slanted eyes and stylish fashion
But wake up, without makeup, and get the clear view
But wake up, without makeup, and see things how they really are
Only place I'll be seein you is in the rearview
The only place I will see you is in the rearview mirror driving away from you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bRiaNoNe
This track is an absolute gem, its perfect. It gives off a certain vibe that I cant even describe yo. Its mad nostalgic for me. Only real hip hop heads know this shit. 1.
@justinrusso7313
Facts man 97 was a great year. Salute fam !!
@MegaRez111
amen
@clarkbar
i always tell ppl that the 90s vibe can never be recaptured and this song couldn't be more exemplary of that fact. Just a whole different genre than rap is now
@sarkastikmenace1825
I know
@onehungrypanda316
Its that low key chill vibe
@Chalcedony6421
Grew up listening to this. My brother always had it on repeat while playing PS2 and Xbox. Then after a while of developing my own music taste, I asked him what song this was. G Depp and MF Doom definitely helped shaped my music taste, especially when it comes to underground music
@jbrap
This exudes NYC 90's niceness. No other era can touch it.
@benjamintam6408
I put this on repeat first time I heard it and I still do to this day. Nicest GDep joint, hell, one of the nicest hip hop gems ever.
@toteknowledge
Met Dep about 2 years before he turned himself in, on 25th in front of Mac store. May I say, that was the most humble artist I think I ever met. Built with me like I had known the brother for years. Peace to G & hope he find his peace up north & has strong return.