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".
I
DJ Premier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Common passed on this beat
I made it to a jam
Now everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again
People talkin' shit, but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
I'll never be picture-perfect Beyonce'
Be light as Albi or black as Chauncey
Remember him from blackstreet
He was as black as the street was
I'll never be as laid back as this beat was
I never could see why people'll reach a
Fake-ass facade that they couldn't keep up
Ya see how I creeped up?
Ya see how I played a big role in Chicago like Queen Latifah?
I never rock a mink coat in a winter time like Killa Cam
Or rock some mink boots in the summertime like Will.I.Am
Let me know if you feel it man
Cause everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again
Everybody sayin' what's not for him
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again
People talkin' shit, but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
And I'm back to tear it up
Haters, start your engines
I hear 'em gearin' up
People talkin' so much shit about me at barbershops
They forget to get their haircut
Okay fair enough, the streets is flarin' up
Cause they want gun-talk, or I don't wear enough
Baggy clothes, Reebok's, or A-di-dos
Can I add that he do spaz out at his shows
So say goodbye to the N-double-A-C-P award
Goodbye to the India Arie award
They'd rather give me the nigga-please award
But I'll just take the I-got-a-lot a-cheese award
Damn, here we go again
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again
People talkin' shit, but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
I know that people wouldn't usually rap this
But I got the facts to back this
Just last year, Chicago had over six hundred caskets
Man, killin's some wack shit
Oh, I forgot, 'cept for when niggas is rappin'
Do you know what it feel like when people is passin'?
He got changed over his chains, a block off Ashlin
I need to talk to somebody, pastor
The church want time, so I can't afford to pay
The slip on the door, cause I can't afford to stay
My 15 seconds up, but I got more to say
That's enough Mr. West, please no more today
Damn, here we go again
Everybody sayin' what's not for him
But Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again
People talkin' shit, but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
The lyrics of "Everything I Am" by Kanye West talk about how he constructed his persona and how he's fine with not being perfect. It starts with "Damn, here we go again," referencing a song that Common passed on, which Kanye then tweaked to make it his own. The lyrics go on to talk about how people like to talk about his weaknesses, but ultimately those brought him to where he is at that moment. He recognizes that he will never be Beyonce or Chauncey, being either extremely light or dark-skinned, respectively. He talks about how he was never comfortable with the fake facade that so many people put on and that he made it in the music scene despite that. He notes how he never tried to fit someone else's mold, instead being himself with his own unique style.
Kanye recalls how people forget the important things, such as getting a haircut, when they focus too much on gossip and drama. He then talks about how people expect him to conform to certain stereotypes, particularly those relating to clothing and how he's supposed to act in his performances. He talks about how he's considered not black enough by some, illustrated by how they'd rather give him the "nigga-please" award than any honor that he's really earned. Finally, Kanye reflects on the violence that he's seen in Chicago, with over 600 caskets the previous year, and how it's important to stop that sort of behavior. The song concludes with him getting cut off by the exasperated request of "That's enough Mr. West, please no more today."
Line by Line Meaning
Damn, here we go again
Facing adversity once again
Common passed on this beat
Common refused the offer to use this music
I made it to a jam
I turned this beat into a hit
Now everything I'm not, made me everything I am
My flaws shaped me into who I am today
People talkin' shit, but when the shit hit the fan
Critics backpedal when things go wrong
I'll never be picture-perfect Beyonce'
I'll never fit society's standards of beauty
Be light as Albi or black as Chauncey
Society categorizes people based on skin color
Ya see how I played a big role in Chicago like Queen Latifah?
I made a significant impact on Chicago's music scene
I never rock a mink coat in a winter time like Killa Cam
I don't conform to others' fashion choices
Or rock some mink boots in the summertime like Will.I.Am
I don't follow celebrity trends
Cause everything I'm not, made me everything I am
My uniqueness defines me
And I'm back to tear it up
I'm ready to make more music
Haters, start your engines
Critics are going to start talking again
Can I add that he do spaz out at his shows
I sometimes lose control during performances
So say goodbye to the N-double-A-C-P award
I won't be praised by mainstream awards
Goodbye to the India Arie award
I won't get recognition from niche awards
They'd rather give me the nigga-please award
Society disregards my contributions because of my skin color
But I'll just take the I-got-a-lot a-cheese award
I'll celebrate my monetary success instead
I know that people wouldn't usually rap this
This song isn't what people expect from me
Just last year, Chicago had over six hundred caskets
There were many fatalities in my hometown
Man, killin's some wack shit
Violence is terrible
Do you know what it feel like when people is passin'?
Losing loved ones is painful
He got changed over his chains, a block off Ashlin
Someone was robbed and killed for their jewelry
That's enough Mr. West, please no more today
It's time to stop talking for now
But Everything I'm not, made me everything I am
My imperfections are an important part of who I am
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GEORGE CLINTON, PHILLIP MITCHELL, CARLTON DOUGLAS RIDENHOUR, ERIC T SADLER, HANK SHOCKLEE, KANYE WEST, KANYE OMARI WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M!TCH
O.C. Talks about the making of MY WORLD
“I’m a Slick Rick die-hard. That first line is from ‘Runaway.’ That second Slick Rick album is slept on. If you’re a lyricist enthusiast, then you should know that you’re just now catching up to Slick Rick. But that was one of my favorite records when I heard that album. It was just dope, and that’s how the line became a part of ‘My World.’
“Preem didn’t give out beat tapes. He did his production on the spot. He came and scooped me up from my crib, and we went to the studio. He started laying a couple of joints, catching my ear a little bit. But then when he came with this record, with the bassline and the keys, and then he put the drums to it—he did the shit in like twenty minutes—and was like, ‘It sound like some Mobb Deep shit.’ And I’m like, ‘Yo, you buggin’. Get out the studio, leave me alone for like twenty, thirty minutes.’ And he was like, ‘I’m going to get me some weed anyway though, so I’ll be back.’ And when he came back, the song was written.
“He didn’t like that beat at first. He thought it sounded similar to ‘Shook Ones.’ But then when I said that first line to him—the Slick Rick shit—he was like, ‘Yeah yeah, go in the booth.’ So I went in the booth and I laid it, and he was like, ‘Yo, this shit hot right here. We good money.’
“That whole premise of ‘It’s my world,’ that wasn’t about me. That was about people in general. Have that confidence in yourself. Who else gonna have confidence in you, but you?”
ZnCu Entertainment
This whole album is a classic! 4 Premo tracks, Bumpy Knucks on 2 tracks and a Big L appearance, how can you go wrong with that??
2piecewithabiscuit
you cant 👊
Moshe B
The whole album was fire. Win da G is my jam. 🔥🔥🔥 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🇿🇦
Milton Stephenson Jr
💯💯💯
WSJ MUSIC
Exactly, I know right!
getstrongby40
Hmmm I'd better investigate this
Luiswiley98
He was my most streamed artist on Spotify for 2021…I fuck with OC very heavily🔥🔥🔥love all his work !!
SUN_GZU
Perestroika!!!
M!TCH
O.C. Talks about the making of MY WORLD
“I’m a Slick Rick die-hard. That first line is from ‘Runaway.’ That second Slick Rick album is slept on. If you’re a lyricist enthusiast, then you should know that you’re just now catching up to Slick Rick. But that was one of my favorite records when I heard that album. It was just dope, and that’s how the line became a part of ‘My World.’
“Preem didn’t give out beat tapes. He did his production on the spot. He came and scooped me up from my crib, and we went to the studio. He started laying a couple of joints, catching my ear a little bit. But then when he came with this record, with the bassline and the keys, and then he put the drums to it—he did the shit in like twenty minutes—and was like, ‘It sound like some Mobb Deep shit.’ And I’m like, ‘Yo, you buggin’. Get out the studio, leave me alone for like twenty, thirty minutes.’ And he was like, ‘I’m going to get me some weed anyway though, so I’ll be back.’ And when he came back, the song was written.
“He didn’t like that beat at first. He thought it sounded similar to ‘Shook Ones.’ But then when I said that first line to him—the Slick Rick shit—he was like, ‘Yeah yeah, go in the booth.’ So I went in the booth and I laid it, and he was like, ‘Yo, this shit hot right here. We good money.’
“That whole premise of ‘It’s my world,’ that wasn’t about me. That was about people in general. Have that confidence in yourself. Who else gonna have confidence in you, but you?”
Anthony Arcanum Sanctum Regnum
Same here Brother as a New Yorker who grew up living Hip Hop culture and on the Music since 1986 and still loving it and still current that second Slick Rick Album is Dope AF, I was just bumping it yesterday Mistakes, I shouldn't have done it, King, Moses etc all great song's.